Reading Diary Week 9, continued: Myths and Legends of Alaska

Today, I finished the Myths and Legends of Alaska. 

The First Woman was really weird story to me. I get the point- that women in the north are good with their hands and women in the south are good dancers. But why did the woman have to be ripped apart?? It seemed really harsh and gruesome and I wish that wasn't how the tale went. 

The Land of the Dead was especially intriguing to me. I thought it was interesting how their storytelling included how dogs felt when they were beaten. It really seemed to teach lessons of empathy and understanding that must have been valued in their culture. I am curious why the two wrongs they chose to point out were chewing on the grass and beating the dogs, rather than acts against each other, for example. I would like to research more to see if I could understand why these two issues were brought up in the story. I also liked their emphasis on the festival of the dead. It must have been a very important part of their culture since they felt a need to explain it's existence. 

Illustration of the Land of the Dead from Judson's book

The Cradle Song was interesting because it was so relatable. I think everyone learns lullabies as they grow up, and this was my first time to read one from another culture. I think its cool that, even though Alaska is part of the United States, they still have their own culture and traditions that are completely separate. I'm learning that this includes creation stories, values, and so much more. 

The Discontented Grass Plain seemed really weird to me because, in the end, the grass had become a wolf. I couldn't tell if the story was trying to encourage one to find contentment in their life, or if it was explaining why the wolves are separate from each other. If it was to explain the wolves, I'm not sure why they did it in such an indirect way. In my own storytelling, I would like to be direct where the reader doesn't have to wonder my point. Confusion is something I've run into a lot while reading this unit. I guess because I am not as familiar with the Alaskan culture and it's history? 

Bibliography: Myths and Legends of Alaska, edited by Katharine Berry Judson

Reading Diary: Myths and Legends of Alaska

For Week 9, I chose to read the Myths and Legends of Alaska, edited by Katharine Barry Judson. I thought this would be interesting since I am not familiar with Inuit traditions.

The story The Raven Myth: Raven's Creation really enthralled me because I am so fascinated with other creation stories. I thought it was interesting that the story focused on the creation of animals like reindeer, caribou, and mountain sheep that were to be prevalent in the land. This made sense since these animals are so prevalent in colder climates like Alaska. I also thought it was interesting that they chose a raven to be creator of all things. I wonder why this was? 

The Raven

The Flood was extremely interesting to me since The Bible talks of a massive flood as well. I believe that the flood actually happened because I believe that The Bible is true, but it does surprise and please me that there is more evidence of this flood through other folklore traditions.

I also think it is interesting that all of the birds can push up their beaks to become human beings. I'm wondering where this came from where it is so perpetuated in their folklore. 

Raven's Marriage surprised me because the story was more about his struggle to fly with the geese than his marriage. I'm not really sure what the folktale was about. This story struck me as one about perseverance and not wasting all of your energy at the beginning of your journey- much like the storyline of The Tortoise and the Hare. If Raven had not sped ahead of the geese, would he have been able to complete the journey with more ease? Or, was it more of a matter of not having had to make such a long journey before? In my own storytelling, I want the title and the content to align so that it is clear to the reader what the story is about. 

I think the Raven got what he deserved in Raven and the Seals. I love seals so it made me really sad to hear of Raven killing and eating so many of them! I hope that when the Stump sat over the hole, it also saved the seals' lives. Also, I think Raven deserved it since he was boasting about what he had, trying to make Stump jealous. Any time you provoke someone, I think you deserve any backlash that you receive.

I thought it was really cool how the Alaskan people explained the long spans with and without light in The Bringing of the Light by Raven. A man piling up snow seems like such a trivial reason for there being no light, so I think its funny that it was a big enough part of their lives to include it in the story. I also am a little confused on Raven after reading the story. Can anyone become Raven? What is the importance of a rave? These are things I would like to research in the future to help me better understand their stories.