Question
For this assignment, you will re-write two events from a fairy tale using alternative plot structures to tell the story in a new way. There are two steps to this assignment:
Step 1: Select and read one of the three fairy tale options below:
The Leap-Frog by Hans Christian Andersen
A Flea, a Grasshopper, and a Leap-frog once wanted to see which could jump highest; and they invited the whole world, and everybody else besides who chose to come to see the festival. Three famous jumpers were they, as everyone would say, when they all met together in the room.
"I will give my daughter to him who jumps highest," exclaimed the King; "for it is not so amusing where there is no prize to jump for."
The Flea was the first to step forward. He had exquisite manners, and bowed to the company on all sides; for he had noble blood, and was, moreover, accustomed to the society of man alone; and that makes a great difference.
Then came the Grasshopper. He was considerably heavier, but he was well-mannered, and wore a green uniform, which he had by right of birth; he said, moreover, that he belonged to a very ancient Egyptian family, and that in the house where he then was, he was thought much of. The fact was, he had been just brought out of the fields, and put in a pasteboard house, three stories high, all made of court-cards, with the colored side inwards; and doors and windows cut out of the body of the Queen of Hearts. "I sing so well," said he, "that sixteen native grasshoppers who have chirped from infancy, and yet got no house built of cards to live in, grew thinner than they were before for sheer vexation when they heard me."
It was thus that the Flea and the Grasshopper gave an account of themselves, and thought they were quite good enough to marry a Princess.
The Leap-frog said nothing; but people gave it as their opinion, that he therefore thought the more; and when the housedog snuffed at him with his nose, he confessed the Leap-frog was of good family. The old councillor, who had had three orders given him to make him hold his tongue, asserted that the Leap-frog was a prophet; for that one could see on his back, if there would be a severe or mild winter, and that was what one could not see even on the back of the man who writes the almanac.
"I say nothing, it is true," exclaimed the King; "but I have my own opinion, notwithstanding."
Now the trial was to take place. The Flea jumped so high that nobody could see where he went to; so they all asserted he had not jumped at all; and that was dishonorable.
The Grasshopper jumped only half as high; but he leaped into the King's face, who said that was ill-mannered.
The Leap-frog stood still for a long time lost in thought; it was believed at last he would not jump at all.
"I only hope he is not unwell," said the house-dog; when, pop! he made a jump all on one side into the lap of the Princess, who was sitting on a little golden stool close by.
Hereupon the King said, "There is nothing above my daughter; therefore to bound up to her is the highest jump that can be made; but for this, one must possess understanding, and the Leap-frog has shown that he has understanding. He is brave and intellectual."
And so he won the Princess.
"It's all the same to me," said the Flea. "She may have the old Leap-frog, for all I care. I jumped the highest; but in this world merit seldom meets its reward. A fine exterior is what people look at now-a-days."
The Flea then went into foreign service, where, it is said, he was killed.
The Grasshopper sat without on a green bank, and reflected on worldly things; and he said too, "Yes, a fine exterior is everything—a fine exterior is what people care about." And then he began chirping his peculiar melancholy song, from which we have taken this history; and which may, very possibly, be all untrue, although it does stand here printed in black and white.Step 2: You will select two events from your fairy tale and rewrite them using alternative plot structures. Each event rewrite will use a different alternative plot structure.
For example, one event from your fairytale can be rewritten using a dream sequence; another could be rewritten using a flashback. The choice is yours!
As a reminder, the alternative plot structures you may use to rewrite your events are:
dream sequence
episodic plots
flash-forward
flashback
in media res
parallel plots
Then, write a brief reflection (2-3 sentences) explaining how your selected alternative plot structure enhanced or changed the original event for the reader.
Here’s an example to get you started:
Selected Fairy Tale
Hansel and Gretel
Event
Hansel hears his parents talking about leaving him and his sister, Gretel, in the woods. The parents ultimately do just that, and Hansel and Gretel find themselves lost in the woods, in a house made of candy and sweets, with a witch who wants to eat them!
Alternative Plot Structure
Dream Sequence
Event Rewrite
(Should be a minimum of five sentences)
Soon enough, after overhearing his parent's consulting, Hansel felt a chill down his spine. Nauseated and anxious, he tried his best to soothe his younger sister and fall asleep. He did eventually doze off, awakening in a strange place where the scenery was bright, resembling that of sweets and cakes. The air was heavy with a honeyed aroma, which made Hansel feel even hungrier. Hansel soon came to realize that he was in a very cramped space, perhaps a cage? He struggled to get out, but it was of no use. He soon looked up to see his sister, Gretel, stirring a huge black cauldron, with a solemn yet panicked look on her face. He attempted to call to her but was interrupted by a loud, shrill cackle from the other side of the room he awoke in. This cackle was so sudden and loud that Hansel jumped up in his bed in a panic, he soon came to his senses after seeing Gretel sound asleep beside him. He quietly mumbled, "Such a strange...horrific nightmare…" When he tried to fall back asleep, he knew the days ahead would be long.
Rewrite Reflection
The dream sequence is utilized it in such a way that allows for a bit of foreshadowing. This makes it more thrilling to the reader when they come to realize just what Hansel's surreal and terrifying dream truly is, and perhaps provide an insight on how he was able to prepare for the next few days.
Step 1: Select and read one of the three fairy tale options below:
The Leap-Frog by Hans Christian Andersen
A Flea, a Grasshopper, and a Leap-frog once wanted to see which could jump highest; and they invited the whole world, and everybody else besides who chose to come to see the festival. Three famous jumpers were they, as everyone would say, when they all met together in the room.
"I will give my daughter to him who jumps highest," exclaimed the King; "for it is not so amusing where there is no prize to jump for."
The Flea was the first to step forward. He had exquisite manners, and bowed to the company on all sides; for he had noble blood, and was, moreover, accustomed to the society of man alone; and that makes a great difference.
Then came the Grasshopper. He was considerably heavier, but he was well-mannered, and wore a green uniform, which he had by right of birth; he said, moreover, that he belonged to a very ancient Egyptian family, and that in the house where he then was, he was thought much of. The fact was, he had been just brought out of the fields, and put in a pasteboard house, three stories high, all made of court-cards, with the colored side inwards; and doors and windows cut out of the body of the Queen of Hearts. "I sing so well," said he, "that sixteen native grasshoppers who have chirped from infancy, and yet got no house built of cards to live in, grew thinner than they were before for sheer vexation when they heard me."
It was thus that the Flea and the Grasshopper gave an account of themselves, and thought they were quite good enough to marry a Princess.
The Leap-frog said nothing; but people gave it as their opinion, that he therefore thought the more; and when the housedog snuffed at him with his nose, he confessed the Leap-frog was of good family. The old councillor, who had had three orders given him to make him hold his tongue, asserted that the Leap-frog was a prophet; for that one could see on his back, if there would be a severe or mild winter, and that was what one could not see even on the back of the man who writes the almanac.
"I say nothing, it is true," exclaimed the King; "but I have my own opinion, notwithstanding."
Now the trial was to take place. The Flea jumped so high that nobody could see where he went to; so they all asserted he had not jumped at all; and that was dishonorable.
The Grasshopper jumped only half as high; but he leaped into the King's face, who said that was ill-mannered.
The Leap-frog stood still for a long time lost in thought; it was believed at last he would not jump at all.
"I only hope he is not unwell," said the house-dog; when, pop! he made a jump all on one side into the lap of the Princess, who was sitting on a little golden stool close by.
Hereupon the King said, "There is nothing above my daughter; therefore to bound up to her is the highest jump that can be made; but for this, one must possess understanding, and the Leap-frog has shown that he has understanding. He is brave and intellectual."
And so he won the Princess.
"It's all the same to me," said the Flea. "She may have the old Leap-frog, for all I care. I jumped the highest; but in this world merit seldom meets its reward. A fine exterior is what people look at now-a-days."
The Flea then went into foreign service, where, it is said, he was killed.
The Grasshopper sat without on a green bank, and reflected on worldly things; and he said too, "Yes, a fine exterior is everything—a fine exterior is what people care about." And then he began chirping his peculiar melancholy song, from which we have taken this history; and which may, very possibly, be all untrue, although it does stand here printed in black and white.Step 2: You will select two events from your fairy tale and rewrite them using alternative plot structures. Each event rewrite will use a different alternative plot structure.
For example, one event from your fairytale can be rewritten using a dream sequence; another could be rewritten using a flashback. The choice is yours!
As a reminder, the alternative plot structures you may use to rewrite your events are:
dream sequence
episodic plots
flash-forward
flashback
in media res
parallel plots
Then, write a brief reflection (2-3 sentences) explaining how your selected alternative plot structure enhanced or changed the original event for the reader.
Here’s an example to get you started:
Selected Fairy Tale
Hansel and Gretel
Event
Hansel hears his parents talking about leaving him and his sister, Gretel, in the woods. The parents ultimately do just that, and Hansel and Gretel find themselves lost in the woods, in a house made of candy and sweets, with a witch who wants to eat them!
Alternative Plot Structure
Dream Sequence
Event Rewrite
(Should be a minimum of five sentences)
Soon enough, after overhearing his parent's consulting, Hansel felt a chill down his spine. Nauseated and anxious, he tried his best to soothe his younger sister and fall asleep. He did eventually doze off, awakening in a strange place where the scenery was bright, resembling that of sweets and cakes. The air was heavy with a honeyed aroma, which made Hansel feel even hungrier. Hansel soon came to realize that he was in a very cramped space, perhaps a cage? He struggled to get out, but it was of no use. He soon looked up to see his sister, Gretel, stirring a huge black cauldron, with a solemn yet panicked look on her face. He attempted to call to her but was interrupted by a loud, shrill cackle from the other side of the room he awoke in. This cackle was so sudden and loud that Hansel jumped up in his bed in a panic, he soon came to his senses after seeing Gretel sound asleep beside him. He quietly mumbled, "Such a strange...horrific nightmare…" When he tried to fall back asleep, he knew the days ahead would be long.
Rewrite Reflection
The dream sequence is utilized it in such a way that allows for a bit of foreshadowing. This makes it more thrilling to the reader when they come to realize just what Hansel's surreal and terrifying dream truly is, and perhaps provide an insight on how he was able to prepare for the next few days.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### Selected Fairy Tale
The Leap-Frog by Hans Christian Andersen
### Event 1
The Flea jumps so high that nobody can see where he went; therefore everyone asserts he has not jumped at all, which they consider dishonorable.
### Alternative Plot Structure
**In Media Res**
**Event Rewrite**
The atmosphere in the grand hall buzzed with expectation as the crowd erupted into murmurs. Just moments ago, the Flea had leaped skyward, soaring above the gathered onlookers, yet now his whereabouts were a mystery. “Did he even jump?” questioned a skeptical voice in the crowd, while others nodded in agreement, their faces contorting with disbelief. Suddenly, whispers turned into boisterous laughter as onlookers shook their heads in disdain, deeming him dishonorable. Meanwhile, the King, with an eyebrow raised, mused over the standards of merit, wondering how a jump so high could result in such a fall from grace.
### Event 2
The Leap-Frog stands still, seeming lost in thought, but suddenly makes a bold leap right into the lap of the Princess.
### Alternative Plot Structure
**Flashback**
**Event Rewrite**
As the Leap-Frog stood there, seemingly paralyzed by uncertainty, a memory flickered in his mind. He recalled the first time he dared to jump as a young tadpole, the exhilaration of breaking through the water’s surface and the fear of plummeting back down. His heart raced at the thought of jumping into the unknown, just as he had that day. It was that leap that had led him from the tranquil pond to the lush meadows, where he felt the warmth of the sun for the first time. Now, as he blinked his eyes back to the present, he felt a surge of courage ignite within him. In one swift motion, the Leap-Frog propelled himself straight into the lap of the Princess, a leap born not just of a challenge, but of remembering who he truly was.
### Rewrite Reflection
Using the in media res structure for the Flea's jump engaged the reader right in the moment of chaos and doubt, emphasizing the crowd's reaction and their shifting perceptions without the lead-up. This created a sense of urgency and intrigue about the Flea's fate. Meanwhile, the flashback for the Leap-Frog provided depth to his character, allowing readers to connect with his past experiences and understand the significance of his leap, thus transforming it into a moment of triumph rather than mere physicality.
The Leap-Frog by Hans Christian Andersen
### Event 1
The Flea jumps so high that nobody can see where he went; therefore everyone asserts he has not jumped at all, which they consider dishonorable.
### Alternative Plot Structure
**In Media Res**
**Event Rewrite**
The atmosphere in the grand hall buzzed with expectation as the crowd erupted into murmurs. Just moments ago, the Flea had leaped skyward, soaring above the gathered onlookers, yet now his whereabouts were a mystery. “Did he even jump?” questioned a skeptical voice in the crowd, while others nodded in agreement, their faces contorting with disbelief. Suddenly, whispers turned into boisterous laughter as onlookers shook their heads in disdain, deeming him dishonorable. Meanwhile, the King, with an eyebrow raised, mused over the standards of merit, wondering how a jump so high could result in such a fall from grace.
### Event 2
The Leap-Frog stands still, seeming lost in thought, but suddenly makes a bold leap right into the lap of the Princess.
### Alternative Plot Structure
**Flashback**
**Event Rewrite**
As the Leap-Frog stood there, seemingly paralyzed by uncertainty, a memory flickered in his mind. He recalled the first time he dared to jump as a young tadpole, the exhilaration of breaking through the water’s surface and the fear of plummeting back down. His heart raced at the thought of jumping into the unknown, just as he had that day. It was that leap that had led him from the tranquil pond to the lush meadows, where he felt the warmth of the sun for the first time. Now, as he blinked his eyes back to the present, he felt a surge of courage ignite within him. In one swift motion, the Leap-Frog propelled himself straight into the lap of the Princess, a leap born not just of a challenge, but of remembering who he truly was.
### Rewrite Reflection
Using the in media res structure for the Flea's jump engaged the reader right in the moment of chaos and doubt, emphasizing the crowd's reaction and their shifting perceptions without the lead-up. This created a sense of urgency and intrigue about the Flea's fate. Meanwhile, the flashback for the Leap-Frog provided depth to his character, allowing readers to connect with his past experiences and understand the significance of his leap, thus transforming it into a moment of triumph rather than mere physicality.