I read and we talked about German, English, and Irish folktales which are “The Three Spinners”, “Tom Tit Tot”, and “The Brewery of Egg-Shells”. Unlike other folktales, German and English folktales came down from white peasants. People lived with social hierarchy of status and they expressed their earnest hope to escape from their reality, which they had to work hard in daily routine. People in that time used supernatural elements to show their hope in the stories and they wanted to live different life by being chosen by King. I noticed their hope and thought of beauty from the stories. Unlike these stories, Irish folktales are little different in themes. Irish folktales are having supernatural elements which was imp who took women’s babies. Then, old women told the mother that she could figure out whether babies are imps or real by boiling egg shells. I believe this story also came from hard worker in brewery. People might added miraculous elements in story because it could heal their weary life.
As Anansi stories have three versions each from Ghana, West Africa, and the United States, they had their own different view and endings. Compared to our stories, these are dealing with nature and wisdom. Each stories have different type of language. From Anansi story of Ghana to Aunt Nancy story of the United States, I think when it is closer to slavery, civilization, and hierarchy, poor people are suffered more and had harder time. When it comes to U.S. Slave Spirituals and Secular Songs, they are implicitly expressing death. I was quite surprised that the word “Jordan” was meaning heaven and escaping from slavery. Slavers eager freedom as much as death. However, not only songs about slaver’s harsh life but also poetries of love and wisdom exists in Madagascar. People in that time used lots of metaphor to show what love is.
Your highlighting of ‘escape’ is interesting here, as is your mention of the supernatural in relation to the Irish folktales. Be careful not to compile too many arguments or observations that you don’t intend to see all the way through; that is, for next time, take one of these only and trace how it appears (or doesn’t) in the two texts you choose. So, either the impulse to escape one’s suffering, whether that be by gaining access to the Royal house or a higher class or one’s earthly, temporal suffering to something more divine, heavenly, etc., OR, the role that the supernatural plays in these stories, especially the Irish story. This will be something to think about for your paper, as you’ll want to focus on one thing and see it through so that your reader is informed and convinced of your argument/interpretation. All in all, good read, and great presentation! 4/5