Ann's Blog

The Fairy Bride At sixteen years old, Annie was pretty sure she was grown enough to know whether or not something was good for her. Her parents, evidently, disagreed. She was being forced to marry a man whom she had no love for, just because her parents wanted it. She was currently in the kitchen, trying to argue some sense into her mom, who was washing the dishes. So far, Annie hadn't achieved much.   "Honey, if you would just calm down and listen to us, maybe you'd understand that we are just trying to do what's best for you. We love you more than anything and we know what's best." Her mom said, drying a dish. Annie could feel a headache coming on already. "Mom!" she said, "How can this be what's best when I am clearly miserable? You know, just because I'm young doesn't mean I'm not a human being with feelings and opinions!"  Mom sighed. "Annie now you're just being dramatic. I know you are unhappy right ...

Bibliography:  Tales of the North American Indians,  by Stith Thompson.  The Son-In-Law Tests (Image Information: Pike Fish, Blogspot ) This story reveals the origin of the Pike. Naughty Wemicus dies when one of his evil schemes goes wrong and where he was there was seen a Pike fish. So it is implied that he was turned into the fish. The plot of this story consists of Wemicus (the animal-trickster) trying to trick his son-in-law. Wemicus has previously killed all of his daughter's many previous husbands, so she knows of his tricks and is able to warn her current husband. Because of this, her husband avoids the traps and manages to trick Wemicus instead. Wemicus appears to perish and/or turns into a Pike. I think the plot of this story was pretty straight forward; we expect the husband to keep avoiding the traps and it seems likely he will win in the end, which he does. The most important event in the plot is when the wind upsets Wimicus's canoe and he falls into...

Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians, by Stith Thompson.  Bluejay and His Companions (Image Information: Earless Seal, Wikipedia ) This week I am focusing on Plot and Characters. The story of Bluejay and His Companions begins with the reader learning that Bluejay is a bully and he and his four friends are mean to Grouse, who lives with them. They go hunting and always give the leanest parts of the meat to Grouse because Bluejay says he does not deserve better. Grouse takes his revenge by building a wooden seal to trick the men next time they go hunting. The men spear the wooden seal and are dragged far far away. One of the men drowns so Bluejay is left with only three companions. They finally reach land where Bluejay has to compete against one of the natives of the land in a climbing contest. He wins and kills his competitor so the people let him and his companions go. They leave and go to a different village where Bluejay is challenged again. This time it i...