Mythology and Folklore Blog

The Farmer and the Stork (Stork from Free Stock Photos ) I really enjoyed the Aesop fable in the Week 2 reading anthology so I thought for an extra credit reading I would try one of the Aesop sections. Plot: A stork is invited to a party with cranes at a newly planted field. The stork goes and all the birds get caught in the farmer's net. The stork begs the farmer to spare him as he is not a crane and did not know they were going to steal. The farmer refuses, saying even if you are a good bird, you are with the thieving cranes and will be given the same punishment. Characters: The characters in this story are the good stork who hangs out with the wrong crowd, the thieving cranes, and the farmer who doles out the lesson. Lesson: You're judged by the company you keep. Ideas: I just really like this lesson because it is so true. Everyone has had a time where they were judged by the company they keep and it's important to remember that. This story could be kept ...

For this weeks information on feedback strategies I read Why Do So Many Managers Avoid Giving Praise  and How to Give Feedback Without Sounding Like a Jer k. What I most like about these readings was the focus on the fact that negative feedback is not bad. In the managers giving praise article, it was interesting that so many of the workers did not relate whether or not the manager was giving honest feedback on the negative. They were mostly influenced by whether there was also positive praise. Positive feedback, even when it's smaller, is important because it allows the workers to see that their efforts are noticed and appreciated. The key to that is, as discussed in the second article, being sincere. The compliment sandwich is seen as false and people can tell they're being buttered up. Conversely, workers are willing to accept both positive and negative feedback when it is given in an honest way. I also thought it was interesting and a good idea in the second article how the...

Just a list of stories that are examples of some type of suitor test. (Bride and Groom from pxhere ) The Six Servants T he Princess and the Pea The White Snake King Thrushbeard The Princess on the Glass Hill The Green Serpent Donkey Skin The Travelling Companion The Golden Goose The Peasant's Clever Daughter The Blue Rose The Invisible Ones There are several main types of these suitor test fairytales and it might be interesting to focus on one of each for my project. The main and most straight forward type is where a king sets a challenge that must be met by the heroes to marry the bride (or vice versa). When the heroines have to complete the challenge it's often not to prove bravery or such its instead focused on virtues or domestic abilities. There is another type of story where the challenge is, in essence, impossible and therefore acts as a way to prevent the marriage because the father does not approve. There is the virtue challenge where the face of the ...

The Poor CEO (Andrew Carlson the CEO from Wikipedia Commons ) "Where are the rest of the files? You know this meeting is important. Are all of you incompetent?" raged Mr. Carlson.  Andrew Carlson was the CEO of one of the largest real estate agencies in San Francisco and was famed for his temper. This morning was particularly bad as Andrew's company had an important meeting with the owner of one of the largest privately owned parcels of land. He had been on a rampage, insulting all of his employees and firing one poor girl who came in ten minutes late.  As Andrew walked into the boardroom to meet the owner he saw a frail-looking old man. Perfect, he thought, it will be easy to get the land if this old man is the only owner. He didn't even bring a lawyer. As he sat down and greeted the old man he noticed an odd expression on the man's face. Before the meeting could even start the old man stood up and closed all the blinds and locked the doors.  ...

Notes on The Fairy Frog (Frog Illustration from Wikipedia Commons ) Plot: An old man tells his son on his death bed that he wants him to go to the market and buy the first thing someone offers him as it will bring him good fortune. The old man dies so the son does as he wishes. He purchases a silver box for a large sum. When he gets home he opens the box on the Passover feast to discover a frog. The son and his wife then feed the frog but it eats so much that they have none left for themselves. The frog gets so large it needs its own shed and the son and his wife are facing increasing hardships but they still follow the old man's dying wish. Finally, the frog says for your kindness I will grant you your wishes. The wife asks for food and a food basket appears immediately. The son asks for knowledge and the frog has him eat papers and after that, he knows all, even the language of animals. He becomes one of the most learned sages. Then the frog speaks again on anothe...

Reading Notes on The Beggar King (The Beggar King from Wikipedia Commons ) Plot: In this story, a rich and proud king tears some pages out of the Holy Book because it states that riches are not forever. The king then goes deer hunting with some of his court. He thinks he has cornered the deer only to discover a boy wearing deerskin in the forest. The boy says he is a genie who has lured the king there to teach him a lesson for tearing the pages out of the book. He then steals the king's clothes and meets up with the courtiers saying he is the true king. The actual king wanders around and tries to tell a wood cutter what has happened. The wood cutter laughs at him and gives him some rags. He then goes to the castle, but the guards only laugh at him when he says he is the king. He tries to work in the field but is not cut out for it. Eventually, he ends up with a group of blind beggars as their guide. One day the genie, acting as king, calls for a feast for all the beggars i...