Week 3 Storytelling: The Story of No Sin

The Story of No Sin

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

Once upon a time, there were two people in this world, a man and a woman. And the Almighty God, who created this man and this woman named Adam and Eve to live in a world of paradise. A world with nothing but positive things and happy moments. Adam and Eve were meant for each other. Adam and Eve traveled together, going on different journeys each and every day, experiencing different food and different sights across the world, while learning everything from the Almighty God. God taught them how to live, how enjoy life, how to do everything right, not to ever make any mistakes and live life without sin, which Adam and Eve never knew of such a thing called "sin." They lived a perfect life and eventually God created more men and women to follow the path of Adam and Eve. These men and women new to the world, would follow Adam and Eve's path and learn everything from them. They simply lived the same life as Adam and Eve, no lies, no mistakes, no sadness, no pain and no death. Everyone born in this world lived a life of eternity.  Everyone in the world lived a dream of happiness and lived with everything they could ever imagine. After a few years of traveling and living a life that everyone wishes to live; a life full of happiness and perfection, Adam and Eve decided it was time to part ways. The main reason Adam and Eve decided to part ways was because they felt like they had done everything that they could possibly do in their life. They had done everything together that they could possibly imagine... Traveled the world, ate all the great food they wanted to eat, met all sorts of new people without ever having a sad moment at any point in their life. What else is there to do?? You have lived life to the fullest, what more could make you happier? Adam and Eve did not know the answer to this question and decided that they would be better off going separate ways and starting a whole new perfect life with another person to travel with them, doing all the same stuff they did with each other. In a way, Adam and Eve felt life was getting boring and were somewhat getting tired of one another. In a way, they wondered, is this what life is really about? Everything we ever wanted, we have. Anything we want, we can get. Is there anything more for us to do??

Author's Note: 

My story is based on Adam and Eve and how they were created by God to be the first man and first woman. They were created to live a life of paradise on earth, however Adam and Eve eventually fell into the life of suffering and sin, living through ups and downs, constantly committing sins and begging for God's forgiveness. Fortunately for Adam and Eve, God was forgiving of their sins. This story lead me to think... What would life be like without sin? What would life be like without suffering and pain? My whole point of my story is that Adam and Eve had everything they ever wanted, but they never experienced any pain or suffering, allowing them to grow as stronger people. In my opinion, life is all about getting through your most painful moments and toughest challenges and Adam and Eve did not have any of this and it grew them apart. It was almost as if life was boring without sin and suffering. So my main questions from this story is... What do you think life would be like without sin and suffering? Would we grow as people? Would life be boring like it did with Adam and Eve?

Bibliography:

The Forgotten Books of Eden, Rutherford H. Platt, Jr. (1926)

Week 3 Reading Diary, continued: Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve, The Forgotten Books of Eden 

"And to the north of the garden there is a sea of water, clear and pure to the taste, like unto nothing else, so that, through the clearness thereof, one may look into the depths of the earth."
This is a goo quote describing the detail of the "borders of heaven" This uses great imagery. I also like the way the story is written with words such as depths, thereof, unto, etc. It definitely gives it a unique feel.

God approached Adam and told him something that Adam didn't understand at all (nor did i) but Adam was under the impression that the world was going to end in 5 days and begged and begged God to explain why. Adam later on learned that wasn't the case.

Adam and Eve in the cave 

Adam and Eve enter the cave, and prayed as Adam saw the rock and the roof that covered the cave so that he couldn't see heaven nor Gods creatures. He wept and wept until he dropped "dead." Eve wept and wept believing that he was actually dead. 

"But God looked upon them, for they had killed themselves through great grief. But he would raise them and comfort them." 

"They wept before him and sought mercy from him" Adam and Eve wept in front of God like he was one of their parents. 

"Then God, merciful and gracious, looked upon them thus lying in the water, and nigh unto death, and sent an angel, who brought them out of the water and laid them on the seashore as dead." God sends his word unto Adam and Eve and raises them from dead, once again proving the power of God. It is interesting throughout the story, the amount of deaths and sins committed not only by Adam and Eve but others, God seems to always be there. 

Garden of Eden 

This is also one of my favorite pictures, as it is colorful and in great detail as I was also wondering what the Garden of Eden looked like before seeing this picture. 

"All this misery that thou hast been made to take upon thee because of thy transgression, will not free thee from the hand of Satan, and will not save thee. But I will." God says Adam will not be ruined by Satan regardless of all the darkness he is experiencing but he will one day be saved by God. That Adam needs to experience darkness and that God will suffer for their salvation.

Adam throws himself from atop the mountain and Eve weeps and weeps and then later threw herself after him. This section was very interesting and kind of depressing in a way, as it showed a ton of emotion, but was really interesting to read. 

"Then Adam and Eve took stones and placed them in the shape of an altar, and they took leaves from the trees outside the garden, with which they wiped, from the face of the rock, the blood they had spilled" 

Week 3 Reading Diary: Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve, King James Bibe (1611): Genesis 1-2

The Creation of Adam by William Blake

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him. Male and female created he them."
"Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea..."
I like this section and how it describes all that God creates. There is a great use of imagery and detail in this section as well.

Adam and Eve are introduced.. Eve got her name form Adam because she was "the mother of all living"
"Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil, and now lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever."

Adam becomes a man and not just a young child, he came from Gods hands fully developed. He was "gigantic, reaching from heaven to earth"
Adam was unique and not many men resembled him.
"I will breathe her into his nostrils..."  God reveals the whole history of mankind to Adam.

"They attempted to consume with him with fire, and he would have perished, had not the protecting hand of God rested upon him..." This proves the power of God and the protection he had over everybody. Satan is then introduced. I love how this story is written and overall theme that is used so far.

"Adam complained before God that the wife he had given him had deserted him, and God sent forth three angels to capture her. They found her in the Red Sea..."
This once again shows the power of God and what God will do and all he did for Adam. Also, this shows how much Adam somewhat relied on God. She comes back, but has to deal with her babies facing evil situations.

This part describes the creation of Eve and the difference God faces in the creation of males versus females. God actually created a wife for Adam before Eve, but he would not have her, because she had been made in his presence.

Stained glass in Sarthe, France

One of my favorite parts about the story Adam and Eve is all the colorful pictures that there are throughout the story. Not only are they colorful but they are in great detail and hold a lot of meaning. 

"At the same time, God wanted to give Adam the opportunity of repenting his sin..."

This quote is one of my favorites because it shows no matter what happens, God always gives an opportunity to redeem yourself. 

Brainstorm Topics - Myth Folk

1) Topic: Animal Stories, Jataka
To be honest, I picked this topic because I love any story involving animals. I know nothing about the topic thus far but anything with animals will catch my attention. I do know it is one of the core texts of Buddhism and tells the story of Buddha. I look forward to learning more about this topic in the future!
Research done so far:  I read some of the info from your World Literature Course about the Jataka unit. I read about the religion of Buddhism and how it started in India and spread all throughout Asia eventually. I have also heard about the word Buddha several sometimes but wasn't aware of the full meaning of it, for example I did not know that it meant the one who is "awake" I thought it was very interesting that it is one of the largest religions in the world.

Budda, Jataka Tales

2) Topic: Beowulf

As shown already in my blog, I already wrote about Beowulf earlier in the week so I already know quite a bit about it. The story of Beowulf is very interesting. As I only read the first half of the story, i still learned quite a bit about Beowulf as the first part of the story described Beowulf and his journey. The story showed how Beowulf went from someone who was doubted to someone who became one of the most trusted, respected people. 

Research done so far:

I have not done any research thus far, as i mentioned below I have read part 1 of the story so I know quite a bit about it but I know there is a lot more to it. Beowulf was the nephew of Hygelac, in a town called Geatsland. Beowulf was one of Hygelac's "thanes" because Hygelac saw something in Beowulf that not others did. Beowulf was constantly challenged throughout his life and continued to prove people wrong time and time again. 

3) Topic: Beauty and the Beast

This topic popped out to me simply because of the name and how popular Beauty and the Beast is and always has been. However, I do not know much about Beauty and the Beast in great detail. When you grow up around girls and event today are around my nieces and my girlfriends nieces, Beauty and the Beast is a hot topic. 

Research done so far: 

I referred to Wikipedia to learn more about Beauty and the Beast.. As this fairy tale is about Beauty (Belle) and the Beast and how Belle ends up at the Beasts castle and refuses to have dinner with him that night and is eventually ran into a pack of wolves when running away from the beast in fear. The Beast ends up saving Belle's life from the wolves. I am looking forward to maybe choosing this fairy tale as my story to look into more in the future. 

4) Topic: Bigfoot

Bigfoot is also one of those stories you always hear about but you never actually know any details about it or who he is and what he does so I am looking forward to doing some research on the topic and getting to know more about it because right now, I do not know much. 

Research done so far:  Wikipedia is my favorite for sources for topics like these because I believe it really gives all the details about the topic. Bigfoot is a name that is given to a mythological simian or ape that is believed to inhabit forests. 

Week 2 Reading Diary: Noah

Noah, The King James Bible

"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham and Japeth."
-God also talks to Noah about all the violence in the world and how all the flesh and violence will be destroyed by the earth.

"The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark..." This quote provides imagery and description of the ark and you can really start to picture it without seeing a picture. However, here is a good image of the Ark.

The Ark, Nuremberg Chronicles 

"In the six hundredth year of Noah's life...the same day were all the fountains of the deep broken up and the windows of heaven were opened" this was describing just some of the work done by the Lord and all the stuff Noah had experienced. In "The Flood" section, you really start to learn more about Noah in full. 

Noah waited and waited for the floods to try until finally the six hundredth and first year, Noah looked out the window of the ark to see dry ground. 

I really enjoy the imagery in both stories that I have read so far (Beowulf and now Noah) It is something I am looking to take forward into my story. I love the descriptions and every little detail of everything that makes the reader feel like they are actually there.

The drunkenness was witness by his three sons. Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood until nine hundred and fifty years, he died. 

Here comes the story of the generation of Noah's sons, Shem, Ham and Japeth, who all 3 had sons as well. 

"Go to, let us build a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." 

The Lord then came down to see the city and all the work they had done.

"The body of the babe was white as snow and red as a blooming rose and the hair of his head and his long locks were white as wool and his eyes like the rays of the sun" once again, the imagery and description of the birth of Noah is incredible and my favorite quote of this section.

God wonders what earth will become without men while the angels plead to occupy themselves with it. God has doubts and says the evil inclination will overpower them. The angels came to earth and could not contain their passion.

"Even after God had resolved upon the destruction of the sinners, he still permitted his mercy to prevail, in that he sent Noah unto them who exhorted them for one hundred and twenty years to amend their ways, always holding the flood over them as a threat..."
The sinners ask where the ark is when Noah tells them that a flood will come from under their feet that they will not be able to fight off.

This story is so vivid (so far) and thats what i like most about it and what I want to take from it when i create my own story. I want the reader to feel as if they are actually in the moment, which is what i feel when reading Noah.

Week 2 Reading Diary: Beowulf

The Story of Beowulf by Stafford Riggs

King Hygelac of Geatsland- My favorite part about this section is the imagery in describing Geatsland
-"hollow trunks of dead trees"
-"they were yellow of hair; their eyes were deep set and burned blue like the sea..."
-I also really liked the way they described the lords and their battles and how they were fierce and terrible with their enemies but after their battles, they would joke around and poke fun at each other and relax.

The Young Beowulf- This is when Beowulf is brought into the story, who was named a "thane" early on at a young age because of his strength of body.
- my favorite quote from this part was "he accepted the challenge because he had been called lazy and in his heart, he was angry that his strength had never been truly tried" i love this quote because it shows the toughness and determination of Beowulf. He ended up being victorious in the race he was challenged to. Beowulf was one of Hygelac's favorites and many people grew jealous of that.

Young Beowulf, 16 years old

The Wanderer's Song- "He sang in a sharp voice that was like the crying of the birds on the gray sea..." speaking of the Wanderer. The Wanderer was somewhat of a bright spot in all of their lives from what it seemed and he made a huge impact on everyone with his simple voice and reason. 

Beowulf's Resolve- Beowulf really grows to his potential in this section of the story as he is called upon by Hygelac to prove his worth because Hygelac is confident in Beowulf's strength and abilities. He was finally somewhat accepted by his peers and everyone grew a respect for him and his hard work. 

Beowulf's Journey- Beowulf was determined to go on his journey alone because he was stubborn but was insistent that he was accompanied by others with the best equipment possible. 

"Hygelac made a speech to the fourteen earls and charged them to be faithful to Beowulf..." This shows how important Beowulf was to Hygelac. Beowulf begins his journey to Daneland with all the earns, commanding and leading the whole way. 

Beowulf Lands in Daneland- "For many hours the sturdy ship fought the waves that crashed and thundered against their sides. For many hours, Beowulf and his fourteen companions saw the marvels and terrors of the wide sea" This describes how brutal the journey was starting out and was sort of a foreshadowing of the journey ahead. 

"I can see by your height and breadth and strength that you are a leader of these fine young men who stand behind you" -Guardian of the beach speaking of Beowulf

Beowulf Comes to Heorot- 

"Beowulf and his companions toiled until the sweat stood out in drops upon their faces and their strong legs ached with the weariness of tramping" Once again the imagery is incredible in this section as their journey is described in great detail. 

The Words of Unferth- Beowulf is doubted and told not to be trusted by the people in Daneland and told to go "swim fair races" back home. 

The Words of Beowulf-  Beowulf grew angry at the comments made of him. All of it was eventually squashed and everyone moved on. Beowulf and his companions got some rest for the journey ahead. This section proved the strength and determination of Beowulf, he was talked down on but responded by proving everyone wrong and earning everyones respect. 

Learning Challenges

I think H.E.A.R.T is perfect for any college student to read before he or she starts their first semester. It is hard to pick out which one is most important because I have experienced all of these throughout my college career. I think time is very important because time management is one of the most important things about college. That was one thing that everybody told me when I graduated high school was that I needed to learn how to use my time before I start college because you really do not learn how to juggle all these different things in high school. In college, you juggle different challenges, a different chapter of your life along with studying, social life, a job, classes, and other various things. Not having time to do stuff can really wear you down and make you exhausted and stressed out, which leads to other negative things. Health and happiness is another key to success in college but also goes back to time management. If you cant manage your time and have to cram everything in the span of a couple hours, you get exhausted, which leads to stress, which does not lead to health and happiness. It is definitely a challenge at first but over time, I have gotten so much better at managing my time. Honestly, I did not really have a choice to not get better at managing my time because I have worked all throughout college, on top of taking 12 hours and trying to enjoy college at the same time. This picture is really funny and couldn't be any more true for college students. I have seen this picture over and over again and still to this day, cant pick which two I would rather have lol.

Which 2? Source: Google Images