Week 2 Reading Overview

CLASSICAL and/or BIBLICAL units for Weeks 3 and 4.
Week 3: Homer's Odyssey
Week 4: Ovid's Metamorphoses

MIDDLE EASTERN and/or INDIAN units for Weeks 5 and 6.
Week 5: Life of Buddha

Week 6: Raja Rasalu

ASIAN and/or AFRICAN units for Weeks 7 and 9. [Week 8 is review week.]
Week 7: China
Week 9: Laos

NATIVE AMERICAN units for Weeks 10 and 11.
Week 10: Alaska
Week 11: Great Plains

BRITISH and/or CELTIC units for Weeks 12 and 13.
Week 12: Welsh Fairy Book (Thomas)
Week 13: Canterbury Tales

EUROPEAN units for Weeks 14 and 15.
Week 14: Librivox
Week 15: Hans Christian Anderson

The readings that I enjoyed the most were from the Middle Eastern/India units and from the Asian/African units.  I love stories that incorporate the livelihood of spirits, and how they shape the material world.  They add a complexity to stories describing creation that is still far out of our mortal reach, but still tangible enough to be interesting and understood in storytelling.  I also appreciated the Native American unit for the exact opposite reason.  Their use of real animals as protagonists makes their storytelling lighthearted and simple.  Their storytelling is direct and to-the-point, which also leaves room for creative speculation because the messages are so broad.  

Illustration from The Chinese Fairy Book, Source