Storybook: Topic Selection and Style Brainstorm

Topic: My storybook will focus on four lions in Aesop's Fables. Because I already know the format that I am going to use (a fake Facebook called Manebook) I will instead use this post to explore what specific stories I will use and how to use the Facebook format in different ways. I know that I want to find stories that show different aspects of lions rather than ones that all show the same personality traits. This should help me narrow down the plethora of lion Aesop stories out there!

Possible stories: After looking into the 34 stories that are about lions in the UnTextbook I have narrowed my focus to five stories. I believe that each shows a different personality trait of the lion.

The first is The Frightened Lion. This story is about a lion that is startled when a nearby frog croaks. I like that this story is short which leaves plenty of room for adding my own plot. The main reason I chose this story is because I like that it shows the lion being frightened which is quite different from how lions are generally portrayed. I also like that this story would pose a challenge in how to display it through Facebook. Obviously the lion would not admit to all of his friends that he was frightened by a frog. Perhaps someone could have walked by and seen the events unfold and are ridiculing him on the web.

This is the illustration by Crane

The next story is The Old Lion. In this story an old lion that is unable to defend itself due to age and sickness is attacked by many different animals. The animals all feel that the lion has wronged them in some way and take advantage of his vulnerability. While this story is sad, I chose it because it shows a lion completely vulnerable which, again, is not how a lion is normally pictured. I imagine this post either being the lion explaining what happened, repenting, and saying goodbye or as a friend posting angrily after the lion's death.

The third story is The Lion and the Bulls. This fable is about a lion who is stalking four bulls that are friends and protecting each other. The lion realizes he can not take on all of the bulls at once and devises a plan to make them hate each other so he can catch one alone. I chose this story because it shows a lion being clever and patient for the correct timing which are some admirable traits. I would probably do this as a series of posts from the lion first being frustrated and then excited about his plan with a final post sharing his success.

The next story is The Lion's Share. The lion in this story goes hunting with some other creatures and ends up coming up with reasons that he should take all of the resulting spoils. This lion is very conniving and has a prideful greed which I think is partly how lions are normally depicted. For those reasons, I chose this story. I can see this story as a series of proud posts from the lion with frustrated comments from the other creatures.

The final story is The Lion and the Mouse which I have already written about. I chose this story because it is what first inspired me to use the Manebook style and I like that it shows the lion's sense of humor, mercy, and trustworthiness.

I am not sure which story I will end up cutting out, but it will be a difficult decision. Luckily this is a good head start on the storybook project.

Bibliography:
 1. The Frightened Lion from The Baby's Own Aesop, by W.J. Linton and illustrated by Walter Crane (1887).
2. The Old Lion from The Fables of Phaedrus, translated by Christopher Smart (1887).
3. The Lion and the Bulls from Fables and Satires, by Sir Brooke Boothby (1809).
4. The Lion's Share from The Fables of Aesop, by Joseph Jacobs (1894).
5. The Lion and the Mouse from Fables and Satires, by Sir Brooke Boothby (1809).

Storytelling Week 3:

A young man with a large family recently came into a small fortune. The man, once a hardworking but poor farmer, now had the means to buy his family a grand place to live. He prayed and searched for the best realtor around and he finally settled on a homely old man who, though he had not been around long, had a solid reputation. The next day at sunrise he sought out the man. He described his dream to the realtor who listened intently.

"Yes, yes. I have just the place in mind," he uttered while staring off in the distance.

With that the old man shuffled away and the young man, curious and surprised at the old man's speed, followed hastily. The two men obtained two camels and rode and rode until just before sunset when they reached the gates of an ancient city.

The two men with their camels

The young man spoke up and asked "Where is the estate for which we have traveled such a way?"

The old man said nothing but gazed just beyond the city. The young man followed his gaze and his eyes rested upon a once grand spire that had blackened with age. His eyes then found another spire peaking out over the city.

The young man asked "to whom did this ancient palace belong?"

"A man long before your time. The name is of no consequence to you, but the legend may capture your attention. "

"Please, tell me the tale as we ride closer."

"It is said that the palace grew in one night. Ah, do not look so skeptical young one. After all it is simply a tale. The constructor was an Arab who committed himself to a very poor gentleman as his slave. The gentleman was much in need of money so he took the slaves offer to sell him in town. See, the slave was a grand architect who had plans for a gorgeous palace. He just needed someone to ask him to make it. So the two found a rich jeweler who wanted a palace and showed him a tiny model of one that the slave had. The jeweler bought the slave for a high price and offered him freedom if he built this palace. The slave agreed. He asked for no supplies nor workers and promised the palace in just one day's time. The jeweler, dumbfounded, led the man to the plot of land we now approach. As promised, the next day this palace appeared much to the astonishment of the jeweler and the now rich gentleman."

"But who was this miracle constructor?" the young man asked.

"That is of no consequence to you," the old man replied.

Though the young man was still burning with curiosity he let it be because they had just reached the gate to the palace. It was hanging open from rusted hinges. The young man stared up at the dilapidated building that rose before him. The building's once majestic marble walls were fully obscured under layers of dirt and dust. The cupolas were cracked. The metal railings stood only from rust.

The young man thought to himself "even with the money I now possess and the wretched state of this building I doubt I can afford it."

"How much does the palace cost?" he asked hesitantly.

"For you, nothing if one task you complete. The building is yours if in one night you can restore it."

"But how can this be achieved?" The young man asked desperate to have a place large enough for his family.

"That is for you to determine."

The young man turned back to look at the building, and by the time he went to look at the old man he was gone. He turned back at the palace, wondering how on earth to accomplish such a tall order.

He spent some time thinking through how many workers his money could buy. He then inspected the building from corner to corner and made a list of all the supplies needed. When he finished around midnight he just marveled at the insurmountable task that laid before him. The young man felt his heart drop to his stomach realizing he could never accomplish the task and the palace would not be his. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees and prayed. He prayed for hours upon his knees until he drifted into a restless slumber.

In his dreams, he saw workers appear in the dead of night and shine returning to the building. When he awoke from his desperate dream he was nearly blinded by the sunlight glinting off the spires and cupolas. Somehow, the palace was restored to all of its former glory.

The young man leaped up with joy and spun around looking for the old man. He spotted him on the horizon for only a moment before he faded as if disappearing.

"This must have been the work of Elijah," he thought as he thanked God for his palace.

Author's Note: This story is based on The Magic Palace. The story is summarized in the old man's retelling. I based the format of this story partly after the real-estate style. I started with that style and then just wrote the new story.

Bibliography: The Magic Palace is from Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa (1919).

Week 3 Reading Diary, Continued: Jewish Fairytales

These are my thoughts on the stories from the second half of the Jewish Fairytales unit from Jewish Fairytales and Legends by Gertrude Landa 1919.

The Sleep of One Hundred Years: This was a curious tail. The man's commitment to Jerusalem was admirable and his wish to die understandable, but the story just left something wanting. I am glad he eventually got his peace though.

King for Three Days: Hearing an account of the crusades from the Jewish perspective was interesting. I like that there is both history and folklore within this story.

The Higgeledy-Piggledy Palace: First off, the name of this story is fantastic. I found this story interesting because I know the accounts of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis fairly well and this story mostly just attempts to fill in some unknown details. I enjoyed the tricks the spirit played on Pharaoh, they were quite entertaining.

The spirit attacking Pharoah

The Rabbi's Bogey-Man: This story reminded me a bit of a Jewish Frankenstein. I find it curious that the slip of paper with the name worked. You would think it would only work if God allowed it to and the creature does not seem like something God would want to exist. I might do some more research on this story in the future.

The Fairy Frog: Well, this is a very happy tale I suppose. It makes little sense to me, but is a fun fairytale nonetheless. What does "Adam's Fairy son" mean? How was the Frog caught in the first place? This story leaves me with many questions, but I enjoyed it.

Week 3 Reading Diary: Jewish Fairytales

For week 3 I chose to read the Jewish Fairytales unit which pulls from Jewish Fairytales and Legends by Gertrude Landa 1919. Here are my thoughts on each story from the first half of the unit.

The Giant of the Flood: I had never heard of this story before, but I had heard of Og of Bashan from the Bible which made for an interesting surprise when I discovered this tale was calling them one and the same. I thought the inclusion of the unicorn was interesting because there was only one which allows Noah to have saved it without there being any unicorns left today. I enjoyed the story overall and agree that defying Moses is probably not the best idea.

Og on the Unicorn which is quite the sight

The Beggar King: I liked that there were multiple morals in this story. Obeying God, repentance, compassion, and wisdom are all taught at once. The genie in the story is good at tough love and would be a fun character to work with in future stories.

The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog: This story was depressing. It characterized the cat as easily swayed to cruelty by the serpent (who represents the devil in many stories) and the dog was just trodden on throughout the tale. I suppose it shows how the devil can destroy relationships.

The Water-Babe: I like that the story explained how Moses got his lisp. His weakness in speech always fascinated me and reminds me of his humanity.

From Shepard-Boy to King: The unicorn returns! I was very much not expecting the unicorn to be in any more stories, and so when he appeared in this one it caught me quite off guard. It makes me wonder if the unicorn was meant to be an immortal creature because there was only the one saved at the flood and therefore no more could be born.

The Magic Palace: Wow! The fact that it was Elijah caught me completely off guard! I loved this story and would very much enjoy working with it somehow. Ibrahim seems like a wonderful character to work with as does the jeweler. I will definitely have to keep them and the appearance of Elijah in mind.