Possible Paper Topics

I had not thought about my paper topic until I was put on the spot in class, and am now suddenly stressed thinking about the wizard of oz project and now researching for this paper....but all stress aside.....I think I will be writing my paper on how mythological stories and characters function children's literature. I have not even started looking into it yet, but it's nice to have an idea!

My Book and Heart Shall Never Part

I was very excited to see this movie....it was a long thursday, and I couldnt wait to sit, relax and watch it. It was not quite what I had expected. I think I was looking forward to a cornucopia of fairy tales and Dr. Sexson's granddaughter jumping into the character of each fairy tale and perhaps changing the view of it from a different perspective. There were some elements of this, however it was more generally concentrated towards the history of books and childrens learning; which was very interesting. I really enjoyed seeing how the old books were covered, from recycled wall paper, to actual boards. I would love to stumble upon one of these books, and the scrap book that contained the amazing nature drawings....they were beautiful. It was also interesting to learn that the letter J was missing in some of the first accounts of the alphabet...what the world be like today with the J? June? July?...Our summer would be non-existent! :) My favorite part of the movie was when Sexson's granddaughter gets married and she has "grown into a fine young lady" ...its funny....and then the shoe gets left behind! I did hear the question, "what is a child and I strained my ears for the long awaited answer...but I never did hear one....perhaps I missed it because I was distracted by someones beer can rolling down through the isles....! The movie was great, and I learned something, what more could I ask for...Cake! Which was good as well.

Fairytale Song, by Sara Bareilles

This song has been one of my favorites since it came out, and it only just occurred to me yesterday how well it fit in with out class. It's interesting because Cinderella isn't waiting for her prince, she daydreaming about a commoner, Sleeping Beauty is grumpy and wants nothing to do with her prince, Rapunzel wants to cut her hair so he cant get to her... because the general consensus is that these prince figures are a waste of time, and these women have better things to do then wait around on men :)Look it up if you get a chance!

"Fairytale"

Cinderella's on her bedroom floor
She's got a Crush on the guy at the liquor store
Cause Mr. Charming don't come home anymore
And she forgets why she came here
Sleeping Beauty's in a foul mood
For shame she saysNone for you dear prince,
I'm tired todayI'd rather sleep my whole life away
than have you keep me from dreaming

[Chorus:]
'cause I don't care for your fairytales
You're so worried about the maiden
though you knowShe's only waiting on the next best thing

Snow White is doing dishes again cause
What else can you doWith seven itty-bitty men?
Sends them to bed and calls up a friend
Says will you meet me at midnight?
The tall blonde lets out a cry of despair says
Would have cut it myself if I knew men could climb hair
I'll have to find another tower somewhere and keep away from the windows

[Chorus]

Once upon a time in a faraway kingdom
Man made up a story said that I should believe him
Go and tell your white knight that he's handsome in hindsight
But I don't want the next best thing
So I sing and hold my head down and
I break these walls round me
Can't take no more of your fairytale love

[Chorus]

I don't care, I don't care
Worry bout the maiden though you know
She's only waiting
spent the whole life being graded on
the sanctity of patience and a dumb Appreciation
But the story needs some mending and a better happy ending
Cause I don't want the next best thing
No no I don't want the next best thing

Cinderella Rebuttle

Look at the pretty woman walking down the street
All she is for you is a conquered feat
She is a gorgeous as can be
But past her beauty can't you see?
She portrays smarts of every kind
But intelligence in you she cannot find
She is blessed with true beauty and grace
And you are a bad omen to the human race
Your true ugliness shines from inside out
And causes the pretty woman to cry and pout
Because her poor fortune has bestowed her a curse
She prays for a new mate before things get worse
She spends each night pleading, "not tonight man, I've got bad cramps"
And he will leave her be and search for willing tramps
She is exceedingly smart with a angels face as well
She is perfect in every way, or so the moral should tell.

A Closer Look at ToTo

What can I say about ToTo...? He was Dorothy's dog in The Wizard of OZ....and so damn cute! For our class projects that are TOP SECRET...I was looking into this cute little creature and found some interesting info. (I found it on Wiki!!) Perhaps I was out of the loop, but did you know that L. Frank Baum's wrote series of Oz children's books?? I only ever knew there was the one book/movie! In this series ToTo played the part of the hero type...however he was never depicted as speaking. All of the other animals in the series did talk, especially when they reached OZ. At one point in the series it is revealed that he can talk, but instead chooses not to....weird? Then in In The Lost Princess of Oz, he talks a lot. Other major pieces include The Road to Oz, The Emerald City of Oz, Grampa in Oz, and The Magical Mimics in Oz.

Of the actual MGM Film it was said that:

"In the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, Toto was played by a black Cairn Terrier whose real name was Terry. Terry was paid a $125.00 salary each week, which was far more than many of the human actors (the Singer Midgets who played the Munchkins only received $50.00 a week). Also, Terry was stepped on by one of the witch's guards, and a double had to be used because her foot was broken. The popularity of the movie actually changed her name to Toto, because that was the role she was most remembered for. However, The Wizard of Oz wasn't the only film that Terry played a role. She actually starred in 13 films. She died at age 10." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toto_(dog)

I think I'm going to have to go out and buy me a little yappy terrier to carry around in a basket!

The Triple Goddess

I decided to look into the triple goddess concept and stumbled upon some really interesting stuff....from a web site called "The Witches Way." It says that "The concept of the Great Goddess as The Triple Goddess, young woman (Maiden), birth-giving matron (Mother), and an old woman (Crone), dates from the earliest ages of mankind. " We already knew these titles, but what I didn't know was that these three molds can also be used for the phases of the moon, the Maiden goes along with the new moon....the Mother is paired with the full moon, and the Crone is matched with the waning moon. As we have learned in class there is no such thing as an original, so it's no surprise that this concept of the triple goddess is used in many different mythologies and all over the world:

"The Vikings had the Norns (Urdu/Verdandi/Skuld), the Romans had the Fortunae (Concordia/Salus/Pax), the druids had Diana Triformis, the Greeks had the Moirae, Graeae, Horae. "

It is said that the Maiden conveys "enchantment, inception, expansion, the female principle, the promise of new beginnings, youth, excitement, and a carefree erotic aura. She is innocent in some ways, but also a seductress who recognizes the power of her sexuality. Maiden goddesses include: Anatha, Brigid, Nimue, Kore, Persephone, Gerd, Caer, Blodeuwedd. Her traditional color is white."

It is said that the Mother portrays "ripeness, fertility, fulfillment, stability, and power. Mother is ripe, full-breasted, at the peak of her womanly powers. She is the one who tenderly rocks the baby, but she is also the lioness who hunts to feed her offspring and will fight to the death to protect them. Mother goddesses include: Aa, Ambika, Anahita, Asherah, Ceres, Coatlicue, Danu, Demeter, Hathor, Ishtar, Isis, Lakshmi, Luonnotar, Nintu, Sheng-Mu. Her traditional color is red."

It is said that the Crone represents "wisdom, retrenchment, repose, and compassion. She is old age, experience, accumulated wisdom and death. She is the gateway to Death, and the guide to Rebirth. Crone goddesses include: Annis, Baba Yaga, Cailleach, Greine, Hel, Maman Brigitte, Oya, Sedna, Skuld, Takotsi, Toci. Her color is black."

There are some Goddesses who embody the triple, these being: "Brigid (Ireland/Celtic), Carmenta or Carmentis (Roman), Hekate or Hecate (Greek/Anatolia), Helice (Greek), Kali (India), the Morrigan (Ireland/Celtic). "

Ideally every woman would be one of these three at some point in their lives...so ideally every one of us women are the triple goddess? And why shouldn't we all be goddesses.... :)

Exam Review

You need to have read The little Mermaid, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel, East of the Sun West of the Moon, Blue Beard, and the Juniper Tree. Read the notes along the margins about other versions...

The questions are as follows:
Archetypal lady in Finnegan's wake? The Prank Quean
Portmanteau: alot of meaning packed into one word (ex:) "slithy" slimy and slithery
What are the privileged numbers in fairy tales? #3 and #7
Displaced Concreteness: something that is no original, and can be true in real life (ex:)
hair really could hold the weight of a man.
Type 333 in the index of folk tales belongs to what story? Little Red Riding Hood
Collective Unconscious manifests itself through.....archetypes
"If you're really crafty you'll get them both." said by the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood
What are the 3 parts to the universal quest? Separation, Initiation, and Return
Triple Goddess? The mother, the maiden and the crone
Why is there no original? Because everything is really just displaced myth
What are you recognizing in someone when you bow to them? the divine
The genie in Aladin says "I'm not history, I'm ......" mythology!
The difference between Cinderellas name in the two versions is her name is......? Ash Girl
Motif index, where does Hans my Hedgehog, Beauty and the Beast, fall under? Beast Groom, or
the search for the missing husband.
What story doesn't concern itself with parents trying to conceive? Blue Beard
Mythological mother and daughter duo? Demeter and Persephone
Significance of the blue in blue beards beard? all of the above
The cause of transformation in Beauty and the Beast is due to? Love
How many wives does blue beard have? 7? 4? No body knew
The first talking horses? The golden ass
Why did cupid wake when his wife was looking at him? Hot oil hit his shoulder
The two Sisty Uglers is an example of.....? A Spoonerism
Which poet believed that man knew everything is to know? Wordsworth
What mythical story does beauty and the beast derive from? Cupid and psyche
Whats the moral to blue beard? anti- female, blames the woman for being curious. curiosity kills
few Grimm fairy tales have a witch in them...which one does? Hansel and Gretel
Who wanted to marry little red riding hood? Charles Dickens
What common phrase begins every fairy tale? Once upon a time/ Long Long ago

The Lady of Shalott

The Lady of Shalott lives in an island castle in a river which flows to Camelot, but little is known about her by the local farmers.
She has been cursed, and so must constantly weave a magic web without looking directly out at the world. Instead, she looks into a mirror which reflects the busy road and the people of Camelot which pass by her island.
Then comes "bold Sir Lancelot" as he rides past, and is seen by the lady.
She stops weaving and looks out her window toward Camelot, bringing about the curse.She leaves her tower, finds a boat upon which she writes her name, and floats down the river to Camelot. She dies before arriving at the palace, and among the knights and ladies who see her is Lancelot.

I fell in love with this poem. It was the painting however that caught my attention first. The painting of the Lady of Shalott was the cover to the third volume in out set of British English anthologies....I used to stare at the cover, something about it, it was an escape....to a fairy tale. There was so much going on in it, I was caught up in its beauty. Then, we read a poem in class, and it was beautiful, flowing and imaginative...and heart breaking at the same time, a love story with no happy ending! I wanted a picture of this world that was described....then Kimberly Meyers said that the picture on the front of our text was the actual painting of the Lady of Shalott....I loved them separately without knowing that they belonged together. The poem has remnants of the classic fairy tale.....a prince who is unattainable, a curse to stay in a tower....the beauty in the sadness! For some reason....watching Hans my Hedgehog reminded me of this poem, I think the princess looks like the Lady in Shalott?? I'm not sure what it was that sparked this memory, but it's a beautiful one!