Reading notes: Grimm (Ashliman), Unit A
This week, I read some of the Brothers Grimm work from the Ashliman unit. The stories were quite clever and I enjoyed them all — overall, they definitely weren't as dark as I expected. Here were some of my favorites:
Little Red Cap
I love this Little Red Riding Hood-esque tale — the details are charming and vivid (especially the bit about how the wolf distracts Little Red Cap while she's on her way to grandmother's house). I think one thing I could do with this story is retell it from Little Red Cap's perspective. I also thought about modernizing the tale with some present-day details, but I think the story would lose some of its charm that way.
The Singing Bone
This story was dark, but so interesting — I actually gasped at the terrible fate of the older brother at the end. I wonder if there might be a way to bring the younger brother back to life at the end of the story, so he can truly triumph over his evil brother? I think that might be a more satisfying ending — maybe the bone could tell the shepherd who finds it that it can return as a full man if only it is presented to the older brother?
The Elves
This story was so delightful and wonderful to envision!! The ending isn't what I expected — I kept waiting for a dark Grimm twist that never came. I think it might be fun to change the setting — maybe the cobbler is a chef prepping the next day's pastries or meals at his restaurant, and the elves help him and his wife to finish their work each evening.
Bibliography: The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales translated by D. L. Ashliman (1998-2013).
Little Red Cap
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| Little Red Riding Hood, by Arthur Rackham. Source: Wikimedia. |
I love this Little Red Riding Hood-esque tale — the details are charming and vivid (especially the bit about how the wolf distracts Little Red Cap while she's on her way to grandmother's house). I think one thing I could do with this story is retell it from Little Red Cap's perspective. I also thought about modernizing the tale with some present-day details, but I think the story would lose some of its charm that way.
The Singing Bone
This story was dark, but so interesting — I actually gasped at the terrible fate of the older brother at the end. I wonder if there might be a way to bring the younger brother back to life at the end of the story, so he can truly triumph over his evil brother? I think that might be a more satisfying ending — maybe the bone could tell the shepherd who finds it that it can return as a full man if only it is presented to the older brother?
The Elves
This story was so delightful and wonderful to envision!! The ending isn't what I expected — I kept waiting for a dark Grimm twist that never came. I think it might be fun to change the setting — maybe the cobbler is a chef prepping the next day's pastries or meals at his restaurant, and the elves help him and his wife to finish their work each evening.
Bibliography: The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales translated by D. L. Ashliman (1998-2013).
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