Reading Notes: Jewish Fairy Tales, Part A
In the first story of Noah and the flood, I was drawn to the character of Og. He amused me, I think, because he reminds me of a very large child. I could see myself transforming this into a story of children fighting over who can play with whom. Og would be a large boy of trickery who tries to play with a group of girls led by Noami (see what I did there?).
I really enjoyed the second story. It reminded me of several other stories. Beast from Beauty and the Beast, Scrooge from A Christmas Carol, and Prince Edward from The Prince and the Pauper all went through similar transformations. I could write of a rich woman who turned away those in need. She would be changed into a poor woman by a witch. After experiencing life in this way, she would become humble and kind.
The next story of the first cat and dog was very interesting. I think I could come up with a different reason for their bickering. I'd like to change the part where they are friends at first. It doesn't make sense to me how they can be friends relying on one another, and then they turn off that friendship when it's no longer convenient. In my story, the dog will suggest they go to live with Adam. They both go and they're very well taken care of there. However, they become jealous of each other when Adam gives one more attention than the other. This eats away at their friendship over time until they bicker constantly.
I would rewrite the next story of Moses as one of a normal baby. There would be a prophecy of this baby taking the life of his father, and becoming a wealthy powerful man. The family would disregard this until the baby reached for a knife to play with while sitting on his father's lap. The father would become worried and feel threatened. They'd put the baby to a similar test. Sitting in front of his father, he would be given the choice of a rusted knife or sparkling silver. This would prove his intentions toward his father.
Sometimes I read these stories, and it's hard for me to rewrite because there's a huge chunk of the story which seems to not have anything to do with anything. I feel like I'm missing some important linking information. This is how I feel about the next story. Why was the unicorn important? As much as I enjoy unicorns, this seemed a bit random. Rewriting this story, I would have David encounter a dangerous man with the intent of harming him. An animal of some kind would rescue him. I might even use a unicorn. Creatures would put their lives before his because they knew his life was to be very important.
The last story was beautiful. I don't know how I could make it any better. I do think I could make it good in another way by adding a bit of comedy. A man, far different from the one in the story, is lazy and his wife has to force him to go out and find a job. He thinks he's found a get rich quick scheme when he comes upon a builder with beautiful plans. He kidnaps him before selling him and his plans to someone who wants to make his pictures a reality. He builds exactly what his plans show, but at such a size that it is only a palace to ants and other small creatures. The man who spent money on his works is enraged and demands his money back from the lazy man.
Bibliography: Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa, link to the reading online.
I really enjoyed the second story. It reminded me of several other stories. Beast from Beauty and the Beast, Scrooge from A Christmas Carol, and Prince Edward from The Prince and the Pauper all went through similar transformations. I could write of a rich woman who turned away those in need. She would be changed into a poor woman by a witch. After experiencing life in this way, she would become humble and kind.
The next story of the first cat and dog was very interesting. I think I could come up with a different reason for their bickering. I'd like to change the part where they are friends at first. It doesn't make sense to me how they can be friends relying on one another, and then they turn off that friendship when it's no longer convenient. In my story, the dog will suggest they go to live with Adam. They both go and they're very well taken care of there. However, they become jealous of each other when Adam gives one more attention than the other. This eats away at their friendship over time until they bicker constantly.
(Image Information: Cat and Dog Fighting
Source: Wikimedia Commons)
I would rewrite the next story of Moses as one of a normal baby. There would be a prophecy of this baby taking the life of his father, and becoming a wealthy powerful man. The family would disregard this until the baby reached for a knife to play with while sitting on his father's lap. The father would become worried and feel threatened. They'd put the baby to a similar test. Sitting in front of his father, he would be given the choice of a rusted knife or sparkling silver. This would prove his intentions toward his father.
Sometimes I read these stories, and it's hard for me to rewrite because there's a huge chunk of the story which seems to not have anything to do with anything. I feel like I'm missing some important linking information. This is how I feel about the next story. Why was the unicorn important? As much as I enjoy unicorns, this seemed a bit random. Rewriting this story, I would have David encounter a dangerous man with the intent of harming him. An animal of some kind would rescue him. I might even use a unicorn. Creatures would put their lives before his because they knew his life was to be very important.
(Image Information: Unicorn
Source: Wikimedia Commons)
The last story was beautiful. I don't know how I could make it any better. I do think I could make it good in another way by adding a bit of comedy. A man, far different from the one in the story, is lazy and his wife has to force him to go out and find a job. He thinks he's found a get rich quick scheme when he comes upon a builder with beautiful plans. He kidnaps him before selling him and his plans to someone who wants to make his pictures a reality. He builds exactly what his plans show, but at such a size that it is only a palace to ants and other small creatures. The man who spent money on his works is enraged and demands his money back from the lazy man.
Bibliography: Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa, link to the reading online.
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