When I first read the Vegetational Fatherhood by Mynona, I was surprised it was considered fairy tale because it is not like the other tales I have read. It is one of the most bizarre and random stories I have read yet. However, upon further consideration, I found many of the fairy tale elements in the story, and characteristics of other fairy tales we have read.
One of my first reactions to the story was that it reminded my of the Virgin Mary, because of the way the woman became pregnant. My second reaction was that some elements of this story reminded me of Snow White. First, the woman has a daughter who is more beautiful than she is, and she becomes more and more beautiful with each day. Second, the daughter's looks are compared to a flower. She has soft, pink skin, green eyes, a rose petal shaped birthmark, and silver glistening hair. In Snow White, the daughter's looks are described in a similar way, as she is said to be white as snow, red as blood, and black as ebony wood. Finally, both Snow White and the daughter in this story attract many suitors as a result of their beauty.
Based on the content of this tale, I thought about its intended audience. I cannot imagine this being read to a child. Perhaps it was written as entertainment and amusement for adults, according to Shavit's concept of childhood.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Vegetational Fatherhood
I think this story is a cautionary tale about lying to a partner in marriage. At first glance, I initially felt that this was another story like Blackbeard, which casts a bad light on falling for somebody "different" (with the racist overtones of the time), but attempted to bury it with the appearance and sweetness of flowers.
However, I thought about it further and realized that the murder is brought about because the husband does not know about the nightly metamorphosis. Had she or her mother been honest with the husband, the murder would have been prevented.
Also, I noticed the reference to a reverse "Lucia di Lammermoor". I looked this up, and found out that it is an opera about forbidden love that ends with Lucia going hysterical after her wedding and killing her husband. The opera itself seems to be about marrying people for the wrong reasons and the consequences that it brings about, so I think this reference strengthens the idea.
However, I thought about it further and realized that the murder is brought about because the husband does not know about the nightly metamorphosis. Had she or her mother been honest with the husband, the murder would have been prevented.
Also, I noticed the reference to a reverse "Lucia di Lammermoor". I looked this up, and found out that it is an opera about forbidden love that ends with Lucia going hysterical after her wedding and killing her husband. The opera itself seems to be about marrying people for the wrong reasons and the consequences that it brings about, so I think this reference strengthens the idea.
Vegetational Fatherhood and Science 4/7
It is interesting what the role of science plays in the tale Vegetational Fatherhood. While the beginning of the tale is decidedly unscientific with a personified rose and the girl who turns into a rosebush each night after reaching puberty, the end of the story relies heavily on the idea of scientific evidence. Dr. Rosenberger and the girl's mother are deemed insane because they claim an event that is beyond the realm of scientific understanding. Dr. Rosenberger is described as a 'learned man of science' and astonishes all by supporting the mother's claims that the girl transformed into a rosebush each night. It is only after an autopsy, a scientific procedure, is performed that something strange is considered. However, it is not magic but horrific experiments by Dr. Rosenberger, the anatomist, that are thought possible by the general public.
Science both conceals and explains the events of the story. Science hides the actual event of animal-plant transformation that occurred from the public by making it seem impossible. Science, in turn, reveals that something strange was going on but too late to help Dr. Rosenberger or the girl's mother, and the evidence is misinterpreted anyway. Science in the story seems to become a hindrance to the truth not the enlightening quest for knowledge that it is usually thought to be.
Science both conceals and explains the events of the story. Science hides the actual event of animal-plant transformation that occurred from the public by making it seem impossible. Science, in turn, reveals that something strange was going on but too late to help Dr. Rosenberger or the girl's mother, and the evidence is misinterpreted anyway. Science in the story seems to become a hindrance to the truth not the enlightening quest for knowledge that it is usually thought to be.
Assignment: 7 April 2009
Please write an interpretation of/response to “The Vegetational Fatherhood.” Don't forget to post comments by Wednesday.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wackenroder
Wackenroder’s “A Wondrous Oriental Tale of a Naked Saint” is a fairy tale because it has some of the elements we discussed in class like magic, transformation, undefined setting, and a character type that is not developed. The main character goes through a struggle (a magic spell that has him always spinning the wheel and feeling that something is missing), then he hears the music and is transformed into a spirit. It is, more specifically, a Kunstmarchen because it is literary and artistic, and written by people who want to create a polished literary form. The painstakingly detailed descriptions and use of metaphors are also representative of a Kunstmarchen.
I believe that the power evoked by music is not also accessible to language. The experiences you have when you listen to music cannot be achieved through poetic language, as I found while reading Wackenroder’s tale. Just reading the song did not move me much, although I’m positive if I heard it, it would make much more of an impact. Based on personal experience, I think that language merely points to music.
I believe that the power evoked by music is not also accessible to language. The experiences you have when you listen to music cannot be achieved through poetic language, as I found while reading Wackenroder’s tale. Just reading the song did not move me much, although I’m positive if I heard it, it would make much more of an impact. Based on personal experience, I think that language merely points to music.
Wackenroder 3/31
I feel that in Wackenroder's tale, language, in the form of lyrics in the lovers' song, merely points to the magic of the music. The music seemed to affect the saint more than the actual words. The saint is also called the "genius of love and music" not music and language. The fact that Wackenroder used language to describe the magic of music shows that language is a tool to describe the power of music not the actual magic holder in Wackenroder's story.
The story contains many fairy tale elements. The existence of a wild man that transforms into something greater is a common element in fairy tales like "Iron Hans." The setting of a remote cave by water uses nature as a character in much the same way that forests and rivers act as almost sentient beings transforming characters in other fairy tales. The more specific kunstmarchen elements are the specification of the Orient locale, which brings exoticism and Romanticism into the story, and the ambiguous ending. While the lovers are united, the saint is transformed into a spiritual being that has unspecified powers. The ending is not unhappy but it is not altogether joyous either. This is a divergence from fairy tales in the oral tradition that usually had clearly defined happy conclusions.
Audra Crosby
The story contains many fairy tale elements. The existence of a wild man that transforms into something greater is a common element in fairy tales like "Iron Hans." The setting of a remote cave by water uses nature as a character in much the same way that forests and rivers act as almost sentient beings transforming characters in other fairy tales. The more specific kunstmarchen elements are the specification of the Orient locale, which brings exoticism and Romanticism into the story, and the ambiguous ending. While the lovers are united, the saint is transformed into a spiritual being that has unspecified powers. The ending is not unhappy but it is not altogether joyous either. This is a divergence from fairy tales in the oral tradition that usually had clearly defined happy conclusions.
Audra Crosby
On Poetry and Music - March 31st
In many ways, music is just the ultimate form of poetic language. It is universal, and easily understood by all. All emotions can be expressed, while the effectiveness lies in the skill of the arrangement. If we are to think of the musical scale as almost everyone knows it, we can easily think of "Do Re Mi". "Do Re Mi" is a neat summation of the link between music and language. Here, we have nonsense syllables that are not exclusive to any one language, yet represent so much by their juxtaposition.
I had the great luck of going to an international drum camp while I was in high school. There, I was able to see a performance by an Indian Tabla master. To Indian drummers, music is learned as a separate language, with its own "grammar". Drum hits and rhythms are assigned syllables, like "ta" and "ki". To illustrate this, the drummer spoke in this language, and then performed it back on the drum. As he spoke, his sentences gained more and more complexity, but it was clear that it was not just gibberish.
While this establishes the clear link between music and language, music and poetry are separated by one simple fact: music is a physical art. Poetry is entirely a mental and emotional process, while music also adds the aspect of performance to the mix. Furthermore, poetry is human invention. While music is natural and primal, poetry is the product of representing music with language.
I think that in Wackenroder's story, the saint's nudity illustrates that the author was aware of this link between the body and music, while also driving down the point that music is part of our natural being. He also calls this character a "saint," I think not only to illustrate the perfection that is associated with music, but also so that we do not mistakenly think that this nude character is a beast.
As for the story itself, I feel that it is a fairy tale for two reasons: there is a major, supernatural transformation at the end, and the story is entirely about an outsider who is superior to the society that doesn't understand him.
I had the great luck of going to an international drum camp while I was in high school. There, I was able to see a performance by an Indian Tabla master. To Indian drummers, music is learned as a separate language, with its own "grammar". Drum hits and rhythms are assigned syllables, like "ta" and "ki". To illustrate this, the drummer spoke in this language, and then performed it back on the drum. As he spoke, his sentences gained more and more complexity, but it was clear that it was not just gibberish.
While this establishes the clear link between music and language, music and poetry are separated by one simple fact: music is a physical art. Poetry is entirely a mental and emotional process, while music also adds the aspect of performance to the mix. Furthermore, poetry is human invention. While music is natural and primal, poetry is the product of representing music with language.
I think that in Wackenroder's story, the saint's nudity illustrates that the author was aware of this link between the body and music, while also driving down the point that music is part of our natural being. He also calls this character a "saint," I think not only to illustrate the perfection that is associated with music, but also so that we do not mistakenly think that this nude character is a beast.
As for the story itself, I feel that it is a fairy tale for two reasons: there is a major, supernatural transformation at the end, and the story is entirely about an outsider who is superior to the society that doesn't understand him.
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