Story: Cupid and Psyche

A Lovers' Poem

. . . 

(Venus Assigns a Task, by Giordano)

. . .

A young maiden kidnapped, afraid

Taken one cold night in a thieves' raid

Scared, she was of a fatal nightmare

An old woman said in comfort, "there, there"

And so begins the telling of a tale

Of a maiden, so innocent and pale

Of her undying love to an unknown god

Despite understanding that the love would be flawed

Psyche was the name of girl with a beauty so rare

Worshipped she was, for a man would never dare

To touch or marry a maiden of such grace

Sad, her parents were for the marriage that disappeared without a trace 

Up, her parents went to pray to for their girl 

The response that came made their stomachs curl

Cursed, Psyche was, doomed to marry a creature

All for the reason of being a beauty worthy of a feature

The curse, you see, was commanded by Venus

Betrayed by her worshippers, she hatched a plan of genius

Down, she sent Cupid, her beloved son

To kill poor Psyche, only then has Venus won

Yet once married off to a creature with great fear

Psyche came upon a place that she found so dear

All the riches and beauty she could think of

She thought "Oh my, this could be a place of love!"

Late a night after invisible helpers tend to her bath

She found walking to her bed on a laid out path

Almost fast asleep she was 

But then fast awoken by an unlikely cause

Hands, she felt caress her fair skin

"Aha!" she thought, "this is him"

The man she was supposed to marry 

Yet with the lights off, her thoughts were still wary

"Worry not, my dear love," he said

"I will visit you every night in this bed."

"But do not ever seek out my face,"

"Or this love will have fear take its place."

Faithful as ever, Psyche did listen

And on her days went while the sun glisten

Then news of her sisters' search for their supposedly dead sister 

Had Psyche begging for time away from her mister

With great feeling did the man warn her

Her sisters would turn on her and call her by a slur

Nonetheless after much begging from his lovely wife

The man granted Psyche's wishes despite his great strife

Welcomed were Psyche's sisters into the great oasis

Feasts. gold paved roads and beautiful garden were the basis

Yet once the sisters started questioning the man's looks

Psyche lead them out fast, with gold, dressed and books

Offended, were the sisters of the youngest's cockiness

And thus they devised a plan, one quite obvious

They were to make her drunk with wine

Then ask again of her husband to catch her in a bind

Back the sisters came with the plan in motion

Yet once again Psyche's husband warned her of her sisters' veiled emotions

"Remember, tell them nothing of my face or qualities,"

"Or else you face a punishment that cannot be compared to any quantity."

Despite her husband's warnings Psyche drank the night away

And when asked of her man's features, Psyche did not remember the warning of the day

So off she went describing a man she had never seen

Leaving clues that the sister picked up because they were so keen

Once again the sisters hatched a plan

To convince poor Psyche that her husband was damned

"You see my dear sister, the only way to know,"

"Is for you to shine a light on him, even though he said to not do so."

Convinced, Psyche waited until nighttime to shed light on her man

Her first reaction, a gasp, upon his face she did scan

The husband she thought unknown was a god indeed

The son of Venus, Cupid, a man of great creed

Suddenly awaken by the candle's wax,

Appalled did Cupid seem by his wife's betraying acts

"How dare you fail the one command I gave,"

"And what, for you, I almost lead myself to an early grave?"

You see, Cupid had shot himself with an arrow

To mask his love with Psyche from Venus' vengeful sorrow 

"Now that my dear love has betrayed me,"

"Off I leave, for you I never again see."

Wings aflutter, Cupid leapt into the air

Psyche, distraught and ridden with despair

Found herself lying on the ground, her heart broken

Only to realize it was by the Pan, she was awoken

Pan, the god of the wild, told her of what to do

"Seek his worship once again and your love will pursue."

Out into the world did Psyche go

Hatching a plan for her evil sisters that only true vengeance could know

Disguising herself with great pity and despair

Psyche looked upon both sisters and said,

"My god, Cupid, only wants you both,"

"All you must do is go to the mountain and say an oath."

Eagerly both the sisters did flee 

Up to the mountain they went to plea

Unmet, were the sisters with great love the wanted

And to their deaths did they fall, always to be haunted

Meanwhile, Cupid was being punished by Venus

Betrayed, she felt by Cupid's keenness

To shoot himself instead of Psyche's heart 

Meant he valued her love as just a start

Enraged, Venus sought out Psyche for her head

Psyche actually came to her instead

"Please let me be a part of my love's life."

"Of course you can be love," Venus said, "but not without strife." 

Venus sent Psyche on a number of tasks

Only with great struggle and fight would Psyche pass

The first to separate seeds, the second to find the golden fleece

The third to fill a flask with a river's water, the fourth to bring her beauty from her niece

Furious was Venus when Psyche completed each chore

Despite Psyche's victory, "Never will you marry Cupid," Venus swore

In strife, Cupid begged of Zeus 

To let him and Psyche marry, laying out a truce

Thus Zeus promised Cupid his wife

Only on the condition they had a feast to celebrate life

During the feast did Cupid and Psyche marry 

Happy and Lovely did they look, their love as beautiful as fairies

To the end did the Old woman reach

The end of a story the kidnapped girl longed to reteach 

Calmed down she was after a nightmare that seemed true 

Yet thanks to this tale, no longer she felt blue

. . .

Based off of Apuleius' Cupid and Psyche as translated in English by Tony Kline (2013).

. . .

Author's Note

For my first retelling of a story, I decided to challenge myself by making a stylistic change in the writing rather than flip the story on its head. Even though the latter might be more interesting, the latter also comes easier to me because I am allowed to do whatever with the story. By changing the story into a rhyming poem, it forced me to take better care of the material while writing it in my own way. Additionally, I definitely was not planning on writing this much but I could not help but want to leave in as many details as possible in this stylistic change of the story. I had to compress and mold some more intricate parts of the story to shorten the length of the poem, which was an interesting obstacle. Nonetheless, since it was stylistic change rather than a complete revamp the story of Cupid and Psyche still comes across well with all the plot points being clear and concise (well as much as they can be in a rhyming poem). Hopefully, the poem was an easy but entertaining read despite its length. 

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche Part B

Reading Notes

. . .

Cupid and Psyche, Part B 

(Venus Chides Cupid, by Giordano) 

. . .

Retelling Ideas

• While this is not an idea for a retelling, I found the author's note above to be quite informative and helpful in understanding Venus' emotions when handling Cupid's betrayal. Even though most would understand falling in love, the actual goddess of love herself had a tormented love life, which lead to reactive emotions whenever she was challenged in any way. So to have her own son lay with the very mortal woman who caused Venus' worshippers to leave their post in order to worship a common woman was an ultimate act of betrayal. 
• Also it is quite interesting to learn the Roman names of the Greek gods and goddesses I am so familiar with.
• Possibly writing the story from the goddess, Juno's (Hera), perspective could prove to be interesting as she is seen as the mother of the gods and goddesses perhaps she knew of the story all along and thought of it as a lesson for her children?
• A comparison to Cinderella can be found in the tasks Venus' calls upon Psyche to do, maybe tell Psyche as a fairytale much like Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast?
• Retell the story from all the animals that have appeared in the story, switching point of view to and from each animal to keep the flow of the story? 
• A funny portion of the story can be seen in Jove's (Zeus) listing of all the ways Cupid has betrayed him whilst Cupid begs for his help. Even though Zeus grants his wishes, perhaps keeping with this theme I retell the story starting with all the wrongs first? 
• Maybe tell the story as a bedtime story for Cupid and Psyche's daughter, Pleasure?

. . .

All reading notes based off of Apuleius' Cupid and Psyche 

as translated into English by Tony Kline (2013).

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche Part A

Reading Notes

. . .

Cupid and Psyche, Part A 

(Psyche Honored by the People, Giordano)

. . .

Retelling Ideas

• the intended audience for this story is the girl whose been kidnapped, would changing the audience change the way the story should be retold?
• Psyche was the youngest of three sisters, retelling the story from a jealous sister would change the tone of the story? (Note: I wrote this before I read how the sisters wept for the youngest daughter and abandoned their lovely homes to seek her out once again. I was going to change this note to showcase how loving the sister's were until I came to the portion entitled "The Jealousy of Psyche's Sisters, so I guess I predicted correctly!) 
• Or rather tell the story from the goddess, Venus', point of view: "who does this common mortal think she is?"
• Really intriguing to hear the traditional, more crass version of Cupid, rather than the love wielding cherub today's people would commonly think of. 
• the dread of the wedding reminded me of Persephone and Hades, possibly comparing the stories would be a fun retelling? Maybe act as though Persephone, Psyche and Belle (Beauty and the Beast) are speaking of their husbands in private?  
• Cupid was adamant about Psyche never seeing him as he was of divine power, what if we were to switch such and have Venus embrace Psyche having her seduce Cupid as training of sorts?
• Rather than change the point of view or characters placement in the tale, why not change the location to base it in reality? Maybe in a California high school or the Joseon dynasty? 

. . .

All reading notes based off of Apuleius' Cupid and Psyche 

as translated into English by Tony Kline (2013).

Growth Mindset

Growth Mindset

. . .

(Quote graphic of David Dockterman
via David W. Lowell at Twitter)

. . .

Even though I was familiar with the concept of growth mindset, I don't think I have ever heard of Carol Dweck before this assignment. I had originally learned about growth mindset in my high school AP psych class.

When it comes to school work, my stance on the spectrum is based on how interested in the subject I am. If I am even just fairly interested in the subject I am in complete growth mindset because I just want to soak up all the information I can so that transfers into any work I am actually graded on. On the other hand, if its a class or a subject I cannot be even slightly interested in, I am very much fixed mindset because I do not think of it as a learning journey but more of a pass or fail obstacle. 

In almost every other aspect, in my life I tend to be catered to the growth mindset side. Granted there are instances where I retreat into fixed mindset if I come across something that might be new to me but I feel as though I should be instantly good at. For example, because I work out and have danced all my life any physical activity comes to me easy enough so when I don't immediately catch on I have a tendency to sit in a fixed mindset for a bit. 

I've realized that I am a really curious person, almost to a fault. Because I want to stick my hand in so many pots I tend overwhelm myself. I don't really have a problem seeing things through, as in I can start things and still see them through. It is more like I put everything at the same priority level so I get overwhelm when I don't complete them in the time frame I wanted. 

Therefore I don't really have a lot of difficulties when it comes to learning new things. Other than when those new things are of absolutely no interest to me, which very few things can be. 

I would be interested in it but more in the sense of how it affects other people, just because that's how I learn best. If I approach it like a case study I learn better and can apply to myself once I feel like I fully understand.

I am really excited about my Personality and Human Relations class. Every session we've had so far has produced some pretty interesting class discussions and I am curious to see what I learn about myself through this class. 

Starting the Semester

Starting the Semester

. . .

Here are some of my favorite start of school tips!

. . .

(Personal Photo; Taken of Bizzell Memorial Library at
The Univeristy of Oklahoma)

Write everything down.

While this tip may not be for everyone, gaining this habit once I started university has helped me stay organized. Whether its in my planner or just on a notecard, I write down any and all assignments, small goals and/or tasks I need to complete for that day or week. Working 30 hours a week, going to school full time and applying for grad school means I don't really have a lot of breathing room when scheduling out my days so writing it all down compartmentalizes all my tasks and takes away unnecessary stress. Also it just acts as a subtle reminder to get stuff done even if its not done the exact time you had planned it to be. 

Pre-pack the night before.

Like earlier this may not apply to everyone but I still believe its a great tip nonetheless. One thing I've learned about myself is that I like to relax in the mornings, its usually the time I workout, get ready and relax a bit. So pre-packing my backpack, homework, lunch, etc. the night before I take out any last minute rush or forgetfulness and can get myself in the right mind before going the whole day. This is especially helpful with pre-packing any homework because it forces me to not leave assignments for the morning. 

Scheduling free days. 

My last but most vital tip is scheduling out free days. I try and have at least one day a week where I do not have class or work that day. Now that doesn't mean I don't do homework and just laze around all day, rather I let that day be a day that I can work on a big project at my own pace or work harder during the week to make it a day just for fun. It, of course doesn't work out every single week but striving for it makes it a priority and helps me plan my week out better. This one is really important to me because burnout is a thing that happens to everyone and it usually sneaks up on people so by allowing a day of whatever I want to do I keep my sanity in check. 

Reading Options

Reading Options

. . .

Week 2 Reading:

(Photo pulled from Mythology and Folklore Unit: Cupid and Psyche)

For this upcoming week two, I have decided to read Unit: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche.

My reasoning for choosing this unit is my limited knowledge of this Roman tale. While I can say Greek/Roman mythology has always been an interest of mine and I do remember the majority of the tales, this one was one I had never heard of, which prompted me to choose it as my unit. Also disney movies are honored classics amongst my friends so as soon as the Beauty and the Beast comparison was made, I felt confident in my choice. 

. . .

Other Interesting Unit Readings:

Unit: Twenty-Two Goblins

This unit has my excited due to the trickster aspect it brings. Game-like mysteries or big decisions decided upon by games is one of my favorite concepts; therefore having a king who is out to covet one of these corpse wielding goblins suffer (or conquer) at the games they play will be really interesting to read. 

Unit: Eskimo Folk Tales

This unit grabbed my attention with the words, shaman and supernatural. While Native American tales are not ones that I would naturally seek out, that is what made me find this unit and its short description so intriguing. Because I am completely out of my zone when it comes to the subject matter, it will be fun to understand a different perspective of life through an Eskimo's eyes. 

Unit: Dante's Inferno

While this unit will probably be counted as a predictable choice, I cannot help but be interested in one of the most famous pieces of literature to date. I have never read Dante's Inferno in its entirety but the work comes up in reference so often in different forms of media or in conversation that I have researched it quite a bit. Nonetheless, to actually read and form more thoughts on the poem will be a joy.  

Storybook Favorites

Storybook Favorites

. . .

My three favorite storybooks from the Mythology and Folklore previous classes are as follows:

. . .

Fairytale Case Files 

(Photo pulled from Fairytale Case Files Storybook)

As an avid fan of crime stories, fiction or non-fiction, the title of this storybook immediately jumped out at me. Besides being a catchy title, the title also does a good job of letting the reader know what kind of storybook they can expect. The topic of the storybook was sort of a behind the scenes look at how some of the most famous fairytales, like The Elves or Hansel and Gretel, achieve their happy endings with the help of a detective. I was familiar with the topic in the sense that I knew the fairytales already but I also understood that the author was pulling inspiration from Sherlock Holmes for his detective character. The introduction was clear but still fun, allowing the reader to get excited about the short stories. The layout of the introduction and the pages that follow was simplistic overall, which I preferred. Although the placement of the pictures, how the placement changed from embedded in the wording to free-standing, was not my favorite, it did not take away from the content too much. The biggest takeaway from this storybook I feel I might use in my work would be the author's idea of using something like a detective or outsider to streamline and connect the stories that would normally not fit together. 

The Tale of Hercules as Told by Hera

(Photo pulled from The Tale of Hercules as Told by Hera Storybook)

This storybook's topic was one I thought I was familiar with but ending up learning more through the author's retelling. Hercules is a story that has been told over and over again, in various forms of media yet the author found a way to keep it interesting by telling the story from Hercules' enemy, his stepmother, Hera. The introduction and the author's note included set up a clear backdrop for the coming stories, utilizing the author's note to reaffirm and explain the context. While I sort of wish the author's note was put at the end instead of the beginning (just because of pure preference) I understood and appreciated such once I started reading the introduction as it made the reading smoother. Layout wise I realized I am far more partial to darker background with lighter text than the opposite like this storybook had. I just found myself having to reread because the black text kind of jumbled together against the white and light pink background. Other than that, the overall design was simple but good. The takeaway I will utilize from this storybook is knowing that even an over-told story can still be interesting as long as you can find a fun angle. 

Piracy: Not Just for Men 

(Photo pulled from Piracy: Not Just for Men Storybook)

The title alone was enough to get my attention because pirates are usually men by default in people's minds so to hear about female pirates seemed really interesting. The topic itself  is not one I am familiar with at all really. This storybook was probably the biggest test of whether the introduction was good or not since I had no prior knowledge going in. Thankfully the introduction was easy to follow and provided a good baseline for the stories that followed. The only qualm I have about the introduction is that the author seemed to have wrote the equivalent of an author's note for the first six paragraphs and then switches to her character, Elizabeth, for the final paragraph. All of this would have been fine if not for the lack of indication that one part was an author's not while the other was the start of the story. Without a subhead, spacing and/or breaks, the reader kind of gets whiplash when suddenly transferred into story mode without warning. The layout and design was the like a templet layout that the author just filled in. There is nothing wrong with that, as it is a proven formula, it is just the best way of describing its features. The biggest takeaway I learned in this storybook is that layout can be just as important as the content, if it isn't easy to read or jump from story to story, you can easily lose your reader.

Introduction to Me

Introduction

. . .

Hi! My name is Belle Lamfu and the rest of this post is just a little bit about me!

. . .

I am a Human Relations Major with an International Studies and Psychology Minor. As you can probably tell I like to have my hands in a lot of different pots. I am a really curious person so I cannot help but want to learn about people, probably the single most fascinating thing on earth. 

The best class I took last semester was my Intro to Counseling class because I learned a lot about what kind of work I want to pursue (at least for the time being).

As I already mentioned in my favorite places post, I traveled to Montreal this past summer for two weeks and had the time of my life. I am actually already planning to go back before the year ends.

My favorite tv shows, at the moment, are Sherlock (BBC version), Game of Thrones and Hannibal. But I am really excited for a new show called American Gods, based of the bestseller by Neil Gaiman.

As for music I listen to a lot of foreign music, whether its French, Spanish or Korean.

For the future, all I am completely sure of is that I will be going to graduate school for Industrial Psychology but that is the only real concrete thing so far! 

My hobbies are kind of scattered and come and go depending on the time/mood I am in. But mainly I enjoy painting, working out, learning languages, reading and hanging with my friends. 

Something I really admire in people is confidence and openness. Yet something that really annoys me is being close-minded or being stagnant in any path of life, but thats just personal preference. 

Well I hope you now know a little more about me and feel free to ask me any questions, I am an open book so don't feel burdened!

Story: Mistress Mary

 Mistress Mary Nursery Rhyme Retelling

Mistress Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With cockle-shells, and silver bells,

And pretty maids all in a row.

(traditional nursery rhyme)

. . .

(Mistress Mary's Castle and Garden)

In a time far from now, there once lived a recluse woman by the name of Mary.

None of neighbours or kids who came to sneak peek had a clue what Mary looked like or did in her long hours inside the castle. All that could be seen was a garden that went on for acres, which grew the prettiest flowers the world has ever seen.

Legends grew just as high and fast as the garden itself as the years went on.

Some posh ladies of high society said Mary was a mistress of an old duke. Once his wife left him on account of his adultery, he locked Mary away in a family castle only allowing her the joy of flowers and nothing else.

Some intelligent men of medical field were convinced Mary was a maiden who contracted a disease so deadly none could touch her. Leaving her to live a life of being locked away, only tending to the plants that were safe from her touch.

Some trouble-making kids of the slums told the tale of Mary the bore, who knew no fun. Silliness was what she hated the most thus hating children who most often used it. So she locked herself away to avoid the sound of children.

All the legends were thought to be fact but only one question truly baffled the town: How does her garden grow if Mary is locked inside?

The answer to such a simple question could be found in the contrary truth to the legends told of Mary.

While Mary was a mistress of a duke, she found no joy in the flowers he left for her to gaze. In fact, Mary hated the flowers more than anything.

As for the disease Mary did indeed have, she could touch people just fine rather it was the plants that gave Mary the most pain.

And even though Mary disliked unnecessary silliness, children were her heart and soul. Just ask her five maiden daughters who lived with her.

The true answer, you see, to the garden, which grows seemingly on its own is knowledge that the garden was made of only poisonous plants.

Mary hated the flowers because of their deceiving looks, which reminded her of the duke.

Mary contracted the disease by playing in the flowers naively one afternoon, causing her the most pain.

Mary did not tend to the flowers but rather her daughters did in the dead of night to relieve their ailing mother of household duties.

So to ask the question of ‘how does Mistress Mary’s garden grow’ would be nothing short of a journey to find the hidden answer.

A journey you have just completed.

. . .

Bibliography

This story is based of the nursery rhyme "Mistress Mary, how does your garden grow?" in 

The Nursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Lang. 

Author's Note

Although just reading this nursery rhyme alone does not really inspire mystery and intrigue, those were the two words I thought of first after my first glance. And as a fan of thrillers, myths and dark I immediately went the route of something out of a Tim Burton movie. I just imagined walking by a woman's castle not knowing a single thing about her except the fact that she had a beautiful garden could be the source of an urban legend of sorts. 

Another big inspiration for this retelling was knowledge that there is an actual famous garden in Northumberland, England that houses a garden full of only poisonous plants. The poison garden in Alnwick Gardens is a huge attraction that requires protective gear when handling all of the plants. Pairing a poisonous garden with recluse mistress seemed like a fun story to tell especially when the word "contrary" provides such a great setting for a reveal. 

A Few of My Favourite Places

Much like some of our fellow classmates and professor I have quite a few places that I hold dear to me, but for the sake of time and being concise here are two of the many places I love.

Downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma 

While this place has a love and hate quality to it, love eventually edges out any distain because I cannot seem to knock where I grew up. The reason I name the city instead of my personal home is because downtown Tulsa actually represents my family/childhood more than any location in Tulsa. Downtown Tulsa is kind of a different world from the largely suburban parts of South Tulsa where my family's home is. With its eclectic coffee shops/bars, arts district and random events going on, Downtown Tulsa breathes life into the somewhat mundane daily lives of its residents. This area showcases all the different things each of my family members loved doing when they lived in the city and still receives the occasional visit from any one of us when we happen to be in town.

(Downtown Tulsa Skyline. Source: Wikipedia)

Montréal, Quebec, Canada

I recently had the opportunity to visit this city for two weeks right before classes started and Montréal easily slipped its way into becoming one of my favourite places. My first language is not English but French and there are not many chances to speak my native language in Oklahoma except for with my family. Yet living/exploring in Montréal, for however short the time, felt like a exhaling a breath I did not know I was holding in. It may seem like an over-exaggeration but something as simple as being able to make small talk with the words I was most familiar with was a really cool and comforting experience for me. Besides the language, the city itself has some beautiful spots to relax, explore and learn about. The picture below is one my big brother took of me arriving at the famous Notre-Dame square in Old Montréal, which boasts the Notre-Dame Roman Catholic Church as well as quaint eating spots and live music/events.

(Personal Photo of Me, walking in Montreal;
photo from August 2016)

Comment Wall

Hi to all my online classmates,

My name is Belle and I am excited to start sharing/learning with you all throughout the semester. Hope some interesting opinions and discussion stem from this class and feel free to ask me any questions or leave any comments whenever!

(My Storybook Website)

Here's to a great semester,
Belle

Testing New Blog

"Try out some of the formatting like bold and italics and then highlight the text and use the Tx button to remove the formatting. (In your next assignment, you'll learn about images and other formatting options.) When you are done, click Publish to publish your first post."