Week 3 Essay: Reviewing Jewish Fairy Tales

The Jewish Fairy Tales unit consisted of many different kinds of stories, ranging from Biblical plots to animal legends such as the cat and the dog. I had several favorite stories from this unit, such as The Giant of the Flood and The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog. 

The cat and the dog.

Image Information: To Agree Like Cat and Dog (1490). Acquired by Henry Walters in 1906. Web source: Wikimedia Commons.

I liked these stories especially because they included a lot of mythical beings, which really appeals to me with the fairy tale genre and keeps me interested. The unicorn and the phoenix are two of my favorite mythological creatures.  There were a few stories that I did not understand, such as The Sleep of One Hundred Years. I think it was just a little too odd for me.

Overall, the unit was good and I enjoyed most of the stories. It was easy to relate to a lot of them because the Biblical stories reminded me of ones I already knew about. The language is easy to understand and each story is a good read. The information provided was good and I feel that it was enough, but tips on storytelling for this unit would be a good idea. I struggled a lot with choosing a story to retell and it proved to be a bit of a challenge. Any advice on storytelling with units that have a lot of detail would be excellent.

I am enjoying sticking to fairy tales, because it is really linking all the units together for me and that is something I want to continue doing for my units. Since this is a mythology class, I think the fairy tale genre makes the most sense in order to read about the magical creatures, gods, and goddess that really encompass the mythological realm.

I would recommend this unit, because the legends about the characters have different twists and it is fun to read about subjects we might already know. It really brings a new depth to the characters because it is so unique. I learned a lot of good information about Jewish legends and storytelling!

Storytelling for Week 3: The Best of Friends

Pussie and Doggie were best friends and always together. School was coming to an end for the semester and winter break was upon them. Neither of them enjoyed the bitter cold, so they often spent their time snuggled indoors under cozy blankets with cups of hot chocolate warming their hands. Their happiness came to an end though.

A cup of hot chocolate.
Image Information: Hot Chocolate by David Monniaux (2006). Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Doggie's parents had lost their jobs and without money to put food on the table, they chose to move away to stay with family until their lives could be stable again. It was heartbreaking for both Pussie and Doggie, whose friendship was strained by the distance. It became too much to handle and Pussie proposed a separation and the two friends stopped talking altogether. 

Sad and alone, far from home, Doggie found himself constantly in fights, being bullied and picked on. His family could not understand where this melancholy came from and failed to offer him support. He made the wrong friends and often wondered if he would ever be happy again. It was hard for him to be without Pussie, because he had gotten so used to spending his time with her.

On the other hand, Pussie was very happy with new friends and everything she could want. It did not take her long at all to stop thinking about Doggie, only ever at the back of her mind. She was becoming popular at school and the attention was all she needed.

A few months later, Doggie’s family decided to return to their hometown once his parents were re-employed. He was more than excited to return to Pussie, whom he had not heard from in a very long time. He wondered how she was doing and what they would do now that he could come back.

However, Pussie was not the same person he remembered leaving. She was rude and prissy now, her new friends and rising popularity having changed her. She was not at all the girl he had loved so dearly. She would not even look at him, the reminder of her former life. It was clear that they could never be friends again, because they simply were not who they used to be.

Many times Doggie tried to approach her, but she always turned him away. The teachers pitied him and told him to let go. Time and situations change people and Doggie had to come to terms with that, so he went to school every day and tried not to look her way again.

Author’s Note: I had a hard time retelling this week’s story! I decided to use The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog and retell the story from a human point of view. In the original, Doggie and Pussie are best friends but part ways. When Doggie stumbles upon Pussie’s home, she is infuriated and the owner realizes they can never be friends. I used the animals’ names from the story and put them in a high-school setting to show how time and certain situations can make even the best of friends the worst of enemies.

Bibliography: “The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog.” Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa (1919). Web Source: The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog.

Week 3 Reading Diary: Jewish Fairy Tales

These are my notes from the Jewish Fairy Tales unit.

The Giant of the Flood: I like that the story is incorporating mythical creatures with the story of Noah's Ark. I love unicorns and adding the giant as a demon is interesting too. Why is the unicorn so big though? It was a bit weird to harness it by the horn so it could swim. I love the way Noah blesses the phoenix with immortality for being so kind. The poor giant, Og, is so sad for having to be Noah's servant! Oh, the part about Og making the wine turn men into sheep, lions, pigs, and monkeys is too good! Too bad Og broke his vow and Moses cut him down.

The Beggar King: King Hagag is indeed a very proud man and does what he wants. After telling the High Priest that the bible needs censored, he takes off for a hunt. The deer turns out to be a genie and is going to teach him a lesson! I wonder what lesson it could be? Oh, wow! The deer genie is pretending to be King Hagag now. The real King Hagag is not taken seriously and everyone thinks he's a beggar of sorts. He is taught that being proud and scoffing at the Holy Bible is punishable! Once the deer genie gives him back his royal title, he is a changed man.

The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog: No possible way could the cat and dog be best friends! Well, maybe in this story... They agree to part ways after winter becomes hard. Pussie will hunt at the house of Adam for mice and Doggie will wander further away. Adam and Pussie got along very well! Doggie met the wolf, but he was wounded in battle. The monkey also was mean to him. He wasn't a very good protector of the sheep either. Finally, he reached Father Adam, but he tried to warn him. Pussie learned they have met again and attacks Doggie out of jealousy and betrayal. They could never be friends again.

The Water-Babe: Princess Bathia finds the water-babe and takes the child home to call him her own. He is named Moses. Even the cruel King Pharaoh adored him. He is a very inquisitive child and the King's peers don't approve, convinced he is evil. The story takes a morbid twist when they put the babe to the test, whereas instant death is punishment if he chooses wrong. The princess is given a magic staff that commands her wishes and she uses it to save him. It is a staff that will belong to Moses. He saves the children of Israel!

From Shepherd-Boy to King: David is quite the character. Hearing voices might not be a good thing though! He considers the mountain to be magic since it was barren. Eventually the mountain changes and he finds that it must be a unicorn. After slipping from its back, he is face to face with the lion. A deer passes by to save him. He actually did become king.

The Magic Palace: This one is about Ibrahim, a pious man, starving with his wife and five sons. He sets out to seek work and meets a man that proclaims he is his slave, an Arab man. The Arab man is a builder and Ibrahim finds it beautiful, thus bringing the architect to a merchant of the city. They negotiate a price to build a palace. In such a small amount of time, it is complete and the Arab is free. Turns out, it was Elijah the Prophet!

The Sleep of One Hundred Years: In Jerusalem, Rabbi Onias traveled towards the city. The First Temple has been destroyed and he comes upon a man in sorrow. I agree that the city Zion reminds me of the dead! Suddenly a hundred years pass by and Onias wakes to find himself old and grey... How strange. The carob trees had grown! He meets his grandson and the Temple had been rebuilt. He fell back asleep and awakened in a new world. This story really confused me!

King for Three Days: This one is about Godfrey de Bouillon, a general and leader! He marched to the Holy Land in command of armies. I think I'm going to like this one. It appears that he was a very cruel man and wanted to kill the Jews... Remind you of anyone? Me too. Rashi, a rabbi, refuses to bless his massacre of the Jews. He tells Godfrey that he will claim Jerusalem but only rule for three days. Despite being terrified, Godfrey parts ways. The prophecy was true and his armies dwindled after three days and he was defeated in the city, a broken man…

The Higgledy-Piggledy Palace: This story is about Sarah and Abraham! She is a beautiful women and reminds me of the story of Cupid & Psyche. Out of fear for her safety, or maybe just jealousy, Abraham sealed his wife in a box and told the city officials he carried barley! To conceal her, he is willing to pay the highest of taxes to get her into the city. They keep raising the price, assuming he is hiding something valuable. Unfortunately, Sarah is found and brought to the king. Abraham prayed for her safety, shielded from his anger. A spirit protects her from the king's touch. The king begs Abraham to help him and he tells the king the truth, Sarah is his wife.

The Rabbi's Bogey-Man: Here we are in the city of Prague with Rabbi Lion. A lot of good details are used to make this scene really come alive. Apparently he is a terrifying person due to his knowledge and such, often called a magician. He made a mechanical woman, what?! She ends up running loose... Go figure. The majesty is outraged that he made a "living creature" and Rabbi Lion was scrutinized. The children began to see his creature as the "bogey-man." The creature ends up with a will of its own, wanting to fight for the king. He had to destroy his own creation. 

The Fairy Frog: Hanina is the song this story is about. The merchant tries to sell him a casket. He took the casket home and continued to build around it, despite it needing to grow in size. A frog taught his wife the word of man. A learned sage among his peers. He is the fairy son of Adam and brings to them the word of Adam. They end up famous for their treasures and live in happiness.