Topic Research: Feral Children

Romulus and Remus

"Romulus and Remus"

Romulus and Remus were twin boys whose lives were spared by the servant who was supposed to bury them alive. He placed them in a basket on the Tiber river, and they were found and taken care of by a she-wolf. They were fed by wood-peckers.


Atalanta

"Atalanta and Mama Bear"

She was left to die at birth by her father's orders because he wanted a son, and was cared for by a she-bear. Growing up in the wilderness, she became a successful huntress.

Pecos Bill

"Pecos Bill"

Pecos Bill was lost by his parents near the Pecos River in Texas, and was raised by coyotes. He rode a mountain lion, and used a rattle snake as a lasso.



Note: With each of these stories, each character has eventually been found by humans or reunited with family. In the story I plan to create, I would like to use the characters as elementary-aged and before they have human contact again.

Feedback Strategies

Be a Mirror

This article discussed five qualities of feedback that help foster a growth mindset. I think that is very valuable because it tells you how you can help someone grow by the way you provide feedback. For example, the qualities mentioned are to be specific, focus on what the writer is doing, focus on the process, make sure it can transfer, and take yourself out of the feedback. I think sometimes it's hard to be specific when you give feedback. I know, for me personally, I can read something and really like it...but I won't know exactly what contributes to it being great. Sometimes I really just have to think and try to dissect what I just read in order to provide valuable feedback. It can be difficult to not just say that I think it's awesome, or great. When you're specific, it helps people see what they are doing good and what they should keep doing for a successful story (or whatever they're writing). It's also very easy to put yourself in your feedback. For example, "I like when," or "I think.." just focus on you as the reader. However, you want to focus more on what the writer did so that you can convey what they did successfully. Overall, you want to be a mirror. The article states that to be a mirror is to reflect back what is there without judgment. When you do this, your feedback can be seen more as constructive and less insulting.

"Futurama Feedback"

How to Give Feedback Without Sounding Like a Jerk

This article mentioned a popular way that is used to give negative feedback, and that's called the compliment sandwich. This is where you start with a compliment, stick in your feed, and then end with a compliment. I never heard of it referred to as this, nor did I realize this was a legitimate way people go about giving feedback. However, I am pretty much 99% sure I am guilty of giving a compliment sandwich. I mean... it makes sense. I hate the thought of insulting someone, or making someone feel upset. Therefor, I usually like to fluff negative feedback with a bunch of compliments. This article explains to us though that a compliment sandwich is not effect because we automatically expect some criticism after we get praised about something. Regardless, people tend to focus and hold onto the negative anyway. The advice this article gives in order to make feedback more constructive is to explain why you're giving the feedback, take yourself off a pedestal, ask the person if they want feedback, have a dialogue-not a monologue. I think these are all great tips, and I'm going to try these out on my husband!

"Futurama Feedback" image source: click here

Week 3 Story: The Modern Narcissus

Author's Note:

This story is based off of Ovid's Metamorphoses: Narcissus, which is a continuation of Echo. Echo was a story about a woman who fell in love with Narcissus. When Echo revealed herself to him, he did not like what he saw and ran from her. Because of this, Echo wilted away and died in the woods due to her despair and loneliness. Rhamnusia, who is the goddess of revenge decided to punish Narcissus for this. In Echo, when Narcissus was born, a prophetic vision disclosed that he would live a long life ‘If he does not discover himself.’ Fast forward- Narcissus is on a walk when he sees this fountain surrounded by luscious trees and grass. The water in the fountain seems untouched and crystal clear. He stops to rest in the shade of the trees, and takes a drink from the fountain. He sees his reflection, and is just so mesmerized by himself. He grows so in love with his reflection, that when he reaches for it he gets upset that he can't reach it. When his tears hit the water, it distorts the reflection, and he gets angry that his reflection seems to run away. He screams, and hits himself, and lays on the grass to die (remember the prophecy). When his sisters go to get his body for his funeral, his body is no where to be found. Instead, there is now a white flower with a yellow-heart center in his place. Now, welcome to my version of Narcissus: The Modern Narcissus.

"The Modern Narcissus"

Katie was a typical high school junior. She had a best friend, Bree, who she was very close with. Other than Bree, she didn't talk to many other people. Issues at home with her siblings and her relationship history caused her to have low self-esteem issues. Bree was the only person she could really talk to about things, and Bree felt the same way about her. They spent most of their time together.

One day, Katie was browsing through social media when she came upon a recent picture of one of the popular girls in her class. Her natural beauty and easy-going personality were so captivating to Katie. She noticed herself longing to be admired, just as she admired the popular girl in class. Katie went to her bathroom and started practicing with her makeup, something she never quite cared about. She watched YouTube makeup tutorials and practiced until she thought it was perfect. She also had dyed her hair and started to style it like the hairstyles she would see in the Cosmopolitan magazines. Katie suddenly changed her wardrobe. Before she knew it, she looked like she had a complete makeover. 

Very happy with her recent changes, Katie starting taking more pictures of herself. However, she wouldn't just take one and be done. Katie often spent more than 10 minutes making sure she snapped the perfect picture of herself. She would then share it on social media, and wait for the notifications to come in regarding picture comments and likes. This became a daily routine for her. But it didn't end there. When she and Bree would spend time together, she would request that they take more photos together. If Katie found any tiny little flaw in the way she looked, the picture would have to be retaken. It had to be perfect.

One day, Bree was confiding in her, and telling her something that had really been bothering her. However, she wasn't giving Bree her undivided attention like she usually did. She had been looking at her Instagram account reading the comments that people had left on her most recent picture. Bree noticed this lack of attention, and asked her, "well...what do you think I should do?" It was as if Katie didn't hear the question because she exclaimed, "Oh my god, look what Sara said. She said I look like I could be a model. I've been thinking about it. I mean... don't you think I look like I should be a model?" This bothered Bree. "Wow, Katie, thank you for listening and caring about my situation. You know what? You've changed. Suddenly you're just so self-absorbed, and honestly I don't think I could stand it anymore. Who ARE you? Just go home." Katie was shocked. She didn't think her best friend would ever say something like that to her. "Are you serious right now? You don't have to be so jealous. Whatever." Just like that, Katie left. She had become so self-absorbed, that her once best friend called quits on the friendship. Before she knew it, she had nobody who truly cared about her. 

Story source: Ovid's Metamorphoses: Narcissus

Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline

Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses, Part B

Ovid's Metamorphoses: Narcissus
Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline

"Narcissus and his Reflection"

Narcissus stops at this fountain that looks very appealing and untouched. It's surrounded by beautiful grass and trees, keeping the area shaded. He drinks some of the water, and sees his reflection in the fountain, and is just captivated by himself. He was so mesmerized by himself, that he reached for his own refection. Yet, he could not catch it. He lays on the grass, and ponders. Has anyone ever loved themselves as much as he loves himself? Narcissus is upset by the fact that his reflection seems to be wanting the same thing, yet he cannot reach it. In fact, he doesn't care to die if he cannot be with the one he loves (himself). He went back to reflection, and when his tears hit the water it obscured the image. This made him angry, and he hits his chest. He said goodbye to his reflection, and laid back down in the grass to die. As his sisters were preparing the funeral pyre, his body was no where to be found. Instead, in its place was a white flower with a yellow-heart center.

Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses, Part A

Ovid's Metamorphoses: Io

Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline

"Argos Watches Io"

Zeus is super attracted to a woman named Io who he first sees returning from her father's stream. It was hot and sunny, and he told her that she should find shade in the woods where he would be there to keep her safe. He also boasted about how he was pretty much the greatest god. She apparently got creeped out, and started to run from him. She was able to get a good head start on him, so he covered the earth in fog to slow her down and caught up to her. Hera, Zeus's wife, was curious as to why there was a sudden fog since it was daytime. With her husband nowhere in sight, she had a gut feeling that he was cheating on her. She went to find him. Meanwhile, Zeus was anticipating Hera's arrival, and he turned Io into a cow. When Hera arrived, she asked about this good-looking cow, acting as if she didn't know what Zeus had been up to. Hera decided to keep the cow (Io) as a gift, and had Argus (who had 100 eyes) guard her. Io, as a cow, went to her father's stream to drink. She followed her father and sisters, longing for their affection. Without a voice, she was unable to cry out for help. Instead, she drew in the dirt what had happened. Her father was very upset when he found out, especially because now she wouldn't be able to marry and have kids. Because of all the commotion, Argus took Io away and claimed a spot on a mountain to where he can keep his eyes on her at all times. Zeus decides he kind of feels remorse for Io, and decides to send his son to go kill Argos. The son of Zeus brings his reed pipe along with him, and sits next to Argos hoping to make him fall asleep. Once Argos was asleep, the son of Zeus chopped his head off with a sword. Hera was furious by this, and dragged the cow (Io) back to Zeus. Io fell to her knees, and looked back at Zeus with sadness in her eyes. Zeus begged Hera to calm down, and basically told her that she wouldn't have to deal with Io again-kind of asking for forgiveness. Once Hera calms down, Io transforms back into her human self. Once transformed, she is hesitant to speak because she's afraid she'll still sound like a cow, but soon speaks.