Famous Last Words: A Busy Week

This week, I was able to do both reading A and B. I choose to read about Cupid and Psyche, which was a really good choice for me because I like love stories. I enjoyed learning about the story of Cupid and Psyche, my favorite part was how it was told in the form of a story, meaning that one character told another character the love story of Cupid and Psyche. This was one of the first Greek Mythology stories that I truly enjoyed. I remember in middle and high school, I was never into reading Greek mythology, but after reading  this story I am actually excited to read more. I feel like this story was definitely easier for me to retell. After getting the first storytelling experience out of the way, I felt like when I was reading the story I was starting to get ideas about what I wanted to change and I put them in my reading notes. The first week I feel like I just took notes for a test, not to retell the story, however, this past week I feel like I was able to read like a writer and think about what I wanted to change while I was reading.This week was a little busy for me, as it was a short week. I went home last weekend and did not do any work over the holiday, so come Tuesday I was really behind. This stressed me out a little, and I was not able to complete all the EC in this class to get ahead, so I am a little disappointed in myself. However, this week I also had my first Organic Chemistry quiz, which I made a 100 on so I am really excited about that. This next week definitely seems like it will be less busy, so I will be able to get ahead again. This next week, I plan to do all the EC and also to get ahead on Week 5, because I have my first O-Chem test a week from Wednesday, so I know I will be busy. This week I also have my first Spanish reading comprehension, which I am very nervous about, however I know if I study I will be fine.

(Bulldog Busy Meme: Source Relatbly)

Wikipedia Trails: From The Lady of Shalott to Occitan Language

The Lady of Shalott: I started at The Lady of Shalott because I enjoyed reading about her last week when working on my project and thought she would be a good place to start. It also goes along with my topic for my project and allows me to gain a little bit more knowledge on the Arthurian era.

(John William Waterhouse's The Lady Shalott picture: Source Wikipedia)

Sir Lancelot: From the Lady of Shalott I was brought to Sir Lancelot. This article allowed me to gain more knowledge on the people of Camelot and helped to give me more insight on Sir Lancelot and who he was.

(Sir Lancelot at the Chapel of the Holy Grail photo by Edward Burne-Jones: Source Wikipedia)

The Holy Grail: From Lancelot I was brought to the holy grail. Part of the reason that I clicked on it was because I had not idea what it was, the other part is because it sounded really cool. I learned that it plays a really important role in Arthurian Literature and turns out I have heard of it, I just did not realize it.

Occitan Language: I clicked on this because I had no idea what it was. Turns out, it is a romance language primarily spoken in Southern France and Italy. It is kind of ironic how I started on the Lady of Shallot and ended on a romance language.

Learning Challenge: Reading Out Loud

For me, reading out loud helps me to slow down and not "speed read", which to me means I read it but not really read and understand. When I do not take the time to read out loud I have found that I will read what I am supposed to, however, I do not retain the information or make connections to the story or material like I do when I read out loud. For me reading out loud is different from silent reading because it allows me to make connections that I might have other wise missed and also allows me to retain information better than just reading silently. The only disadvantage of reading out loud is that it takes longer, because you make more connections and ask yourself questions. Reading out loud is definitely something that I will continue doing.

(Funny Meme about Reading Out Loud in Class: Image found on Pintrest: Photo by LoveThisPic)

Growth Mindset: Random Growth Mindset Cats Week 3 EC

(Examine What Makes You Anxious: Growth Mindset Cat made by Laura Gibbs on Cheezburger)

• This picture was actually the first one that popped up, and I love it. I am an anxious person and this is seriously one of the biggest pieces of advice I could give to a person. It is so important to know what makes you anxious so you can overcome it and in this case grow your mind.

(The Emotions of Learning: Photo made by Laura Gibbs on Cheezburger)

• This picture is seriously the best and my favorite one I saw. This could not be anymore true! As I progress through school, I see this happening more and more. This kitten is so cute and the way it is looking at the toy is how I look at most of my homework.

Feedback Strategies: Week 3

• Specific Feedback that Helps Learning: This article took the steps of Grant Wiggin's key characteristics of better feedback and gave you ways to put them in action. I really liked how this article broke down the steps and allowed me to see what I need to do to give good feedback. It helped me to see how following each of these steps is actually more useful when giving feedback rather than just saying, oh this is really good.
• How to Craft Constructive Feedback: I felt like this article gave a layout of how to give good feedback and that is what I really liked. I am a visual person so physically seeing the steps I need to take to give good, quality feedback was very helpful.
• Overall, at this point I feel very confident about providing feedback. I know I always have room to improve and doing these exercises each week is very helpful and is a really good refresher. 
  

                                              (Fun Fact about Criticism: Photo by MEPN Program)

Topic Research: The Women of Camelot

**All stories, excluding Britomart, were found using Freebookapalooza

Guinevere: 
I am not really sure which story I will use about Guinevere yet. Right now I am leaning more toward the Lancelot one, because I really want this to be a great love story.

• Guinevere and the Round table
• The Story of Sir Lancelot and his Companions

The Lady Shallot (Elaine of  Astolat):
I decided on the Lady Shallot because I think her story is interesting and as soon as I saw the song "If I Die Young" by The Band Perry had a reference to The Lady Shallot I was immediately interested in The Lady Shalott. I also decided that since most the stories will be love stories, it will be nice to change it up a bit.

• Actual Poem (Chapter 10)  
• Elaine of Astolat  
• The two versions compared
• The story of Sir Lancelot and his companions

Britomart: The linked title is a link to the story unit. I chose this story because I wanted to do something different from the rest. I think this will bring a nice change into the mix.


Morgan Le Fay:
I like the idea of including a sorcerer. Most of the stories will involve love and drama but including a story that is a little dark, will once again just add a little variety. I read the Sir Gawin and the Green Knight was the most famous Morgan Le Fay story, however I am curious to see how she cheated the King.

• Wikipedia: Sir Gawin and the Green Night
• The Age of Chivalry: Sir Gawin has a chapter
• The Romance in Reality

(The Lady Shalott by John WIlliam Waterhouse: Web source)

Week 3 Story: Psyche's Dream Come Ture

Story:

Ever since the unveiling of her husband’s identity, Psyche had been wondering day and night trying to find him. She had traveled long and far when she finally gazed upon a beautiful house in the distance. With the beauty that this house had, Psyche knew that is must have been a home of a God and thought that just maybe it could be one of Cupid’s dwellings. She wearily climbed the steps onto the porch of the home. Upon her entry, she saw a vast array of farmhouse décor and pictures of bountiful fields of crops, she then discovered she had entered the shrine of the Goddess of the Harvest, Ceres. In the center of the house there was a sacred altar, where many farmers had slovenly scattered crops about it, knowing this was disrespectful to the Goddess, even in her weariness Psyche organized the grains. While organizing, Ceres wondered upon Psyche and said to her, “Child what are you doing here? Why have you entered the shrine of a friend of Venus? Do you not know she is looking for you and has instructed me to bring you to her if I saw you?” Shocked and frightened by the Goddess' words, Psyche began to sob, “Oh! Great and mighty Ceres, please protect me from Venus for I have done no wrong. I have just discovered my husband’s identity against his wish and upon this great betrayal, my husband fled our home and I cannot find him. My husband is Cupid, Venus’s son, have she no mercy on her own daughter in-law?” Psyche continued uttering praises to the Goddess to try and win her favor. Ceres, flattered by Psyche's praise, replied, “My dear, have you no idea of the source of Venus’s anger? She has accused you of stealing and basking in her name, yet you are just here trying to find your husband.”  Stunned, Psyche replied, “A God once told me that I was cursed by Venus for being a great beauty, and said that I would be married to the most dreadful and horrid of men and I found myself in the bed of a God, unknowing that it was Cupid, Venus’s son. While I have just learned who he is, I adore him so and long to find him.” Ceres felt compelled by Psyche’s story and began to ponder on Venus's actions. She thought, is her anger right to be avenged or is it the envy that has brought this great hate for Psyche. Ceres then said, “I am very moved by your story and do not know what to do, I will take you to my dear friend, Juno, to receive her council on the matter, as she too is a friend of Venus.” The two then made their way to Juno’s home. After they informed Juno of her story, Psyche realized she had gained favor in the Goddesses eyes and asked if she could rest while they talk about Venus’s actions. The next morning, Psyche was woken by the two Goddesses informing her that she was safe with them. They decided that Venus had acted out of great jealousy and she would face the repercussions for her actions. The Goddesses then decided that they would tell Zeus, Juno’s husband and King of the Gods, of Venus' envy and jealousy and let him decide her fate. Armed with the two Goddesses at her side, Psyche then decided it was time to confront her dreadful mother-in-law.

(Psyche at the Shrines of Juno and Ceres: Photo by Burne-Jones)

Author’s Notes: In the original story, Psyche is out searching for her husband, Cupid, after just revealing his identity against his wishes and stumbles upon the home of Ceres, the Goddess of the Harvest. There, Ceres informs her that Venus, Cupid’s mother and the Goddess of Love, is searching for her and looking for revenge. You see, when Venus had first learned of a beautiful girl named Psyche and how the common humans praised her great beauty, she got jealous and ordered her son, Cupid, to make her fall in love with the most dreadful of men. However, Cupid ended up falling in love with Psyche and married her. In this story, Venus has just learned of her son’s marriage to Psyche, a mere human and is fueled with rage to get back at Psyche. When Psyche learns of Venus’s plan, she pleas to Ceres, the Goddess of the Harvest to let her rest there because she is wearied from her journey, however Ceres is friends with Venus and tells Psyche she is lucky she isn’t telling Venus she is here. Psyche then wonders upon the home of Juno, Zeus’s wife, and begs for her protection from Venus. Juno too was friends with Venus and refused to help Psyche. After being denied protection twice, Psyche then decides it is time to face her mother-in-law. This is where this story ends. The way I changed this story was to have the Goddesses side with Psyche instead of Venus. In the stories before this one, Psyche had two sisters and when they saw all of Psyche’s possessions and new home, they became very jealous. They are the ones who persuaded Psyche to unveil the identity of her husband. This jealousy cost them their lives by Cupid’s hand as payment for them making Psyche reveal his identity. I thought that putting this twist on this story would make learning not to be jealous the moral of the story. Even though Venus is a God, it is her jealousy that lead to Psyche’s marrying her son in the first place so changing the story to punish her for her sins just added to completing the moral and taught that no one is above what is right and that no matter your status, you will always be jealous of someone or something.

Bibliography: "Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche" from The Golden Ass translated by Tony Kline. Web Source.

Reading Notes: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche Reading B

Psyche's Prayer:

• Characters: Psyche, Juno (queen of Heaven and wife of Jupiter (Zeus)), and Ceres (goddess of the harvest)
• In this story, Psyche wanders upon the homes of Juno and Ceres, where she pleas for them to protect her, or at least let her rest there from Venus (Cupid's mother). Both denied her request as they are good friends with Venus and do not want to betray her. In the end of this story, Psyche decides there is no use in running from Venus and it is time for her to meet her fate. For this story, I would retell it by making the two goddesses help Psyche. In the previous readings, Psyche's sisters were envious of her and that cost them their lives. I think it would be interesting to turn the Gods/Goddesses against Venus due to her envy, as the Gods (well at least Cupid) did against Psyche's sisters. I would start out by having Psyche tell the whole story to both the Goddesses. The sotry would then compel them to side with Psyche and help her cause rather than side with Venus and her jealousy. Here would be a good time to recruit Zeus, so he could turn Psyche into a Goddess, since she is married to Cupid. Then, through them they would gain more Gods/Goddesses on their side. This would allow for the story to continue, but instead of letting Venus call the shots, it would give the power to Psyche. The ending of the story would not change, because I love happy endings, so no matter what Cupid and Psyche would end up together. Also, maybe like Venus made Psyche perform unreasonable tasks, make Venus perform impossible tasks, but she would not gain the help of others because of the wickedness her envy has caused her. Maybe I will even make Venus lose her beauty, since it was her who started the envy because of Psyche's beauty.
• Story Source: Apuleius's Golden Ass, as translated into English by Tony Kline (2013).

(Psyche at the Shrines of Juno and Ceres: Photo by Burne-Jones)

Reading Notes: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche Reading A

Psyche's Despair: 

• Characters: Psyche, Sister 1, Sister 2, Pan (God of the wild) and Echo (Mountain Goddess)

• In this story, Psyche has discovered her husband is cupid, and after taking her sister's advice, she is paying for her sin. Psyche tried committing suicide in the river, but the Pan, advises her to pray to cupid, not knowing cupid was her lover. She then wonders to where her brother-in-law is king, and meet with her sister, telling her of what has happened. When hearing this, upon Cupid's promise to make her sister's pay, her sister jumps off a cliff to her death, the same happens to the other sister. I think a good way to change this would be Psyche opening up to Pan and Echo and telling them of her troubles, and maybe they could find some way to help reunite Psyche and Cupid (maybe give her wings to chase after Cupid). Also, I think it would be good to include Zephyr (the wind god) more. It would be cool if he played a role in reuniting Cupid and Psyche (he could use his wind ability to take Psyche to Cupid of vice versus). Also, instead and just instantly killing her sisters, I think maybe adding some type of curse into the mix would really add something and keep her sisters in the story a little longer. Instead of dying instantly, maybe torture them a little, as they have tortured their parents and Psyche. As of right now, I want to read the second half before making any decisions to change anything. I feel like this story may have a happy ending all together, but right now at the halfway point, it is rather sad.

• Story Source: Apuleius's Golden Ass, as translated into English by Tony Kline (2013).

(Cupid and Psyche: Image Source Wikipedia; Photo by Francois Gerard)