Reading Notes Babbitt. More Jataka Tales (A)

One of the main things I love about reading the Jataka Tales is the length and details. They are very short but can provide so many vivid details without having some things lost or overlooked. This is my main task for this week for me. I tend to get myself off-topic and provide so many unneeded characters or details. However, this week I want to only focus on one or two main points with the number of details seen in the tales we have been reading.

For part A I was drawn to the story of The Three Fishes. I like that it starts as a fairytale would which gives me a lot of inspiration to create a story out of this. There are so many things I can do to this story but focusing on the main storyline is my primary objective. Within this story, three fish (whos names are thoughtful, thoughtless, and very thoughtful) are swimming and get into some trouble in the river. Thoughtful and thoughtless did not adhere to the warnings made by very thoughtful and got stuck in a net. Fortunately very thoughtful was able to save them both and they lived happily ever after. After reading this story it would be very easy to spin it into a fairytale with three characters and a lot of important details.

This is the main quote I think of when it comes to fairytales. Picture by: Creative Commons Zero

Bibliography: More Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt The Three Fishes

Week 10 Story: On The Hunt

By Maria Dawson

I really like how simple these drawlings are. Picture from: Wallpaper Flare

There once was a pair of two unlikely friends one was a cheetah and the other was a lion. While the two were on the hunt the lion looked at the cheetah and said ‘Shhh I can feel a wildebeest presence nearby it is alone too”. The two get into their sneaking stance as they top the hill in front of them to get a better view of the valley.

However, the valley was dead. Nothing in sight in the Savanah except a few scattered dead trees and patches of grass. “LION WHY YOU ALWAYS LYING TO ME. I knew everyone was right about you, you are just a scam who wants everyone to think you have these “powerful being inside you” well I am done I do not need a partner ANYMORE” exclaimed the cheetah as he sped off like a light into the tall grass behind them.

Just then in the weeds 100 paces north a wildebeest appeared on the horizon. “Hmmm if only the cheetah could learn some patience then maybe we would understand each other better” thought the lion to himself. He then proceeded to walk back to camp with his head down making sure to take the long way home.

Cheetah must have had the same idea. Right up ahead he was pacing back and forth murmuring to himself “why would I say such a harsh thing to him he does not have anyone else”. Lion calls up ahead “it is okay I forgive you cheetah oh and by the way I DID see the wildebeest right when you stormed off”. “I am sorry I was so harsh on you earlier you are my best friend I cannot live without you” stated cheetah. “You are right those words did hurt but I understand you were just hungry; can we please try to communicate better in the future?” questioned the lion. “I will try my best” responded cheetah.

Filled with new energy the two palls head back to the hills again. “There, over the tree line, I see him,” said cheetah. The two go back to their stance the lion crept up to the area the creature was roaming while cheetah hung back to give chase if he ran. And in a split second the wildebeest took off with cheetah and lion on his tail lived one pounced on his feet the other on the back and then the beast was no more. “See we make a great team!” said the lion excitedly.

I really like how simple these drawlings are. Picture from: Free SVG

Authors Note: I was inspired by the story named The Ox Who Won the Forfeit because of the moral of the story. This is the main takeaway from the story is how communication can help everyone as well as valuing each other’s abilities. I am drawn to this story immediately because it reminds me of myself and how stubborn I am. In this story, the Ox does not like to be talked to in a harsh town and being told what to do. Because of his actions his owner loses a bet made. Once his owner understood why he was acting this way he treated the Ox with more respect. 

Bibliography: 

Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt The Ox Who Won the Forfeit

Reading Notes: Jakata Tales Part B

For part B of this week's reading notes, I was drawn most to the story titled, The Banyan Deer. I loved this story immediately because of the amount of details put into it by the Author. Right off the bat, she hits you with how beautiful the deer is in while and gold. I would love to take this subtle detail and add it to one of my stories where it is this week or the next coming weeks. When the first thing you read is so much detail about one character they really stand out in your mind. I want to create this amazing imagery within all my stories and I think this is one easier way I could make this happen.

This is not exactly how I picture the deer but I do see it as lit up and beautiful. Picture from: Nikita Khandelwal

When it comes to this moral of the story is how one is able to sacrifice so much for someone else. In this story, the King od the Banyan deer decided to give his life so a new mother could live to take care of her child. It is selfless acts such as this that would be interesting to write about for this week.

Bibliography:
Jataka Talesby Ellen C. Babbitt The Banyan Deer

Reading Notes: Jataka Tales Part A

I choose to study the Jataka Tales this week because I am interested in reading about these different ways animals can fit in these stories. I have yet to write a story that has a viewport between two animals so that something I would like to work on this week.  It would be interesting to write a story between animal charters with their given features. 

The story I was drawn the most to in reading A was The Ox Who Won the Forfeit.  I am drawn to this story immediately because it reminds me of myself and how stubborn I am. In this story, the Ox does not being talked to in a harsh town and being told what to do. Because of his actions his owner loses a bet made. Once his owner understood why he was acting this way he treated the Ox with more respect. 

This is the main takeaway from the story is how communication can help as well as valuing each other. I believe I would be able to create a very good story with the same morals in mind. By creating two animals who have to work together. They would have to do something as a team such as find a meal but relying on both their unique qualities. Then one is trying to belittle the other by saying they do not need his partner because he can do the same and does not see the point of what he is doing. From here the partner would leave and eventually once they figured out they actually need each other to get the job done they can finish as a team again. 

I picture these two animals on the hunt together. Picture from: University of California Libraries

Bibliography: 

Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt The Ox Who Won the Forfeit

Week 9 Story: 12 Years

By: Maria Dawson

“WAKE.” Lord Oak spoke to his people in a harsh and short tone to warn others a human was walking through the territory. For years there has been peace between the forest and mankind. However, within the past year, the air has been blowing a different direction, more frigid than usual. This keeps my people on edge whenever we have a new visitor in the woods.

“Oh, be gentle Oak,” said his mate Pine, “they look harmless probably passing through for a drink in the lake”. Mrs. Pine and Oak have been together for centuries building up the forest and keeping it a safe place for all of us. There have been hard times of course but none in my decades nevertheless better to stay safe rather than sorry. In our village, we always keep tabs on who or what is coming near and what their intentions are.  

“Ah. I know these men and their past. I see what their intentions are. Not good” replies Oak. As the four men stop by the lake to set up a camp. “Yessir, this here is a perfect spot. Let the night rejoice and the fires howl” states one of the men wearing a yellow plaid shirt with blue jean standing broad-faced looking in towards the lake. “Boss you sure this lake here won’t stop the fires before we can get the forest clear?” responds a skinny fellow in a brown vest from behind the group.

Nightfall was fast approaching and with it brought back the same northern wind mentioned earlier. Just then the four men started pouring gasoline all over the ground and trees. “Do not panic my people we have been planning this for years trust in me” assures Oak “Fir do you remember how I taught you to contact the lake?”. I shake I hear Lord Oak speak my name “Yes Sir I am ready” I reply confidently.

The four men each light their own match and threw it on the trail they left behind. We wait anxiously to see when Oak will give the signal. Watching as the fire spread fast in towards the trees creating a great smokestack in the sky.

“NOW” yells Oak and at once the forest awakes! I take in water and put the fire out as the Sequoia twins trap in the four criminals.

“You violated out peace treaty men” Oak’s voice bellows throughout the forest “Now I sentence you to twelve years within the forest. You cannot tear down my people to create room for yours. We have come to this agreement long ago, now it is too late. You must learn respect for the trees and the lives we hold within”.  The forest fell quiet and the men knew they were stuck here for 12 long years within the trees.

This is how I picture the forest after it burns itself and grows back. Picture from: Chris Fort

Authors Note: 
For this week I decided to try something new with my writing and focus on one particular setting instead of the plot or a character. I got this idea while I was reading over some note-taking strategies. While I was reading over the stories in the Mahabharata I noticed quite a few stories taking place inside a forest. This is where I drew my inspiration for this week's story. From here I decided to make the forest its own being as if it had thoughts and feelings. I hope you enjoyed my rendition of these two stories!

Bibliography: 
The Indian Heroes: Mahabharata - The Princes of Elephant City by
Author: C. A. Kincaid year 1921 chapter 13: THE YEAR OF DISGUISE and 16: DURYODHANA'S DEATH.

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part B

This is how I picture the forest after it burns itself and grows back. Picture from: Chris Fort

Now that I have gotten to know myself through creative writing a little bit better I am able to create works I truly love and feel inspired by. However, to keep myself inspired I need to be able to try new things while also keeping everything consistent. While looking over the note strategies I saw something that caught my eye, by focusing on the setting. Taking this one step further I thought it would be fun and neat to write about the main setting in all of these stories as it if was a real being. In the stories within the Mahabharata, the forest is the main setting.

The forest is seen in the following stories in part B: 13. THE YEAR OF DISGUISE and 16. DURYODHANA'S DEATH. For the story of The Year of Disguise, the main charters are stuck within the forest for 12 years and later are sentenced to another 12 years within the forest. I could use this story to introduce the forest as the main setting giving it an internal dialogue between the trees and the lake. To expand the different stories I could use the story Duryondhanas Death where he dies in the forest fire. Maybe in this part of the story, the forest wanted him to die for a particular reason so they set themself on fire knowing they would grow back greener and stronger. This would make a really good moral pot of the story by saying sometimes it is healthy to purge the bad things within your life to create a better you so you will be stronger and wiser.

Bibliography: The Indian Heroes: Mahabharata - The Princes of Elephant City by
Author: C. A. Kincaid year 1921 chapter 13: THE YEAR OF DISGUISE and 16: DURYODHANA'S DEATH.