Week 13 Review

Wonderful Writing

         I know, for a fact, that this is something I really struggle with when it comes to writing. I always want to put out my best work and for it to be perfect. If I cannot meet those requirements while I am brainstorming, writing, etc. than I would rather scrap the whole project and not do it, which is pretty extreme, but I want to be able to put my best work forward and not put out trash because I want my art/craft to be perfection. It is a high standard, but I think it pushes me out of my comfort zone and allows me to exceed expectations.

Famous Last Words: Week 13

I got to finish both of my readings for this week. I chose to read the Russian Folktales, which were very interesting and a joy to read. The thing I remember the most about the readings was about the Soldier and the Vampire, it was a very well written story. It was very intriguing and left me wondering what was going to happen next especially when the soldier befriended the Warlock. I was not expecting the soldier to eventually turn on the Warlock and kill him with his sword than burn him so he would not exist anymore. It reminded me of my story, You Can’t Trust Everyone, where everything was going good than in one moment it all changes.

I would say my best writing came from my Spanish Presentation, which really hounded my time last week and I did not get around to doing the Storytelling Assignment for this past week. The week before I had the biggest writer’s block and could not come up with any ideas for a story to tell, so I did not want to put out a awful story. I have stuck with the same storytelling style throughout the semester and maybe that is my problem with trying to come up with a story, so maybe I try a new one this week.

All of my classes have been good this semester. Intermediate Spanish has been the biggest pain out of all of them, but it is my last semester of Foreign Language. I am trying my best to finish strong and get a B in the class, which I am on the border of right now, than I will be done with Foreign Language for the rest of my life! Can I get an “Amen”? It was a blast getting to attend the Norman Music Festival this past weekend. There are so many talented artist in Oklahoma and many people do not get to hear them, so I am glad they get to showcase their talent at this big, three-day event. 

 Norman Music Festival

Week 13 Reading Diary, continued

Russian Folktales: The Soldier and the Vampire

·       The soldier was allowed to return home, so he walked and walked until he drew near to his native village. There was a miller in a mill not far from the village, he decided to go pay his friend a visit.

·       The miller brought him into the house and got out some liquor; and the two started to drink and talk about what they have been up to as of late. The soldier was there for so long that it began to get extremely dark outside. The miller offered that he stay there for the night due to a Warlock that had died and has been haunting the village.

Warlock

·       The soldier refused, stating that he was not scared of him and was anxious to see his people. He took off on the road by the graveyard, where he looked upon and saw a fire. He decided to walk over to the fire and there it was… The Warlock.

·       The soldier was asked to go to a wedding with the Warlock, when they arrived; they were treated with great hospitality and given drinks. The Warlock continued to drink and became angry and chased everyone out of the wedding, also piercing the hands of the bride and groom with an awl then left.

·       The soldier questioned him of his doings, and the Warlock explained that he did it in order that they would die, but he knows how to bring them back to life.

·       The soldiers asked if there was any way to get the better of the Warlock and he said that all of him would have to be burned, including the creatures that would try to escape from him.

·       The Warlock attacked the soldier and, in return, fought back with his sword with sweeping blows until he was at the end of his strength, but with one last blow he dropped the Warlock lifelessly to the ground.

·       The soldier returned to where the wedding took place and brought the two back to life through the instructions of the Warlock. After, they dragged the warlock to his grave to burn him and did not let nay creature escape. The whole village thanked him for his service. 

         The Soldier and the Vampire, W. R. S. Ralston (1887)

 

Week 13 Reading Diary

Russian Folktales: The Treasure

·       There was an old couple who lived in poverty in the kingdom. The old woman passed away during the severe and extremely cold weather. The old man walked around to his friends and neighbors, looking for help to dig a grave for the old woman, but everyone refused to help due to his poverty. The old man eventually went to the pope and asked for the same help, but the pope refused to help because the man had no money.

·       He decided to take an axe and a shovel to the graveyard to start preparing the grave. He hacked away at the ground with the axe and dug with the shovel until he dug up a metal pot. Inside of the metal pot were an immense amount of ducats that shined bright.

·       This gold changed everything for the man and brought people of the kingdom to help him with the grave. He went back to the pope and gave him piece of gold, so that he would bury his old woman and the pope agreed.

·       The pope went about the burial in proper fashion and after the funeral; the old man invited him over for a feast in memory of the dead.

·       After the feast, the old man sped off into the farmyard and the pope followed, questioning him on where all of this profound wealth came from. The old man explained the whole occurrence of the event that took place. \

·       Greediness filled the pope after hearing about the abundance of riches were in the hands of the old man, so he developed a plan to disguise himself as a goat and went to the old man’s cottage.

·       The pope knocked on the window and frightened the old man, telling him that he was the Devil and forced the old man to rid himself of the gold, in which the pope turned it into his possession. His mother cut the thread too deep and cut the pope, in which he died, so God did punish him for his greediness.

TheTreasure, W. R. S. Ralston