Week 2 Story: The Castle Surrounded by Sunflowers
My mom has to go on a trip this weekend. She is going a far
way away. Like usual, she asked if there was anything that she could bring back
for us. Since I want her to return home quicker than usual, so that we could sew
together, I just told her to bring me back a sunflower. They should be easy enough
to come by so there shouldn’t be an issue.
Days later, my mom arrives back at the house and she is kind
of freaking out. She tells me and my sisters of her story of running into this
giant beast. She described him as a giant bear that only walks on his back two
legs. She said that he called himself Alexander. My mom then proceeded to tell
me that she offered me up to be with him in exchange for the sunflower that she
took. I am kind of peeved with my mom because offering me up like some present
isn’t cool. I wouldn’t do that to her.
Alexander the bear
Anyway, I eventually get to Alexander’s castle. It is giant!
If I was going to be stuck anywhere, then this is where I would want it to
be. Alexander proceeded to tell me the rules and how I needed to always come to
dinner at 6 o’clock sharp. I refused but he began to approach me while
furiously growling and it scared me into saying yes. It made me wonder what he
would do if I would ever actually so no to him. We had dinner together for a
week. I began to enjoy our dinners, but I never enjoyed them enough to want to
stay at the castle forever. When I would lay down at night for bed, I would
always imagine being home with my mother and sisters while we laugh over the
funny stories mother would tell us. I miss that.
Fancy dinner hosted by Alexander
Upon the next dinner, Alexander began to act strangely. He
was telling me how I had to do something for him. It was as if he was
transforming into something else, but I wasn’t quite sure what it was. After we
ate, he took me onto the balcony and he explained that I had to push him off
the balcony. I immediately began to think to myself ‘what the heck this is a
weird request’. It was something that I knew would kill him, and I didn’t want
that. Eventually Alexander pressured me so much into doing it, that I actually
did it. I watched as he fell, but as he began to approach the concrete down
below he vanished. I was astonished and did not understand what I had witnessed.
Next thing I know, there is a beautiful man next to me explaining that he is
the human form of Alexander. Apparently he was cursed a while ago and needed a
female companion so that is why I was trapped here. He began to profess his
love for me and said that I must stay and marry him. He painted a wonderful
picture of what our life would be together, but it wasn’t what I wanted. Once
he finished talking I explained how I don’t want to marry him. All I want to do
is go home to my family… and I did just that. This experience made me realize
that people may force themselves on you, but it doesn’t mean that you have to
accept it. I do not need a husband, but I do need my family! Maybe one day when
I am older I will want to get married, but that day is not now.
The main character leaving Alexander to go back home
Author's note
This story followed The Three Roses (which is essentially Beauty and the Beast). I wanted my main character to tell the story. I also switched the ending up so that she would not end up with Alexander. I tried to make it slightly comical while still keeping up with the same theme.
Bibliography
"The Three Roses" from The Key of Gold by Josef Baudis. Web source
Hi Hannah! I loved that I realized this story is essentially another version (of another version) of Beauty and the Beast. Maybe try characterizing the bear a bit more when you first introduce him- at first I thought he was just a regular bear that walked on his back two legs but then later realized he was more humanlike than I originally thought. I also would have liked an explanation for why the main character pushed him off the balcony! I thought it was a wonderfully shocking twist, I just didn't know how that act turned him human!
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah! I liked your retelling of this story and the message that you chose to convey. I love this tale, and the modern-feeling retelling made it feel new. I appreciated that you turned the typical ending on its head and emphasized the importance of autonomy and of family. The somewhat blunt transitions and first person perspective made it feel like it was written to be several blog posts, which was an interesting but enjoyable take on the original tale.
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah, I thought the insight you gave to your character was hilarious. Like when you wrote about how she felt when her mom offered the main character to Alexander. I also really liked how consistent the main character was, you didn’t have her change and instantly fall in love with Alexander; she stayed true to her character. I get that Alexander needed a female companion to break his curse, but I was a little confused about why the main character had to push Alexander off the balcony to break his curse. I noticed this story didn’t have a lot of dialogue from the characters. It would be so funny to hear the main character talking to her family and Alexander. It would also reveal a little more about the other characters so we could know a little more about them outside of what the main character sees them as. Overall, I really enjoyed this retelling of The Three Roses!
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah, this week I'm working on the "Let's Pretend" Feedback project, so that is exactly what I am going to be doing right now. I am going to write a letter from Alexander to your main character.
ReplyDeleteMy Love,
Life without you in the castle has left me empty inside, life is dull and I am regretting the way I approached you. It was childish of me to think that you would want to marry me after only having known me for such a short a time, perhaps I should have waited, asked you out on a date and not gotten as upset when you left me.
Please my love, give me another change, I will not force you to do anything, for I have seen what I did wrong.
Yours forever (if you will have me),
Alexander
- Anna Margret
P.S I love how you made her such a strong female character, this is not something that we get to see a lot in traditional fairytales.
Hi Hannah, I am also doing the lets pretend feedback this week. I also read this story a few weeks ago :) I like the idea of a letter that Anna did above me, so I am going to follow her lead but write a letter to the main female character's mother.
ReplyDeleteMother,
Why did you trade me to this horrible bear? The castle I am destine to live in for what seems like forever is ginormous. I never have to see the horrible bear Alexander unless it is for dinner at 6 o'clock sharp, and I am afraid of what would happen if I was to be a minute late. There is a lovely garden in the back with a full section of sunflowers. Also many rooms I have yet to explore. My room here at the castle is bigger than our whole house! But I miss you and my sisters very much. I wish nothing more than to be back there with you. I find it so odd not to see or talk to my family everyday.
I hope this letter gets to you quickly.
Forever your little girl, I forgive you momma.
Hi Hannah! I loved getting to read your story this week. I think that it's a really interesting way to portray the story. Everyone is definitely familiar with the story of Beauty and the Beast so I think everyone can definitely enjoy reading this. Why did you decide to change the idea of sacrifice (like in Beauty and the Beast when Belle trades places with her father) for a requirement? I think it's an interesting take on the story for sure. What if you added a little bit about what it looked like when she came home from Alexander's castle? Was she bitter at her mother for forcing her to go live at a castle with a monster for a simple sunflower? Did she forget about it in relief to be home? Great job!
ReplyDelete