P is for Perplexed Persephone

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/). The Story Crossroads theme for this year is Dual Natures in Folktales Around the World – opposites, contradictions & paradoxes.

PERSEPHONE-

From Greek mythology

Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. She sometimes was known as Kore, which means “maiden.” She is often seen as naïve and distracted by picking flowers before Hades took her away.

In the Greek culture, the pomegranate was a symbol of fertility. This was also a fruit connected with Aphrodite. Yet, Hera is also linked to this fruit for marriage and childbirth. Perhaps it makes a bigger difference of why the eating of these seeds could be what Zeus determines for judgement. Hmmm.

What is so fascinating? What dualities have surfaced?

While this is a familiar story to so many, I wished to honor this story that explains the change of the seasons. Warmth and cold. Spring and winter. These are dualities that we face personally as well as what we step out into each day. Yet, was the Underworld so terrible? Depending on the version you read, some say that Persephone knew what she was doing when she ate the pomegranate seeds. It was a common law that any food eaten in the Underworld meant you could not leave.

Remember, Demeter was the one who already had refused Hades for her daughter. So Hades had to come up with another way. We do not read that Persephone refused Hades. Could the Mother/Daughter be another duality?

While not of Greek origin, do you know of the Triple Goddess of the Maiden/Mother/Crone? They represent different stages of the female life. They are one and the same. Could Demeter/Persephone be a type of Double Goddess? Could we, ourselves, be both the Mother/Daughter. We can be cautious or adventurous. We can be strict or free. All at the same time.

50-word-or-less summary:

Demeter keeps men away from Persephone. Hades asks to marry her. Demeter says no. Persephone picking flowers. Taken! Demeter panics. Searching! Earth dries up. Harvests fail. Persephone eats pomegranate seeds. Cannot leave Underworld. Zeus! Number of seeds determines how many months away. Becomes winter. Persephone returning to earth brings spring.

Finding the Story: 

Story of Persephone – found here

YouTube video animation of the story from TedEx – found here

Facts about Persephone – found here

Please share thoughts in the comments. While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings. See quick list of programs here.

As for our past A to Z Challenges…

Go to A to Z Archive

While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has been “dual” in our offerings of our hybrid summit & festival on May 9-12, 2022 – yes, in-person and virtual – and would be honored for you to join us. Explore the schedule and register here: http://www.storycrossroads.org/Festival

Explore Summit & Festival

Thanks to funding from National Endowment for the Arts; National Endowment for the Humanities; Western States Arts Federation; Utah Division of Arts and Museums/Utah Legislature; Utah Humanities; Youth, Educators, Storytellers (YES); City of Murray; Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) of Salt Lake County; Salt Lake City Arts Council; Clever Octopus; High Desert Brain Trust; and people like you.

O is for Obnoxious Ogre

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/). The Story Crossroads theme for this year is Dual Natures in Folktales Around the World – opposites, contradictions & paradoxes.

OGRE-

From Kikuyu tribe, also called Gikuyu or Agikuyu tribe from Kenya

The Kikuyu usually had more than one wife. Each wife had their own hut. Several huts would be considered the family homestead. Several families then turn into a community called a mbari to number as many as an hundred or more people. Bigger than that? You eventually get nine clans with groups or subclans within that gathering.

As this story involves a man and his wife, it is interesting that no other wives are mentioned. Polygamy is still common in Kenya. In fact, the legislature passed a bill on the legality of marrying multiple wives in March 2014.

The ogre offers “leftovers” and then takes the food back again. Common foods of this tribe include: millet, peas, beans, sorghum, sweet potatoes, coffee, and corn.

What is so fascinating? What dualities have surfaced?

The Father-to-be, knowing that is wife is pregnant, is a confusing character. He does come swiftly at the end when Dove flies a message to him about the Ogre. Yes, he does take a spear and take care of that Ogre. But where was this devotion at the beginning?

The Ogre loved making it appear that he was offering food to the Woman though never intended to give that food. He called the food “leftovers” so it did not sound as appealing. Though, the Woman starving and withering due to the constant abuse, would accept any kind of food – leftovers or fresh. Any kind of tease, harmful or harmless, is a type of duality.

50-word-or-less summary:

Father-to-be away from Pregnant Wife. Ogre delivers baby. Man does not know that his Wife is being harassed by Ogre who offers food daily only to take away from her in a tease. Wife withers. Dove witnesses. Flies to father. Returns. Hides. Ogre does routine. Wife brave. Father spears Ogre.

Finding the Story: 

Story of “The Woman and the Ogre” – found here

Story found in “The Red Crimson Fairy Book” and can see illustration – found here

YouTube video animation of the story – found here

Article about the Kikuyu tribe and Polygamy today – found here

Please share thoughts in the comments. While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings. See quick list of programs here.

As for our past A to Z Challenges…

Go to A to Z Archive

While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has been “dual” in our offerings of our hybrid summit & festival on May 9-12, 2022 – yes, in-person and virtual – and would be honored for you to join us. Explore the schedule and register here: http://www.storycrossroads.org/Festival

Explore Summit & Festival

Thanks to funding from National Endowment for the Arts; National Endowment for the Humanities; Western States Arts Federation; Utah Division of Arts and Museums/Utah Legislature; Utah Humanities; Youth, Educators, Storytellers (YES); City of Murray; Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) of Salt Lake County; Salt Lake City Arts Council; Clever Octopus; High Desert Brain Trust; and people like you.

N is for Noble Nightingale

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/). The Story Crossroads theme for this year is Dual Natures in Folktales Around the World – opposites, contradictions & paradoxes.

NIGHTINGALE-

From short story by Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde wrote many short stories, plays, and works that we enjoy to this day. Here are two you probably know: “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and “The Importance of Being Earnest.” This Irish writer became most popular in the 1890s. Yet, how many know “The Nightingale and the Rose”? I happened to check out several books from the library in the 398 section of the library with the folktales and the fairy tales. I grabbed many at random, or at least picking out older books and not looking at the titles. Once home, I could explore.

A friend of mine knew I wanted to figure out “N” for this A to Z Blog Challenge. She mentioned “The Nightingale and the Rose.” The next day, what should I find? One of the books I had selected was “The Happy Prince and Other Stories” by Oscar Wilde. Amazing!

It felt like a sign to at least share this story so we remember it better together. If you are new to this story, read it. If you have known it before, read it. It’s one of those stories that seems to bring something else to light each time it is read.

What is so fascinating? What dualities have surfaced?

Something so small can mean something so big. Would you ever think that the heart of a nightingale would be more selfless and loving than the heart of the girl in this story? And of the young student, too.

We have the ultimate sacrifice, and what happens in the end? Was it worth it? Some would say yes. Some would say no. What is more important? Life or love? And here we are with love and death as well as live and death. But this story is not for the student or the girl. It’s for us. We are witnesses to this event.

50-word-or-less summary:

Student must present red rose for Girl to dance with him. No rose! Nightingale asks for rose. Nothing. Rose-Tree warns that Nightingale must sing to moon while pressing thorn against heart. Dies. Red rose! Student gives to Girl. Clashes with dress. Loves Chamberlain’s nephew instead. Rose ran over in street.

Finding the Story: 

Story of “The Nightingale and the Rose” – found here

All of “The Happy Prince, and other Tales” by Oscar Wilde (includes this story) – found here

Official website of Oscar Wilde – found here

Please share thoughts in the comments. While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings. See quick list of programs here.

As for our past A to Z Challenges…

Go to A to Z Archive

While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has been “dual” in our offerings of our hybrid summit & festival on May 9-12, 2022 – yes, in-person and virtual – and would be honored for you to join us. Explore the schedule and register here: http://www.storycrossroads.org/Festival

Explore Summit & Festival

Thanks to funding from National Endowment for the Arts; National Endowment for the Humanities; Western States Arts Federation; Utah Division of Arts and Museums/Utah Legislature; Utah Humanities; Youth, Educators, Storytellers (YES); City of Murray; Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) of Salt Lake County; Salt Lake City Arts Council; Clever Octopus; High Desert Brain Trust; and people like you.