Story Lab: What is Myth?

For today, I will be doing a story lab. I watched the "What is Myth Video series." I will be focusing on the video What is Myth? Crash Course World Mythology #1 by Mike Rugnetta. Though these videos may be for the mythology course, I found the information provided, to be useful. Mr. Rugnetta explains the origin of the word "myth," which comes from the Greeks meaning story. There are many misconceptions that come from the word myth. People typically believe that the word myth means fake, or untrue. However, this is not always the case. A myth is a story, but it is a special kind of story. Mr. Rugnetta breaks down myths into two main points, significance, and staying power. Myths can be a way of explaining how the world originated, or how certain aspects of the world can be understood. Thus, myths have explaining power. Myths also have staying power. This means that they have been around for many centuries or even millennia. Ultimately, it is not our place to decided whether a myth is true or false.     

Myths: Sketchport

Reading Notes: The Banyan Deer, Part B

For today's reading, Part B, I read the story The Banyan Deer by Ellen C. Babbitt. The story beings by describing two great king deer that rule over their two kingdoms. One king rules over the Banyan deer, while the other rules over the Monkey deer. However, there also lived a human king that loved to hunt. He ruled over a large group of people. Every time he went hunting, he would want the people to come with him. However, people would get frustrated because they could never get their work done. Therefore, the people made a large park and surrounded all the deer by a fence. They told the king that he could go to the park and hunt whenever he liked. So, the king would visit the park and other times, he would send his cook. However, seeing how beautiful the two king deer were, he spared their life.

Many deer were dying. Therefore, the Banyan deer king sent for the Monkey deer king. He said "Too many deer are dying. Let our people take turns, sacrificing themselves for the greater good." The Monkey king agreed. However, one day, a mother deer was chosen to be sacrificed. She went to her king, the Monkey deer king and said, "Oh king please, let me skip my turn until I can raise my boy. I want him to know who I am. After this, I will give my life." However, the Monkey deer king refused and told her she must give her life. Therefore, she went to the Banyan deer king and told him her situation. The Banyan deer king decided to go in her place. As the human king arrived and saw that the deer king was going to sacrifice himself, he said to the Banyan deer king, "I thought I spared your life?" "You did, but there was a mother that wanted to raise her young. Therefore, I will be taking her place." The human king was touched by the love shown by the deer. He decided to spare the Banyan deer king and the mother deer.

The Deer King: libreshot 

Reading Notes: The Ox Who Envied The Pig, Part A

For my reading this week, I will be focusing on the Jataka Tales. These are short and very fun to read! The story that I will be focusing on today is called The Ox Who Envied The Pig by Ellen C. Babbitt. The story begins by describing a farm on which two oxen, a pig, a farmer, his wife, and daughter live.

The two oxen are brothers named Big Red and Little Red. They work very hard on the farm and are only fed grass and straws. During this time, the farmer's daughter was about to be married. Therefore, the farmer's wife wanted to fatten up the pig to be eaten at the party. Little Red, being somewhat naive, told his brother “Why does that pig get such great food, when we are working hard on the farm and only get to eat grass?”

His older brother told him, “Do not envy the food of the pig because he is eating the food of death. The farmer is fattening up the pig to be slaughtered at his daughter's party.” Little Red was understanding but was still somewhat upset. However, soon enough, the pig was slaughtered and eaten at the farmer's daughter’s wedding. Little Red then understood not to envy the pig. “The pig was eating the food of death. I will be happy with my food.” I believe this was a great story. The story demonstrates a life lesson, that we should not envy or be jealous of others. 

I will like to write a story with the same premise as this one. However, I will be changing the characters to different animals. I will also be chasing the names of the characters. I may change the outcome for the little brother. He may steal the food of the pig and end up being eaten at the wedding as well. However, these ideas are still being worked on and thought through.

Big and Little Red: Pixabay