Wikipedia Trails: Tweedledum and Tweedledee to Charlie Parker

Tweedledum and Tweedledee:
These are characters from Through the Looking Glass, another adventure of Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. They are twins that are quite peculiar, often agreeing to fight but never following through. Their names come from John Byrom, and his epigram.

Epigram:

Epigrams are a literary device that are often sort of poetic. They are often satirical, but not always a poetic device. They've been used for a very long time and often by very famous writers, like Oscar Wilde, William Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson.

Tweedledee and Tweedledum originally come from an epigram from John Byrom, which led me from one Wikipedia page to the next.

Graffiti:
Epigrams were made into graffiti, especially one of the the most famous pieces of graffiti from Pompeii.

Graffiti is something that is drawn or etched onto a wall, often in public view. In modern times, they are often spray painted on walls in public in bright colors. Often times, in the instances of Banksy, they can make a social statement.

Charlie Parker:
Shortly after Charlie Parker died, his name often was featured in pieces of graffiti. They would say, "Bird Lives," to immortalize him.

Charlie Parker was a jazz legend, and an extremely talented saxophone player. He was a leader in the rise of bebop and influential in the overall jazz movement. He was nicknamed "Yardbird" or "Bird," which explains the existence of graffiti saying "Bird Lives."

(Charlie Parker, web source: Wikimedia)

Learning Challenge: Pomodoro Technique

For this challenge, I tried the Pomodoro Technique. I used it to start to clean my room (something that has been desperately needed for a couple of months now). I set my timer and started work. I believe in this technique as a concept, but right off the bat I feel as though it doesn't work for me. I usually do work well under time restraints, but for some reason, I couldn't get my mind to focus on the matter at hand. Even with time ticking away. I guess I either find that the time stresses me or just doesn't drive me forward at all. I think, though, maybe if I continued to use it, it would be better. I would develop the correct reaction to the time ticking away and actually be motivated by it.

(Pomodoro Timer, web source: Flickr)

Reading Notes: Through the Looking Glass, Tweedledee and Tweedledum

Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll. Link to reading here.

This is a good story that exhibits Alice's rudeness and overall confusion.

I think especially the point where they continue to try to convince her that she isn't real, but in fact, an aspect of the Red King's imagination. This is the peak of Alice's troubles with Wonderland. She, being the rude little girl that she is, traipses around this other world trying to figure out where she is. She's lost basically the entire time, running into characters that frustrate her even more than she could have ever expected.

These twins are the epitome of Wonderland: characters that lack "normal" manners, frustrate her and waste a lot of her time. The reciting of an ENTIRE poem could be something that could possibly be a string of tweets? Perhaps that idea is a little lofty, but I need something that Alice would be able to respond to / interrupt the twins.

I think the original story that Alice thinks of regarding the Tweedles and its resurface at the end would also be an interesting thing to convey with social media. Possibly a Facebook status with the original little poem she thinks of and then a way for the twins to bring up the actual event. Ooh, it could be the Tweedles arguing in the comment section of her status until the rattle comes up.

The way I have my Storytelling site set up kind of follows the other Alice story: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.. Of course, I don't think it matters what storyline my site follows because who could tell the difference? But, I would have to think of a way to segue from the stories I've told to the story of Alice meeting the Tweedles. Definitely not impossible, but will definitely take some creativity on my part.

(Tweedledee and Tweedledum, web source: Wikimedia)

Storytelling: King Arthur

Tor was unnerved.

Tor was someone who always seemed to be unnerved, even when he was a small child. He never seemed to take anybody at their word. He always seemed uncomfortable among all of his family members, including the enormous amount of siblings he had. He wasn't like them and he never tried to be. All 13 of his brothers liked to be in the fields working, but Tor always dreamed of something greater and more honorable.

This was what was unnerving Tor. His brothers and father had been harping on him for days now. The crops weren't doing so well and they were afraid that they wouldn't have enough to go around this season. Usually, they sort of let Tor do what he wanted. He was usually holed up in his room, or taking long walks around the property, thinking.

Tor knew that he wasn't going to be able to go on much longer, but didn't see anyway that he could leave the house because he didn't know where he would go. But, his birthday was coming up and he had been dreaming of something that he thought would benefit everyone.

He was going to ask his dad to take him to King Arthur's court and ask for him to be knighted. He was asking tonight, on the eve of his birthday, at dinner.

"Tor, what are you thinking about?" his dad asked.

"Yeah." Tor answered. His brothers chuckled, a few of them elbowing each other. Tor flushed scarlet and his eyes fell to his lap.

"Son, your birthday is tomorrow and you haven't told us what you'd like to do for your birthday," his dad said.

Tor mumbled something indecipherable.

"Lift your head, son."

Tor's eyes flitted toward his father, without raising his head.

"I thought we could go into town tomorrow," Tor said.

His dad looked apprehensive. "Well, I'm not sure about that.."

"Yeah, I get it," Tor said curtly.

His dad sighed. This is something that often bothered him. Tor didn't ever ask for anything. It was his birthday, and he always tried to go the extra mile for this boy.

"Alright, let's go into town. Your brothers can take up my work for the day."

A few of the other boys audibly groaned, but Aries ignored them and Tor smirked toward his lap.

---

Early the next morning, Aries woke Tor up. 

"C'mon, let's get a move on before your brothers get up."

Tor's eyes flew open and he sped to get ready. He met his father at the front of the house and they set off together towards the town. Aries thought Tor simply wanted to see the town, to get out of a rut, for his birthday. But Tor had other plans.

"What d'you want to see first once we get there?" Aries asked his son.

"Well.." Tor replied, with his eyes falling towards the road.

"What is it?" asked Aries.

"Dad.. I want to go to the castle."

"Ha, well of course we can do that."

"There's more."

"Okay, what's next on your list?"

"I want to speak to King Arthur." Tor knew that this wouldn't go over entirely well with his father, but he knew what he wanted and he was so close to getting it.

"Well, son, King Arthur doesn't exactly take time to visit with people like us."

"I know, but I have a request for him. I want something that only he can grant."

Aries was really confused at this point. What was this boy talking about? He had never asked for anything in his entire life, and now he's asking for something from the KING?

"Tor.. I don't know about this. What could you possibly want from King Arthur?"

"I want him to make me a knight of his Round Table."

Aries stopped. "WHAT!? Now, if that's why you've dragged me away from an entire day's work, I am very disappointed in you."

Tor didn't say anything, but kept walking. He knew what he wanted. Aries couldn't believe what he was hearing. 

They were coming up on the castle, and Aries decided to throw caution to the wind. What could it hurt? The worst that the King could say is no.

They entered the castle and made their way to the Throne Room. King Arthur was seated with other members of his Round Table, talking animatedly. A squire announced Aries and Tor's presence in the room to the King. Aries could see his eyes scan across the room until they came upon him and the boy standing next to him.

"What business do you have here, sir?" King Arthur bellowed.

Aries approached the throne and knelt, with his head facing the ground.

"Your Highness, I am Aries, this is Tor. We are from just outside of town and have come here to celebrate Tor's birthday. Please sir, we don't have much and my boy does not ask for anything. And only you can grant him this birthday request, Your Highness."

"Yes, and what might that be?" asked King Arthur, losing patience.

"My King, my son would like to be knighted and welcomed as a member of your Round Table."

The room grew silent; all chatter from the other knights and squires in the room halted.

King Arthur rose from his throne, but neither Aries nor Tor could see the look on his face.

"Stand up, boy."

Tor stood, keeping his eyes downward.

"Look at me."

Tor nervously looked straight ahead into the face of the king. King Arthur stared straight back, with an unbending gaze. Then he backed up, and gave Tor a few once overs. He sat back on his throne, looking deep in thought.

"Alright."

"Sir?"

"Your boy will return here tomorrow for his knighting ceremony, after which you will say goodbye and he will join me and my knights."

Aries looked incredulous. But, so as not to waste the king's precious time, he grabbed one of Tor's shoulders and turned him about, quickly moving towards the door. Tor stopped just short of the grand entrance, looked back to see the king following his every move, and gave the grand room a half-smile.

He couldn't wait to be back tomorrow.

(Knights of the Round Table, web source: Wikimedia)

Author's Note:

I used the story of King Arthur for this storytelling post. The part of the story that includes Tor is very brief, only mentioning that his father entered King Arthur's throne room with Tor and asked the king to make him a knight. King Arthur agreed on the spot and made him a knight right then and there. I simply expanded on the day that Aries decided to do that, and gave Tor a little more character. I did a little research on Sir Tor, and it seems that Aries was not his true father. King Pellinore was. This fact is often thought of as why Tor never fit in with his family with Aries and his 13 brothers. He was the son of a king, and he sought greatness. 

Reading Notes: Faerie Queen: Britomart, Part B

The Faerie Queen, by Edmund Spenser. Link to reading here.

I thought that the opening story with the introduction of all of the emotions was really awesome. I always find the personification of abstract or inanimate things really interesting. This could be an interesting way to depart from the original story entirely and use the emotions as my characters. This reminds me of the movie, Inside Out. It takes place in a brain and the characters are emotions that control the lives of humans everywhere. I think that would be a little far to reach from this original story, but the similarities of their physical appearances as they represent the emotion they are is cool to link!

The story in which Britomart wins the tournament against all of the other knights could potentially be an interesting story line, as well. There is a cloud of mystery around her and she just continuously defeats all of these brave and well-fought knights. The fact that her spear is enchanted must obviously help matters a bit (it's the reason she keeps winning) so maybe there is something there to take from to expand on her story a bit, or modernize it a little bit. There's also this sense of Artegall (her unrequited love) being jealous / angry at his loss of the prize. He seeks to take vengeance on Britomart, which could also transform into another story there.

I think the reaction to seeing Britomart's true form was interesting. Why did the male knights act in such a way? Was it because they were fighting a woman? Or was it her beauty that gave them pause?

I'm happy to see Britomart's happy ending, as I think it was long overdue.

(The Faerie Queen, web source: Wikimedia)

Reading Notes: Faerie Queen: Britomart Unit, Part A

Link to reading here.

I think this is a really fascinating story, with a LOT going on in each individual installment.

The character of Britomart is truly fascinating, with a lot of complexities that would be really interesting to take apart. At the same time, however, she seems almost superficial with her love of the knight after only seeing him in a mirror. This is how tales are meant to go, however, so I'll allow for that.

I think a very obvious connection to be made here is between Britomart and Mulan. Each put aside the societal expectation of them as women, and decide to do something greater. Both of them choose to leave home under a disguise and pursue journeys that would more often be associated with men. Mulan seems to have somewhat grander purposes for her journey. Her quest was to defend her family's honor and protect her father. I somewhat feel like Britomart's is a little more realistic (remembering that both of them are wildly unrealistic), because it shows a young woman leaving her parents' home on a whim in order to find the man of her dreams.

I think I could take her story in a different direction from the seeming frivolous journey she is on. Instead of pursuing a man, I think I would attempt to very loosely use Mulan's sense of honor to beef up Britomart's story a little bit. I don't want to pull directly from Mulan and copy her story exactly, but making up something that gives Britomart back a little bit of character and expand on her life could make it a more complete and wholesome story.

(Britomart, web source: Wikimedia)