Trickster Tales

The “Raven the Trickster” was at first confusing. I did not understand what the meaning of this graphic novel was. Then after rereading it I understood it a little better. The part that I found interesting was when the raven was inside the whale and met a lady. Then the lady left to get the raven some food but never came back. Was she really there or was that in the raven’s imagination? Also when the hunters killed the whale and the raven came out did the lady die with the whale did she also escape? Overall the novel was interesting to read. The other graphic novel “The Wolf and the Mink” was similar to the raven graphic novel but I believe the moral was different. The moral of the raven was that you need to be careful with who you trust because they can easily trick you and you would not even expect it. The wolf novel on the other hand, its moral was that even those that are very close to you can trick you. We are very use to strangers being the ones to trick or harm you that we forget those who love us the most are the ones who can hurt us the easiest. That was why it was so easy for the wolf to eat the mink’s food and the mink not even notice. So far these have been my favorite graphic novels. They may seem as they are graphic novels for children, but once you read it you realize that the children will not fully understand it and that they are more for an older crowd. 

American Born Chinese

Before reading the graphic novel I read "Graphic Memoirs Come of Age" and before this I thought comic books are all the same. But the article thought me that every comic book is different just like how every book falls under different category so does the comic books. Even though they are fictional they have a deeper meaning. For example, the graphic novel called "American Born Chinese" people would think that it's a children story because the characters are monkeys and it's to entertain them. But in all actuality the graphic comic is about is to show the reader that everybody is different and has a hard time becoming their own person. Just like how the monkey wanted everybody to see them as a powerful and thought that by being somebody else people would accept him. Until later one in the graphic comic does he find out that he should accept who he is and the way he is because everybody has their flaws and everybody is different. I think this comic should be shared in school because not only is it fun to read but it is also very educational. It will have a big influence on the way children see themselves especially when they are going through the hormonal stages. During that time they are feeling uncomfortable due to all the changes. And I believe this comic will allow them to realize that they are perfect the way they are and instead of hating themselves they should embrace it and love it.

American Indian Myths and Legends

Native Americans have been around for years and as many know they are very spiritual. As the reading says the Native Americans saw the landscape as Gods or amazing things that thanks to them they are able to live. The legend called “When Grizzlies Walked Upright” is a great example to the way the Native Americans viewed the world. In the legend the girl is the Native because she was very amazed by the grizzlies, just like how Natives looked the land and animals. The father was the Americans because they did everything possible to take everything away from the Natives, but they never really did. Because of this legend the Natives never killed grizzlies, and the Native Americans have a stronger culture than the Americans. As it says on the article the Native American culture is still going on especially with all these legends being passed on. While the Americans are relying on everybody else’s culture the Native American cultural has been increasing. So really the Native Americans never lost anything it was really the Americans. They tried to take away something from others because they never had that.

"Juan Bobo"

The reading "Juan Bobo: A Folkloric Information System" is very informal and is a great example on how folktales are very universal. “Juan Bobo” is a very well know folktale especially in the Caribbean. My mother was raised in the Caribbean, in Dominican Republic and as I was reading the folktale I asked her if she knows about this tale. She told me that when she was small my grandfather would tell it to her. I see folktales as another way to be able to communicate or connect with people from other places. For example, in the reading “Foreword” the author mentions three different races. They were all from different places and all had different languages, and folktales were probably the only way they are able to interact with each other. Also, folktales are interesting and entertaining ways to communicate with each other. Not only can you spend years telling each other folktales to communicate, but they can also learn new folktales and then pass them on to their grandchildren or friends. I believe folktales should be part of history because they come from all around the world and are passed down for centuries.

"Folklore"

Folklore in my case is stories made or told by group of people and passed down over time. What I do not understand is that why there isn’t a real definition for folklore? Also, what is the difference between folktales and folklores? Both folktales and folklores have tradition and they are passed down and still told today. Starting this class I only knew about fairy tales especially the Disney fairy tales. I thought that they all under the same category but in all actuality there are so many different categories that for some they do not even have an explanation to every of them. Now I am starting to open my eyes to all the different stories and that there’s a story for everything. There are stories to terrify children into behaving good, for children to stay away from strangers. And they just pass them on to their family and or friends.

"The Role Of Fables in Human Life"

I agree with what Edward Clayton is addressing in this article. He disscusses about how every fable has a different meaning, all depending on the way you view life. When I was reading the fable about the "Works and Days", I interpreted it as the strong ones were the political people with money and the weak ones were the middle class people. Also that the strong ones will always be on top and the weak ones would either stay as the weak ones or will do anything to go up.