Week 2 Essay: Saints and Animals

Saints and Animals

Overall I like the un-textbook thus far. I was extremely happy when I learned I would not have to purchase a textbook for this class because I pay for my textbooks with my own money, and personally I believe that the industry is designed to rip off students.

Specifically regarding this unit, I can truly say that I loved the stories that were provided for me to read. I have knowledge of saints in my background; however, the only saint that I could remember was Saint Francis of Assisi. That is the most common saint for animals and I had never really known the story behind Saint Francis, just that he was a saint. Because of this, I have been enjoying learning about the saints and their stories.

What I did not like about this unit was the poetry stories. I understand that some people like poetry; it’s just that I am not one of them. I appreciate poetry, however, I have a hard time following and understanding it. For that reason, I hated those few stories, and I felt like I wasn’t able to appreciate them as much and truly understand the saint.

A suggestion that I wouldn’t mind seeing implemented, is the use of background information. I think getting to immediately see the year the saint lived, and origin, would help in better understanding the story. Plus, I love the stories, but I also am a big fan of short, concrete facts. The information in things like that, is much easier to share than the entire story.

I think this reading was a great choice for me because I was interested in learning about religious figures. If someone else has the same goal, then I would definitely suggest it to him or her. I also just think this is a great unit for anyone interested in reading about amazing stories. It is very interesting to hear what these saints did and how they were able to do it. Many of them had great lessons in them as well.

Overall, this unit exceeded my expectations. It wasn’t just about Saint Francis of Assisi, but additional saints that I had never even heard of. I was extremely happy I was able to expand my knowledge on the topic.

Picture Retrieved From St. Joseph

Picture of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Birds

Storytelling Week 2: The Wolf-Mother of Saint Ailbe

The Wolf-Mother of Saint Ailbe

Once upon a time, a beautiful baby boy was born into a wretched family. The mother and father did not have the time or means to support a baby so they decided to get rid of the child. The two took their child deep into the woods were they left it to starve and die.

A few hours passed and the child, Ailbe, fussed and fussed as he grew hungry, cold, and lonely. A mother wolf entered the area looking for food to take back to her young children, when she spotted the child. The mother, though hungry, liked the sight of the child and his bright blue eyes that seemed to match hers. Her motherly instincts overcame her and she slowly picked up the child in her mouth, and hurried home to her cave.

At the cave she introduced the child to her baby wolves and explained how he would now be their new brother. They were to help him adjust, and treat him with as much love as she had for the child. Ailbe then grew up in the cave, learned to walk on all four legs, and nourish himself with food he hunted with the others. He was a natural at being a wolf.

Two years later, when they were out hunting in the woods one day, they heard the sound of foreign footprints. Startled, they started to scurry. And then the sight of a man on a hoarse appeared. The man saw Ailbe and was disturbed by the fact there was a naked two year old rummaging around the forest. He got down and scooped up the frightened child and started to gallop away.

When the child realized what was going on he fought, bit, and clawed to try and get away. He was very frightened and began to howl for help. When the mother and her wolf children realized what was going on they ran as fast as they could to keep up with the horse, but they fell too far behind. They howled back to him in sadness.

Turns out that the man who scooped up Ailbe was a prince and from that day forward, Ailbe was taught to act like a human and had a new lovely princess for a mother. Although, he never forgot his wolf-mother and missed her dearly.

Ailbe grew up to be a Bishop and was well respected in the community. One day, his father and a group of people went hunting. Ailbe didn't believe in hunting because of his past and for that reason he always stayed behind, and on this particular day, it was good that he did. Ailbe stayed in the town where very soon he heard commotion in the streets. He went out and saw a wolf coming near. The two locked eyes and their hearts filled with love as the two recognized each other. It was the mother wolf. She scurried towards him where he sheltered her. He then told everyone that the hunt was over and they were forbidden to ever hurt the wolf and her family.

The two embraced and didn’t want to let go of each other. After that, the two caught up and Ailbe told her all about being a human and how much he had missed his wolf days. After that they made a point to have dinner as a family every night with the other wolves at the palace. They enjoyed cake and other luxuries together. After dinner, they even played a game of tag and Ailbe learned to walk on four legs again, although, he still struggled with keeping up with the others. They were all reunited and it felt so good and the love between the wolf-mother and son had never been stronger. 

Photo Retrieved from Health 4 U and Pets.

Wolf Embracing a Man.

Author's Note

For this story my main objective was to read the story once and do my best to replicate it. I am currently trying to build my use of creativity, so I tried to use detail in the post. Other than that, I liked the original story so much that I didn't change much as far as the plot goes.
Saints and Animals: The Wolf-Mother of Saint Ailbe

Bibliography

Story source: The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts by Abbie Farwell Brown (1900).

Week 2: Saints and Animals

Saints and Animals

Saint Kentigern and the Robin
Takes place in Scotland. The smallest kid in school, Kentigern, was the smartest and head of the class. This made the other students very jealous. The other students tried very hard to sabotage him. One night when it was Kentigern's turn to tend to the fire at night. The boys poured water on it so that he would get in trouble. But Kentigern restarted the fire and avoided trouble.

In order to sabotage him again, the boys came up with a cruel plan. The boys killed their teacher Saint Servan's Robin whom he was very fond of. They ripped off the Robin's head and tried to blame is on Kentigern. When Saint Servan approached Kentigern about the cruel deed, Kentigern brought the Robin back to life by praying to God as a sign that he did not slay the bird.

Saint Blaise and His Beasts
Saint Blaise was a friend to all of the animals in Turkey. Including the wild ones. A wolf stole a pig from a poor woman, and Saint Blaise had the wolf return it so that the woman would have her pig back. This was 316 years after Jesus was born, so tensions were high and Christians were persecuted.

Soldiers found him one day in his cave, praying, and surrounded by several large wild animals. They came back soon after to get him, and Saint Blaise went without making a scene. He was beheaded and killed for his faith after his imprisonment.


Saint Comgall and the Mice
Takes place in Ireland and Scotland in a place called Bangor. Three hundred years ago in a monastery built by Saint Comgall.

Comgall is an Irish word which means "the goodly pledge."

First animal story involves pupils of his trying to get swans to come to shore so they can play. The young boys couldn't get the swans to come but as soon as Comgall tried, they flocked to him. The swans knew he was a man that would be gentle and a friend to the animals.

Then a famine happens in Ireland and the only person who had food was a prince. The prince was so selfish that he wouldn't give anyone food but rather, let them starve. Prince was name Croadh and his evil mother was named Luch. Luch means Mouse in Irish.

Comgall tried to trade some silver for grain but the prince refused him. So Comgall sent all the mice in Bangor to eat the grain and prove a lesson to the prince.

The Wonders of Saint Berach
Takes place at Glendalough, Ireland (which I have been to). He brought a cow and a wolf together, after the wolf had eaten the cow's baby calf. Berach grew older and had his own monastery. However, a mean man wanted the land to himself.

Berach had special powers and was able to control heat and cold which he was able to use to his advantage to get food to eat, or heat when he was extremely cold. His powers helped him to gain peace with the King and to be clothes in riches when he retuned back to his monastery.

The Fish Who Helped Saint Gudwall
Saint Gudwall was a Welshman. He moved to the caves outside of Wales and the waves trembled in and swept his stuff and almost took him and his pupil with it. Then some fish came and built a wall to protect the two from the waves.

The Wolf-Mother of Saint Ailbe
Ailbe was born into a terrible family who abandoned him in the wood to die. A nice mother wolf found him and took him back to her cave to live with her and her baby wolves. Ailbe grew up for two years with the family, and lived exactly like a wolf. One day, a prince found Ailbe acting like a wolf, picked him up, and whisked him away to his palace. The mother wolf and her babies were sad to see him leave, and fought to get him back but they could not keep up with the prince. So after that day, Ailbe grew up as a human, and lived in a palace and grew up to become a Bishop.

One day the Bishop's father the prince went hunting. The Bishop stayed behind and to his dismay the wolf-mother came running down the streets of the town where she spotted Ailbe and recognized him. Ailbe recognized that she was being hunted and let her take shelter with him. He declared that the people ought not to hunt her or her children. From that day on, the mother wolf and her children came to eat dinner with the Bishop and they were all happy!

The Ballad of Saint Athracta's Stags
Poem format.
Athracta was a princess that was taken with the wild. She lived in the wild with one other person.
I like this one because it is the first I have read about a woman, although I struggle in understanding poetry. She tamed some stags and rode them back to the King and even he was shocked. It was an overall interesting story, but hard for me to personally follow.

The Ballad of Saint Felix
Poem format.
Takes place in Italy. The Emperor was persecuting Christians for their faith. Saint Felix was a Bishop. Instead of wearing his dress, he wore a pilgrim outfit to blend in and hide so that way people wouldn't guess him to be the Bishop and capture him. People came looking for him, but his outfit was able to fool him for they didn't recognize him. He went into hiding then after because he knew they would figure it out.
When he was hiding, a spider appeared and made a web so that he could not be seen by the soldiers who were searching for him. After that, he went and hid in a well for a few months. Eventually the tension died down and he was able to come out of hiding, where he was welcomed back by many a happy folk.

The Ballad of Saint Giles and the Deer
Poem format.
Saint Giles befriends a deer. Hunters came about the cell and Saint Giles took an arrow to save the deer. The King saw what happened and over the course of several days, nursed Saint Giles back to health. In that time, the King became Christian and in the end ruled as a Christian King. This made not only Saint Giles but the deer free from fear of being killed ever again.

Saint Francis of Assisi
He was a poor beggar but people respected him and adored his smile. He lived as a poor man to mirror Jesus who was also poor. He had a special relationship with animals, especially bird, and he would preach to them. He had such a way with animals that he tamed a wolf that had been robbing and killing people of the town. Everyone loved him and when he returned to the wilderness to live, all the animals rejoiced.

Week 1: Introduction

Hello,

My name is Katelynn Smith and I am a Senior Public Relations Student at the wonderful University of Oklahoma. My interests are diverse. I love to play golf, hang out with my family and friends, be involved in any PR events, and also spend time at my sorority Delta Gamma. However, my main activity that I love to do in my free time is dance. I have danced for several years and it is truly something I am passionate about!

I also love to travel and I wish I could do it more often, however, I have that whole I'm a poor college student eating Ramen Noodles for dinner thing going for me, so I don't get to travel very often. I have traveled in the past before though. After I graduated high school, my parents moved to Ireland. I went over to Ireland for Christmas twice and then traveled a little bit throughout Europe. I have also been to Turks and Caicos with one of my friends and her family, however that is the extent of my travels. Now that I am writing this, I guess I have traveled more than most, but to me it's not enough. My goal in life is to visit every continent, including Antarctica!

A fun fact about me is that I went skydiving last year!

That's just a little bit about me. I am very random, and spastic. You can probably tell that by the way I write. If you would like to know anything else about me, feel free to ask! I am an open book.

With that, I will leave you with my favorite quote. "In 20 years you will be more upset by the things you didn't do, than the things you did". ~Unknown


Peace and Blessings

Katelynn Smith

Week 1: Storybook Favorites

Nursery Rhymes Gone Wrong
I thought that nursery rhymes gone wrong would be extremely interesting when I saw the title. When I entered the page though, I found the website to be very odd and almost creepy. I thought it was interesting to read though because the nursery rhymes were very familiar to me. I had heard them when I was a child and I was able to recognize them. I also found the story's new take on the rhymes to be very creative. I would have never thought to add my own twist to a nursery rhyme from when I was a child.

https://sites.google.com/site/nurseryrhymesgonewrong/

E! True Hollywood Story: Women of the Bible
The next storybook I chose to read was about the women in the bible. I picked this storybook because I am familiar with several of the women in the bible. I thought this storybook went into great detail about several women in the bible. My favorite was the story about Mary Magdalene. Even as a child I always found her story to be fascinating. I truly liked this site.

https://sites.google.com/site/biblewomentruehollywoodstory/home

Mean Girls Morals
The last storybook I chose was the Mean Girls Morals. I think every girl can quote the entire Mean Girls movie. I know I can. Because of this, the storybook practically sang to me as I saw it on the list. I think this storybook is helpful because it takes pop culture and relates it back to lessons from Aesop's Fables. The storybook goes through each character and relates them to a fable. It is something that any Mean Girls fan can enjoy!

Photo Retrieved From Mean Girls Morals

https://sites.google.com/site/meangirlsmorals/home

Overall, I liked all three of these storybooks and I think they're all great reads. They are all diverse in content, but something that I think anyone can relate to.

Week 1: Un-Textbook

1. Saints and Animals

I would like to learn about saints and animals because of my Catholic background. I feel like I would find these readings interesting and would be able to use them later in life. 

2. Celtic Tales

I would like to learn the celtic tales because I have been to Ireland several times. My parents moved there for two years right after I graduated high school. Because I have a history with Ireland and am semi familiar with their culture, I think it would be great to learn some Celtic Tales.

3. Alice in Wonderland

I am sad to admit that I have actually never read nor have seen the movie Alice in Wonderland. I think this is a great opportunity for me to understand the plot and the history behind the tale.

4. Czech Folktales

I am very excited that Czech folktales is an option. I am Czech and because of that, I think that the folktales from my heritage would be extremely interesting to learn. I once again think this would be beneficial for me to read because then I will be able to share the information I learn with my family.

5. Dante: Inferno

I have read Dante's Inferno. It was about five years ago though so I do not remember much. I mostly just remember that it was very interesting and that I really liked it. Because of that, I would like to familiarize myself with it once again.

Week 1: Storytelling- The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse

The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse

Early one summer day, a Town Mouse decided to embark on a journey to the country where a relative of the mouse was known to live. After arriving, the Country Mouse greeted its' relative with great delight. The two sat and enjoyed a lunch of acorns, ice chilled water, roots, grass, and wheat. The Town Mouse was not used to plain food like this and ate only a little of everything as not seem snobby to the Country Mouse.

After the meal was finished the two relatives caught up on each other's lives. The conversation was very one sided though as the Town Mouse talked for hours about life in the city while the simple Country Mouse intensely listened. After hours of conversation, the two found a comfortable place to rest for the night and went to sleep. While asleep, the Country Mouse dreamed about the stories the Town Mouse had told. The Country Mouse couldn't imagine a place more grand than what the Town Mouse had described. In the morning, when the Country Mouse awoke, it was clear that the Country Mouse must make visiting the town a reality. The Town Mouse recognized the Country Mouse's want to visit the town and graciously agreed to take the Country Mouse there for a visit.

When they reached the town, the Country Mouse went into a bit of a shock. The Country Mouse had never seen such pomp and circumstance, mansions, or large people. It was quite overwhelming as you can imagine. When they arrived at the Town Mouse's residence, they took a small tour before heading to the great dining hall. When they arrived in the dining hall they found to their surprise, mounds of mouthwatering food. There were donuts, five different types of cheese, honey, and more. But just as the two started feasting, they heard a noise come from behind the door. Without warning, the door flew open and a Cat started to enter the room, purring loudly. The two mice stood in shock for a minute before scurrying out as fast as possible. They sought shelter behind one of the baseboards for over an hour. When they heard the commotion of the cat die down, they peeked behind the baseboard to assess the situation. They saw servants taking the feast away, they were clearing the table of all of the delicious food.

Photo retrieved from American Literature on 8/20/14

Upset and disappointed, the two Mice left the house to go outside. The Country Mouse decided to get her belongings so she could head out and get home before dark. As the Country Mouse left, she made a point to tell the Town Mouse what she thought of the town.

The Country Mouse's parting words were, "You sure have all sorts of beautiful things here that I lack in the country, but I would prefer eating my simple food and sleeping in the grass to constantly being in fear of my life like you are here. Good luck with that."

Author's Note
The two Mice are juxtaposed by their place of origin. One is from the city, and the other the country. Both realize they can't live any other way then how they are used to. The Town Mouse likes the rich food and grandness of the town, and the Country Mouse enjoys the simplistic food and security that comes with that. In the end, the Country Mouse leaves the town and discovers that, "Poverty with security is better than plenty in the midst of fear and uncertainty" (Winter 19).

Bibliography
 "The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse," Aesop's Fables, trans. by Laura Gibbs (2002). Online at aesopica.net.

Week 1: Favorite Places-Nebraska and Turks and Caicos

Nebraska and Turks and Caicos are my two favorite places. Now, I know these two different places are completely different but I promise I have my reasons.

Turks and Caicos
Let's start with Turks and Caicos! Whenever I tell people that my favorite travel place is Turks and Caicos, I generally get the same reaction, "Huh? What and Where is that?".

Picture by Geo Currents

Source: GeoCurrents

Turks and Caicos are Islands owned by Britain just North of the Dominican Republic. It is by far the most beautiful place I have ever been. America has several pretty beaches, however, Turks and Caicos makes them look like landfills. The water is the most beautiful, clear, warm water I could have ever hoped to spend my Spring Break in. I went with one of my best friends, and I can truly say it was the most relaxing and pampering experience I have ever had. 

 Image Information: Personal Photo taken in Turks and Caicos.

Photo from March 2014.

Image Information: Personal Photo taken in Turks and Caicos.

Photo from March 2014.

The activities there were endless. I was able to snorkel, ride horses in the ocean, enjoy boat rides, and more. Soaking up the sun at a place this beautiful gave me an experience I will never forget. Pictures do not do it justice. You must experience it to fully understand the beauty of this island. Because of the wonderful experience I had there, Turks and Caicos is by far one of my most favorite places and I hope I will be back there one day.

Image Information: Personal Photo in Turks and Caicos.

Photo from March 2014.

Nebraska 

My second favorite place to visit is Nebraska. Super random, right? Not for me. I have been going to Nebraska several times a year since I was a child. All of my mother's family lives in Nebraska and they are the most fun and genuine people you will ever meet.

We never even really do anything while we are there. We don't go on big shopping trips, or to the movies or anything like that. Instead, we sit around on a porch at one of my uncle's houses. We will sit there for hours drinking, laughing, eating, and playing randoms games like washers and bags. In fact, there is usually at least one tournament of washers or bags. We make a bracket, take bets, and everything. It's kind of ridiculous but so incredibly fun. We are one giant Catholic Czech family, so things are always crazy. If you have ever seen the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, congratulations, you understand how my family is, except we are Catholic.

I love spending time with my family. There are over 40 of us total, so it's hard to get everyone together at the same time. I'm not necessarily sure that it is Nebraska that is my favorite place or the memories I have attached to it. It isn't a fancy place like Turks and Caicos is, but rather a place of comfort, love, and family. It is for those reasons that I truly love Nebraska and why it is one of my favorite places.

Image Information: Personal Photo in Seward, Nebraska.

Photo from August 2014.

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