Reading Notes: "Alaska: Raven's Marriage"

Ravens

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The Raven flew with the geese on their way to Summerland. The Raven wanted to get married, but every time he placed his head down and asked if someone wanted to marry him, he was ignored. Soon a whole family of white-front geese came along. There were the parents, four brothers, and a sister. Raven called out, "Who wants to marry me? I am a fine hunter. I am young and handsome." The geese alighted just beyond him. Raven thought, "Now I will get a wife." Raven came across a stone and when he found a girl he liked; he gave her the stone, thus choosing her for his wife, and she hung the stone about her own neck.
The birds all continued on their journey, but they had to keep waiting on Raven. He claimed to have an arrow in his heart that made him tired. The other birds did not believe him and grew tired of waiting on him. As they continued, Raven could go no further and he drowned in the ocean. Then a great wave cast him on the shore. Then he struggled up the beach. He reached some bushes where he pushed up his beak. Thus he became a small, dark-colored man. Then he took off his raven coat and mask. He hung them on a bush to dry. Raven made a fire drill out of dry wood and made a fire. Thus he dried himself.


My Thoughts: This is such an odd tale. I thought the story was going to be about confidence. Who would marry a man who hangs his head? This story could be used as inspiration for a completely different type of story.

Bibliography:
"Alaska: Raven's Marriage"  This story is part of the Alaskan Legends unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of Alaska, edited by Katharine Berry Judson (1911).
Alaska: Ravens Marriage