I’m going to rewrite the English fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk based on Joseph Jacob’s version in English Fairy Tales (1890), which is believed to closely adhere to the oral versions and most commonly reprinted today. I will use the third person narrative(do I have to use the first person narrative as does those novels?; it seems kind of some conflicts in Foe) to avoid much confusion because I’d like to try an anachronic order, as does the Japanese anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya directed by Tatsuya Ishihara.
In my story, the main character Jack must be not a hero anymore, but a side character. When I read the fairy tale as a child, I thought it was really funny having such a pathetic hero and I felt pity for the giant; thus, I’d like to make the giant the hero, but I’m also very interested in his wife who will face agonies of patriotism and feminism, and in his harp, in which a disabled girl will be mystically merged into, to show an Oriental sentiment that is different from the Western one. The beanstalk would be a symbolic path used by the English searching for colonial territories.
The story will start firstly from a Catholic Father visiting an elderly woman in the present. Then, it will shift to the past which will show a country, ruined after an English invasion owing to Jack’s successful enterprise. After this, the story will go further back to the past; about the secret of the giant’s born. Next, it will come to same time period as the original story, of Jack’s visit. As for after that, I have not a clear idea of what to do, although I have a vague idea and wrote a rough draft of half of the story. I’m not sure if this is fine for rewriting.
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4 comments:
Hi May
There’s likely full of drifting the sound of harp ( may be Hendel’s harp concerto B flat major op4 no6) in your writing that I can listen to( 아마도 환청). So, I enjoyed listening to first movement of it with morning coffee. Thanks. I’m very interested in your proposal not only music but also the story line. I’m very curious about the ‘Giant’, main protagonist instead of Jack, and the secret of its birth. I expect that there may be important role of music which is my soul. Am I wrong?
Anyway, I was really impressed by your proposal.
Thank you again.
Hi, Grace
Thank you for the comment; it’s really encouraging.. Actually, I thought that I may change the harp to some Oriental instrument like Chinese Iho or Korean Gumugo, but I like your Hendel as well. Thanks!
Hi
This is a cool tale to write, I remember this tale from when I was little that was alwaes read to me and I am sure there was a movie? maybe I cant remember correctly but i cant wait to read your re-write and how you will change the tale around to different angles and have other characters brought in also
goodluck
Hi May. I like your idea for your re-write and I think it is particularly interesting for you to do this story as it is obviously a storyline that has bothered you for some time.
I don't think you need to use the third person narrative of the original, but it may pay to check that one.
I think you're brave using an anachronic order but I am sure you will do it well. From my understanding the prefix 'ana' means out of and 'chronic' means time, so I imagine we can expect some jumping about in time?
Your use of the bean-stalk in a symbolic function is wonderful.
I'm interested in your choice of a 'Catholic' father. The Christian religions were strong at the time of the original, so I am interested to see how you explore this.
Good luck.
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