Reading Notes: English Fairy Tales, Part B

Molly Whuppie

Although I don't like that Molly causes the death of innocent people, I know she doesn't have much of a choice and I admire how clever she is! I thought it was so funny that she told the giant such specific things to put in the sack that were obviously for her own purposes, and he agreed.

I like the idea of retelling this story as a newspaper article or a series of articles (credit to Laura for this idea!). Either a newspaper for giants or a newspaper for normal people would be funny.

Also, maybe the giant needs to work on his anger management? He's accidentally killed his whole family because he couldn't stop beating up children.

I like that Molly even tells the giant she'll be back. I wonder how she was able to predict the number of times she'd return. It makes her seem very wise, and it makes the giant seem very stupid for not coming up with a plan to catch her!

The giant's wife tried to save the girls, so I was surprised that Mollie was so merciless with her! I did think her trick was funny, though. Curiosity killed the cat.

Johnny-Cake

I've never had a Johnny-cake, but I imagined a twinkie running around the neighborhood while I read this story. It could be fun to retell this story featuring a twinkie on campus. The other retellings I can imagine are a jar of Nutella or cup of Starbucks in a sorority house, or a keg in a fraternity house.

Johnny-cake. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Bibliography: English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs. Link to the reading online.

Reading Notes: English Fairy Tales, Part A

Cap o' Rushes

I expected this to be just another Cinderella story, but it really is a unique tale! I like the image of the girl covered in a cloak handmade from nature.

Did she hide herself because she wanted work and thought no one would hire a rich girl? Or because she thought people would know who she was and wonder what was going on?

Interesting that the master's son only likes Cap o' Rushes once he sees her all dressed up. Maybe the cloak hid her face during the day?

I like her character very much. She's clever and quiet, and the way she tricks the family is pretty harmless. There was a lot of humor in the way she said, night after night, that she would have liked to have seen the beautiful girl. I wonder whether she played this game for her own amusement or because she knew the master's son would never purposely dance with the maid.

I liked that the family who took  Cap o' Rushes in was so kind to her. That's not very common in Cinderella stories! They even invited her to the dance. Because they were never cruel to her, her tricks felt light and humorous instead of desperate.

The ring was a clever idea! I did wonder what would happen if the son accidentally put it in his mouth. What if he didn't notice? What if he choked on it or even swallowed it without noticing? I wonder whether Cap o' Rushes would have accepted this fate or if she would have come up with a new trick.

Juncus Effuses, AKA rushes.

Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Bibliography: English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs. Link to the reading online.