Wikipedia Trails: From Brothers Grimm to Olive Oil

The Brothers Grimm:
-German academics and authors from the 19th century
-best known for their works of folktales
-their stories were used as propaganda for the Third Reich of the Nazis

Nazi Germany:
-the period of time when Germany was under the rule of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party
-turned Germany into a fascist state
-came to an end after World War II
-1936 displayed the Nazis on an international platform as they performed for Germany

Olympic Flame:
-signifies when Prometheus stole fire from Zeus
-introduced in 1928 in Amsterdam
-the first widely known athlete to light the flame was Paavo Nurmi
-early torches used olive oil for fuel to light the fire

Olive Oil:
-a liquid fat obtained from olives
-used in cooking, pharmaceuticals, soaps, and fuel
-Greece is the highest consumer of olive oil

(Olive Oil)

Reading Notes: The Brothers Grimm Unit, Part B

The Six Swans:
-a king went out to hunt by himself
-he was surrounded at every hour of the day by people and hunting was the one time he could be alone with just himself and nature
-soon it became dark and he had wandered farther into the woods than he ever had before
-he got so turned around and now wished one of his many guards was there to help him find his way
-as he was searching for a way out he came across an old witch
-she knew these woods like the back of her hand and agreed to help him find his way home on one condition - that he marry her daughter and make her his queen
-the king took her back to his castle but kept his precious children hidden from his new wife
-she became so jealous that when he was away she turned them all into swans - all except for the one little girl who was hiding so her stepmother could not find her
-she was determined to break the spell and save her brothers
-she followed the instructions her brothers gave and even though it took six years she remained faithful and saved her family

(The Three Spinsters)

The Three Spinsters:
-a young girl was taken away by the queen to live in her castle because word falsely spread about what a magnificent spinner she was
-she would constantly find excuses to tell the queen when the queen would come check her work and see that nothing had been done
-the queen said that once the work was done the girl would marry her son, the prince
-so the girl found three poor women in the street who agreed to do all her work if she would only invite them to her wedding as her own relatives
-once the prince saw how heinous the three women were he declared that his new wife should never spin another day in her life
-the new princess invited the three women to live with them because she was eternally grateful for their services to her

Bibliography:

Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm translated by Lucy Crane

Famous Last Words: Almost to the Finish Line

Well, I am approaching the end of the semester and with it my graduation from OU. I am definitely feeling the senioritis hit me hard as of late, so I am ready for May 13th to get here! I have loved my time here at OU so I will be very sad to leave, but I am ready for my next adventure that awaits. I will be moving later this summer to Conway, Arkansas to attend the Physical Therapy Program at the University of Central Arkansas. I have lived in Norman my entire life, so I am definitely hesitant to leave. Most of my family and friends are here so it will be difficult to say goodbye, but I am excited for the challenge of making a home and finding other friends some place new. One of my best friends from Norman got into UCA as well so I do not having to start in a new place alone.

(I will be sad to leave the OU campus!)

We are still trying to figure out all the details of where we will live when we move, so that is a little stressful but at least I know I for sure have a roommate! I am the type of person who likes to have everything planned out. It is hard for me to wait and trust that everything will work out by the time I need it to. I have to force myself to focus my attention on wrapping up my undergrad semester before I can stress out about what is to come this fall in grad school. For right now, I am just trying to finish this semester strong and prepare for my last round of exams before it is time for finals. It is so crazy to think that I am about to have my last finals week at OU, ever! I would like to end my time here at OU on a high note because the past four years have been a blast.

Reading Notes: The Brothers Grimm Unit, Part A

The Fisherman and His Wife:
-the fisherman lived with his wife on a lonely island
-his wife always wanted more than he could ever give
-he went out to fish one day, but the fish he could started talking back to him
-he was so startled when it begged for its life that he let it go
-he ran home to tell his wife about his extraordinary day and the magical fish
-but all she had to say was a complaint about how come he didn't use the fish to try to get a wish or capture the talking fish so they could become rich
-so the man went back to the fish and asked for a cottage so they would have more space to live
-he returned home to find his wish had been granted by the fish
-everything his wife wished, she made her husband go ask of the fish and he granted it
-she had wished for more and more until finally the fish took away everything he had granted her and they ended up as poor as they started out

(Aschenputtel)

Aschenputtel:

-a young girl knew her mother was sick, but her parents hid how close her mother was to dying from her

-when her mother was on her death bed she called her daughter to her side and told her to always make the right choices and be kind

-her father soon remarried and along with her stepmother came two new sisters

-at first she was excited to have new sisters and friends to play with, but she soon realized they were cruel and only pretended to be kind when her father was around

-her step mother made her do all the chores of the household while her sisters did nothing

-she found a friends in the animals that lived in the woods that surrounded the house

-they helped her with chores and even helped her make a dress when she escaped to the king's ball

-and ultimately helped the prince find her at her house

-she was able to leave the cruel treatment of her stepmother and stepsisters forever

Bibliography:

Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm translated by Lucy Crane 

Tech Tip: Canvas Profile and Display Name

I chose to do this Tech Tip to just learn more about Canvas in general. I uploaded a photo of myself that I had taken for my senior announcements because I like that picture of myself and it reminds me that I am so close to graduating!

(This will be me in May!)

 I hadn't uploaded a picture previously because I hadn't really thought about it and because I honestly did not know how. I chose not to include any links because I don't really have any that pertain to my academic life here on Canvas. However, I think the photograph alone makes it look a lot more personal than it did before.

Reading Notes: Robin Hood Unit, Part B

Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford:
-Robin Hood dressed up as a shepherd to trick the bishop as he travelled through the forest
-they killed a deer in front of the bishop even though it was the king's and they knew it meant trouble if they were caught killing it
-but Robin Hood loved to stir up trouble
-Robin Hood appealed to the bishop's occupation and said he should have mercy, but this bishop saw no need to have mercy on poor shepherds
-so Robin Hood revealed his true identity to the bishop and called out to his men
-the bishop froze in fear and begged for mercy, but Robin Hood was not obliged to give him any
-they made the bishop stay and feast with them in the town
-then they said they would only let him go if he gave them all his money, which he gladly agreed to before fleeing for his life

Little John a Begging:
-Little John went into the town dressed as a poor beggar
-he met two other beggars in the forest on the way into town and decided to join their company
-the two men did not want a stranger to join them and tried to beat him up
-Little John was of course up for the fight and when he had finished with them all the money they had stolen had fallen out of their cloaks
-they were thieves and not poor beggars at all

(Little John)

Robin Hood and Maid Marian:
-Maid Marian was praised for her beauty by everyone who knew her
-people compared her to mythical goddesses and great women of past times
-Robin Hood saw her and fell in love with her like everyone else had before him
-but he took his time and wooed her
-soon they fell in love, but he had to return every night to the forest
-Marian got so depressed when he left, that finally one night she decided to venture out to the forest to find Robin Hood
-she disguised herself and went out fully armed
-she met Robin Hood, but did not recognize him for he was in full disguise as well
-they got to fighting, but when Marian cut Robin Hood and he yelled out she recognized his voice and threw off her disguise
-they decided to marry and remain together in the forest

Bibliography:

Ballads of Robin Hood by Francis James Child

Reading Notes: Robin Hood Unit, Part A

Robin Hood's Progress to Nottingham:
-Robin Hood was only 15 and yet he was the best archer in the county
-he was also incredibly cocky and did not take kindly to people doubting his abilities
-he killed all of the forresters who doubted his abilities

Robin Hood and Little John:
-Robin Hood did not have many friends
-he kept to himself and made so many rash decisions that people were scared to interact with him
-he met Little John by challenging him to a fight in the forrest and was getting severely beaten by the huge, strong man that was Little John
-they called it a truce and decided to be friends, since they both seemed to be committed to the same ideals

(Robin Hood and Little John)

Robin Hood's Delight:
-Robin Hood was the keeper of the forest and let everyone who entered into his realm know
-his fiery and rash personality jumped upon the opportunity to challenge anyone who questioned him
-he often got into unnecessary trouble because of his love of picking fights

Bibliography:

Ballads of Robin Hood by Francis James Child

Tech Tip: Canvas Calendar

This tutorial video on the Canvas calendar was surprisingly helpful. I am on Canvas several times a day to access different materials for all my various classes so it would be convenient to have everything that I need to do that week compiled in one place. I had no idea I could put in my own events in the personal section of the calendar, so that was something new that I learned from this.


I also like that in the Agenda view, you can see the assignments in the order that they are due. This would help in time management and in the decision process of which assignment to tackle first. I have a physical planner that I use, but after viewing this I seriously am considering using this Canvas calendar to keep up with my assignments. It would be nice because my backpack is so heavy that my planner would be one less thing I would have to carry around.

(Calendar)

Week 11 Storytelling: Young Beowulf's Journal

Dear Journal,

My parents got a letter today from my uncle, King Hygelac, informing them that word of my “superior strength” has spread all the way to his kingdom. He wants me to come live with him and his other warriors. I know I should be excited to be a thane because of all the skills I will get to learn, but honestly all I can think about is having to leave my parents and my friends. All I want to do is be a kid. People keep freaking out about how strong I am, but it’s not like I can help it.



Dear Journal,

So apparently my uncle is pretty anxious to get me started in training. I told my parents that I don’t want to go, but they think it will be a good opportunity for me. I know they are probably right (ugh they usually are), but it still doesn’t make it any easier. I am trying to be strong and I don’t want to admit to them how much I am going to miss home. I am leaving at the end of the month.



Dear Journal,

I arrived at my uncle’s this morning. His kingdom is pretty nice, I guess. I have a really cool room, but I bet that is just because I am family. I really hope he doesn’t give me special attention because I want the other guys to treat me normally, not like a kid who is just here because the King is my uncle. I am trying to act happy to be here, but I already have a bad feeling that this adjustment period is really going to suck.

(Young Beowulf)

Dear Journal,

Well I have made one friend after being here for 5 months! It may or may not be the family dog, but a friend is a friend. I miss everything about home so much. I am strong and getting stronger, just like they expected, but I am so awkward that it doesn’t even matter. I run so fast that I get tripped up over my own two feet. I just really don’t feel like I fit in with all these strong warriors and I think that is how the other guys like it. I am looking for someone else who is struggling as much as I am, but everyone else seems like they have it all figured out. I just feel really alone.



Dear Journal,

Someone has started spreading nasty rumors about me. As if being the loser who has no friends wasn’t enough, now everyone thinks I am a lazy coward! I didn’t even ask to be here in the first place. I just want to leave, but I am too angry. I will prove that these are all untrue for the sake of my family’s name. A guy a little older than me, named Breca, challenged me to swim the open sea. I have really been improving in the training drills so I am actually ready to prove myself. This seems like the perfect opportunity. Maybe if I can win this race, people will see that I have been working hard this whole time and I am not a slacker. The race is tomorrow, so I will update when I get back.

Author's Note:

I based this off of the Beowulf Unit, mostly from The Young Beowulf story. It talked about how Beowulf had to leave his family at a very young age so I wanted to explore his feelings about leaving everything he knew. The original story just assumed that he would be happy to go, but I wanted to contrast that in my story with his longing to be normal. The original story did talk about how he trouble adjusting so I expanded on that and went deeper into what his inner thoughts would be.

Bibliography:

The Young Beowulf by Strafford Riggs

Reading Notes: Beowulf Unit, Part B

Grendel Attacks:
-all the warriors had tried to stay awake to be ready for when Grendel arrived, but sleep overcame all of them but Beowulf
-Beowulf kept dozing off, but never fully reached sleep
-Grendel silently approached the hall to feast on the new warriors he had seen arrive earlier that day
-he used the magic he had learned from his mother to cast a spell on those who slept
-Beowulf was unaffected by the sleep spell because he was not fully asleep
-Grendel entered the hall and began silently ripped the sleeping men limb from limb
-Beowulf turned over in his bed and made eye contact with Grendel

The Battle with Grendel:
-Beowulf was the first creature that Grendel had encountered that he couldn't easily dismember
-Grendel longed to crush his bones like the others, but Beowulf was too strong and fast
-the fight went on for what seemed like an eternity
-finally Beowulf caught hold of Grendel's arm and pinned it behind his back
-he was able to rip his arm off at the shoulder and Grendel went off screaming into the night

(Beowulf)

Beowulf Battles Grendel's Mother:

-Beowulf went alone to Grendel's mother to kill her for she would never rest on exacting her vengeance on the people who attacked her son

-she was even more grotesque than he imagined

-she immediately started attacking him and she was so much more fierce than Grendel 

-Beowulf caught a glance of a crumpled body in the corner

-he knew immediately Grendel had just made it back to the cave before he died

-he found a magic sword in the wall and was able to slice Grendel's mother in half

-all her spells had no power against that sword

-then he cut off Grendel's head to take back to the hall

Bibliography:

The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs

Reading Notes: Beowulf Unit, Part A

King Hygelac of Geatsland:

-The Geats had war in their blood

-the majority of every year was spent fighting with the surrounding tribes

-when they weren't fighting other tribes the warriors would go out and seek monsters to kill

-the king only chose warriors to be by his side that had proven themselves in battle 

-when they took a break from fighting they would feast together in the large hall and tell stories of how they had conquered their foes in battle

-the younger men would listen and long to be brave like these warriors one day

The Young Beowulf:

-Beowulf was the king's nephew

-he showed such promise, that he went to live with the king and be trained as a warrior

-Beowulf missed his parents and his friends at home

-he never really adjusted to the kingdom or made friends

-he was much stronger than everyone his age and people did not know how to react to him

-they held a feast for Beowulf when he came of age

-but nothing made Beowulf happy

-he still wasn't accepted and he felt like he strength was wasted because he had nothing to use it for

-a wise old magician foretold that he would do great things, but Beowulf did not believe him

(Beowulf and his men)

Beowulf's Resolve:

-the wanderer who came and sang about the monster Grendel who was wreaking havoc caught Beowulf's attention

-he finally found something that would be a challenge and he could save the lives of so many people

-the queen approved of his mission when no one else did

-but with her approval everyone else came around

-Beowulf was to prove himself a hero or not return to the land of the Geats

Bibliography:

The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs