BLACK BEAUTY : LITERARY ELEMENTS

1. SETTING

The setting in Black Beauty tells us the time and place of the story. It takes place in the mid1800s during the Victorian England era. The social setting refer to the time span or period in which the story took place. Thus, it was the era where the society was divided into upper class, middle class and working class. It was time when good breeding, appearances and position in society were given high importance. The upper class society owned horses which pulled their carriages. As with their own appearances, they were concerned about how their homes, farms and horses looked. To maintain their status and to be accepted among their peer outer appearances is considered of utmost important. Even, Duchess (Beauty's mother) places importance on good breeding, good manners and good behaviour. She reminds Black Beauty that he is not like the other colts in Farmer Grey's farm. He is a good breeding and it shows because he has good manners and behave well even while playing with the other colt on the farm. The story takes place in the 19th century when people  used horses as their main means to get around. Cars did not exist then, they were not even invented yet. Horses were use to carry goods as well as passengers from one place to another. 

The physical setting focuses on the places or locations where all the events in the story take place. The story Black Beauty takes place in England.

1. Farmer Grey's meadow 

Black Beauty first home, where he lived with his mother, Duchess.

2. Birtwick Park 

Black Beauty second home, where he works as a carriage horse and has a good life here.

3. Earlshall Park

 

Black Beauty's third home, where he also works as a carriage  horse but undergoes hardship as he is forced to use checkreins.

4. The stable at Jerry's farm and the busy streets in London.

Black Beauty works as a cab horse for three years and is well looked after Jerry.

5. Farmer Thoroughgood's country

The place where Black Beauty spends  his time before being sent to the ladies' farm

6. Miss Ellen and the ladies' farm

Black Beauty final home, where he happily spends his final days. 

PLOT

1. Exposition

The main character, Black Beauty is introduced. We find out about his first home and mother. Next, we learn about his training and becoming a work horse. Later, he is sold and we learn how he leads a happy life at Birtwick Park. His owners and coachman and the groom are kind. Furthermore he meets new friends Merrylegs and Ginger.

2. Rising action

Black Beauty mistress falls ill and he helps to save her life when he gets the doctor from town. The Gordons are advised by the doctor to move to a warmer place for the sake of Mrs. Gordon health. Black Beauty and Ginger are sold to Earlshall Park where his life changed. He is forced to wear checkrein which are painful and always mistreated. Here he has unkind and cruel owners.

3. Climax

Reuben Smith rides Black Beauty one night causing him to fall. He suffers knees damaged. Smith dies and he is sold  as a job horse once he is healed. Hence, he continue to suffer with owners who do not know about driving horses or caring or them.

4. Falling action

After being sold many times, he is bought by a cab driver Jerry. He is taken back to England as a cab horse. Jerry is a kind man and he cares for him well but the work is still hard. After three years as a cab horse, he is bought by a gentleman farmer.

5. Resolution

The gentle man farmer takes Black Beauty to several ladies who need a horse. They decide to keep Black Beauty. Here, Black Beauty meets Joe Green. It is happy ending for him. He spends his final days living happily with Miss Ellen and the ladies.

POINT OF VIEWS

The story is told by the horse himself. He talks about his life. It is an autobiographical of a horse.  The story allows the readers to  empathy with the plight of horses during Victorian England. The story gives a voice to these animals which in most cases were mistreated.

LANGUAGE STRUCTURE AND STYLE

The story is told in a comic style. The language used is simple and easy to understand. New terms and vocabulary specific to horses and their working world is used in narrating the story.

THEMES

1. Mistreatment of horses

   the use of  checkrein 

pushed a horse to its limit, making it work even when they knew the horse is weak

2. Compassion towards animals

VALUES

1. Be kind and humane to animals.

2. Be responsible for the animals under your care.

3. Be hardworking and act selflessly.

4. Be on your best behaviour and respectful to others.

MESSAGES

1. Compassion towards animals.

2. Responsibility towards animals.

3. Diligence.

4. Respectful.

BLACK BEAUTY : CHARACTERS (HUMAN)

1.      Farmer Grey

Farmer Grey is Beauty's first owner, a good kind man who trains him well. He broke in and trained Black Beauty well.

2.      Squire Gordon and Mrs Gordon

Squire Gordon was  Black Beauty second owner. He was a kind and responsible man. He was very appreciative and thankful to Black Beauty when he brought the doctor in time to save his wife’s life. He lives in Birtwick Park. He has  to sell Beauty when he leaves the country because of his wife's illness. Mrs.  Gordon was Squire Gordon’s wife. She named Black Beauty. When she fell ill, she was advised by the doctor to move to a place with a warmer climate to improve her health.

4.      James

He is John’s  assistant at Squire Gordon's. He leaves to work as a coachman.

5.      Joe Green

He is  a kind boy who replaces James at Squire Gordon's hall. Beauty becomes seriously ill when he doesn't put a blanket on Beauty after Beauty was exhausted from a long gallop.

6.      Lord Earlshall and Lady Earlshall

They purchases Beauty and Ginger from Squire Gordon. They lives in Earlshall Park. Lord Earlshall  is kind to the horses. Lady Earlshall demands that Beauty and Ginger wear bearing reins to hold their heads up high. When York tries to comply with the Lady’s order Ginger lashes out, kicking everything around her.

7.      Mr. York

Mr York was the  coachman at Earlshall Park. He treats the horses kindly. He knew that checkrein were bad for the horses. However, he had no choice but to obey his mistress.

8.      Reuben Smith

He is a first rate driver who  then rides Beauty back to Earlshall Park. Due to a loose nail in Beauty's shoe, which Reuben was too drunk to care about, Beauty's shoe comes off. Reuben then makes Beauty gallop over sharp stones injuring Beauty's hoof and causing him to stumble. Beauty falls and scrapes his knees, while Reuben is flung off Beauty and dies from the impact.

9.      Farmer Thoroughgood

Farmer Throughgood is a  kind owner who cares for Black Beauty when he is at his weakest. He and Willie see Black Beauty looking tired and weak ata a horse sale. He feels sorry for him and takes  him back to the farm and cares for him. He showed him to some ladies who wanted a horse.

10.  The three ladies

Here is Beauty's final home where he spends the rest of his days very well treated by three kind ladies. One of the Miss Ellen  is a very good horse rider. Joe is the coachman for the three ladies. He recognises Beauty as the horse that used to belong to Squire Gordon.

DO YOU THINK MAN IS  ABUSING ANIMAL?

LET'S LEARN ABOUT HORSES

As horses are very rare in many parts of our country, it is important for us to learn about the parts of  horses. This enables us to understand more about horses.

 A stable or  stalls is a farm building or  a building on a farm. 

A livery stable is a  stable where horses and vehicles are kept for hire.

 a stall  is a compartment in a stable where a single animal is confined and fed.

Stable - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stable

The Best Hay Is Clean Hay

Without a doubt the best hay for horses is clean hay. Hay that is moldy or dusty should not be fed to horses, even when the amount of mold or dust appears to be minor. Any hay (alfalfa, timothy, clover, fescue) that contains dust or mold can inflame the respiratory tract and impair breathing ability. Many horses develop permanent lung damage after consuming moldy or dusty hay. This chronic lung damage, commonly referred to as heaves, affects the horses ability to breathe normally during exercise. In severe cases heaves impairs the horses ability to breathe normally at rest. Once a horse has been sensitized to hay dust, mold, or pollen, it may react  even when clean hay is fed. Mold can have other detrimental effects on the horse aswell, such as causing digestive upsets.

www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/pubs/id146.pdf

 A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters (palanquins)

and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage

is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though

some are also used to transport goods. It may be light, smart and fast or heavy,

large and comfortable. Carriages normally have suspension using leaf springs,

elliptical springs (in the 19th century) or leather strapping. A public passenger vehicle

 would not usually be called a carriage – terms for such include stagecoach,

charabanc and omnibus. Working vehicles such as the (four-wheeled) wagon

and (two-wheeled) cart share important parts of the history of the carriage, as

 does the fast (two-wheeled) chariot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carriage

BLACK BEAUTY : CHARACTER (HORSES)

1. MAIN CHARACTER

  Black Beauty

Black Beauty is the narrator of the story, a handsome black horse with one white foot and a star on his forehead. He is of a fine breeding. He is a well-behaved and good-tempered horse. He begins his career as a carriage horse for wealthy people but when he "breaks his knees" and develops scars on his knees after a bad fall  he is no longer considered presentable enough and is put too much harder work. Being a determined and patient horse he bears the pain. He bears the pain of using a checkreins at Earshall Park for four month too. He is caring and concerned horse as  he always advices Merrylegs and Ginger not to behave badly as they could be sent away by their master and possibly get unkind masters in the future.  He passes through the hands of a series of owners, some cruel, some kind. He always tries his best to serve humans despite the circumstance.


OTHER HORSES

Duchess

Duchess is Black Beauty's mother. She is a horse of fne breeding. She pulls a wagon for Farmer Grey. Duchess is loving and sensible. She teaches Black Beauty good manners and encourages Beauty to be good from a young age. She advices him that the better he acts, the better he will be treated.

  Ginger

A companion of Beauty's at Birtwick Park, she is named for her chestnut colour and her habit of biting. She is Black Beauty’s friend and carriage partner at Birtwick Park and Earshall Park. Ginger is a more aggressive horse due to her traumatic upbringing.  Ginger is a rebellious horse. She becomes angry when Beauty takes her stall at Birtwick Park. She was moved to another stall because she bit the stable boy. As time went by, Ginger learns to work together with Black Beauty at Birtwick Park. She also fights against the use of checkreins at Earshall Park. As Beauty meets Ginger for the last time as broken-down cab horses in London, and later a cart with a dead horse  of whom Beauty believes is Ginger, passes by Beauty.

  Merrylegs

A short, dappled grey, handsome pony who is polite to humans and horses alike.He is Black Beauty friend and stable mate at Birtwick Park. He is a playful horse. Merrylegs throws Mr. Bloomfield’s sons off while they are riding him. He is ridden by the young daughters at Birtwick Park.

  Captain

Captain is an old London cab horse who pulled a cab with Black Beauty. He used to belong to a soldier who fought in a war. He is a proud horse. Captain likes to tell Balck Beauty about the time his master was killed while fighting in the war.

   Max

Max is Black Beauty carriage partner at Earlshall Park after Ginger is taken away. He is a patient horse. Max endures the pain of the checkreins at Earlshall Park.

DON'T YOU THINK THAT HORSES DESERVE A FREE LIFE IN THE WILD? 

BLACK BEAUTY (CARTOON CLASSIC)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOz1ApOr8xs

Enjoy the video clips, they might not be the same as the Literature Component for Secondary Schools Black Beauty (Form 1) that we are using at school. But nevertheless, it helps our understanding of the novel.

ANNA SEWELL : BLACK BEAUTY

BIOGRAPHY OF ANNA SEWELL

Anna Sewell

Anna Sewell's house in Old Catton  (Norwich)

Cover of Black Beauty  first edition 

".... there is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to man and beast, it is all a sham...."

—Black Beauty, Chapter 13, last paragraph.

Anna Sewell was born in Norfolk, England and had a brother named Philip, who was an engineer in Europe. At the age of 14, Anna fell while walking home from school in the rain and injured both ankles. Through mistreatment of the injury, she became unable to walk or stand for any length of time for the rest of her life. Disabled and unable to walk since she was a young child, Anna Sewell began learning about horses early in life, spending many hours driving her father to and from the station from which he commuted to work. Her dependence on horse-drawn transportation fostered her respect of horses. The local estate of Tracy Park, now a golf club, was said to be the inspiration for Black Beauty's “Birtwick Park.” Sewell's introduction to writing began in her youth when she helped edit the works of her mother, Mary Wright Sewell (1797–1884), a deeply religious, popular author of juvenile best-sellers. By telling the story of a horse's life in the form of an autobiography and describing the world through the eyes of the horse, Anna Sewell broke new literary ground.

She never married or had children. In visits to European spas, she met many writers, artists, and philanthropists. Her only book was Black Beauty, written between 1871 and 1877 in their house at Old Catton. During this time, her health was declining, and she could barely get out of bed. Her dearly-loved mother often had to help her in her illness. She sold it to the local publishers, Jarrold & Sons. The book broke records for sales and is the “sixth best seller in the English language.

Sewell died of hepatitis or tuberculosis on 25 April 1878, only 5 months after the novel was published, but she lived long enough to see its initial success. She was buried on 30 April 1878 in the Quaker burial-ground at Lammas near Buxton, Norfolk. In Norwich, England, not far from her resting place, is a wall plaque marking her resting place. Her birthplace in Church Plain, Great Yarmouth is now a museum.

Sewell did not write the novel for children. She said that her purpose in writing the novel was "to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses - an influence she attributed to an essay on animals she read earlier by Horace Bushnell (1802–1876) entitled "Essay on Animals".  Her sympathetic portrayal of the plight of working animals led to a vast outpouring of concern for animal welfare and is said to have been instrumental in abolishing the cruel practice of using the checkrein (or "bearing rein", a strap used to keep horses' heads high, fashionable in Victorian England but painful and damaging to a horse's neck). Black Beauty also contains two pages about the use of blinkers on horses, concluding that this use is likely to cause accidents at night due to interference with "the full use of" a horse's ability to "see much better in the dark than men can."

(sources : Anna Sewell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Sewell)

SUMMARY

Black Beauty by Anne Sewell tells about the fascinating story of the life of a horse in the early 1800's, in England, when horses were a part of everyone's life. Although Black Beauty's colt hood and early life were happy, he is sold from master to master, moving from the country to London and back again.

The story begins when Duchess, a thoroughbred mare, gives birth to Black Beauty. The first four years of Black Beauty's life is filled with playing and frolicking in the field. Black Beauty then sold to a wealthy man named Squire Gordon of Birtwick Park. This is where Black Beauty meets the dream of his life, Ginger a beautiful chestnut mare. They are then both sold, due to injuries from their new cruel masters, and again resold to become cab horses in London where they are cruelly treated.

Black Beauty is a beautiful stallion that has a beautiful spirit, but is disappointed by the cruelty of mankind. Ginger is a beautiful chestnut mare that becomes a lifelong companion to Black Beauty, but due to mistreatment. She dies at the hands of a horse cab driver in London. Squire Gordon is a wealthy man who is kind to Black Beauty and Ginger, but has to sell them both when his wife becomes ill. Joe Green works for Squire Gordon when he is young, but many years later he finds Black Beauty by accident, and becomes his last master by providing a comfortable life.

Jerry Barkeris a London cab driver who also purchases Black Beauty and treats him kindly, until Jerry becomes sick and is forced to sell Black Beauty. Things go from bad to worse. Black Beauty endures a life of mistreatment and disrespect in a world that shows little regard for the happiness of animals. At the end of the story he meets kinds owners and enjoys his life.

DOA AND WIRID FOR STUDENTS

http://www.scribd.com/doc/6713333/Doa-and-Wirid-for-Students

Why We Pray?

·         The Muslim observes his Prayers to show devotion and obedience to Allah, because Prayer is one of the greatest forms of worship that Allah likes His servants to offer.

·         To thank Him for creating us in the best form of creation.

·         Because He has guided us to the Deen (Complete way of Life, Religion) of Islam.

·         Prayer is a chance for a Muslim to express to his Lord whatever he feels and needs through Divine Words of Allah i.e. the Qur'an.

·         To remember his Lord and not forget His commands amid life's pre-occupations.

·         To ask Allah, The Exalted, to give him aid and continuous guidance in the darkness of life.

·         To strengthen love and fear of Allah in the Muslim's heart so that he might remain sticking to the Right Path of Islam, and its laws and manners.

·         Gaining good rewards from Allah and having our sins forgiven.

·         To rejoice when he finds himself on the Last Day pleased with the great reward allotted to him in the Gardens of Bliss.

·         Prayer is a unique training and developmental program which, if well and devotedly performed, can achieve for Muslims many valuable physical, ethical and spiritual gains such as cleanliness, health, order, punctuality, brotherhood, equality, social consolidation and etc.

http://www.islamdoor.com/Prayers.htm

Something that we should ponder...

THE WORLD OF PLAYS

The Form Two Kelas Rancangan Khas Students

WHAT IS A DRAMA

Drama comes from the Greek word dran which means to do or to act. A play is divided into a number of scenes made up of dialogues, speech, lines, stage an directions. Scenes are part of an act. An act may be made up of several scenes. The writer of a play is called a playwright. The cast consists of people who perform or the actors. Drama is a story that is told in front of an audience.

ELEMENTS OF A DRAMA

1.      Literary element

·         Script

·         Plot

·         Character

·         Setting

·         Dialogue/Monologue

·         Conflict

·         Symbols

·         Theme

2.      Technical element

·         Scenery (set)

·         Costumes

·         Props

·         Sound

·         Music

·         Make-up

3.      Performance

·         Acting

·         Speaking

·         Non-verbal expressions

CHARACTERS

These are the people who are engaged in acting out the plot.

The main characters are the characters that come into view most in the play.

Lisa a young girl who lives in a cottage with her parents She could bake well. Her parents are very proud ofher and they often brag about her. She feels hopeless when the King expect her to spin all the straw into gold. Lisa is an obedient daughter and follows her parents orders.

Rumpelstiltskin is a small man with a pointed nose. He poses magical powers as he could spin straw into gold. He could also climb the walls of a high tower and get to Lisa. Manipulative as he takes advantage of Lisa’s difficulty to get to keep her first-born child. Sympathetic as he gives Lisa another chance to keep her baby by giving her a riddle to solve.

 Father and Mother are boastful as they speak so greatly about their daughter’s cleverness. Rather foolish when they think that they could trick the King into believing that Lisa could spin straw into gold. Doting and proun grandparents to their grandson. Selfless when they actually followed the little man ito the woods to try and help Lisa solve the riddle.

 The King is a greedy king who seizes the chance to own more wealth even when the idea of spinning straw into gold is impossible. Inhumane as he could easily lock up an innocent young girl in a tower. Cruel when he threatens to behead Lisa for something that is impossible to do.

DIALOGUE

The dialogue in a drama is carefully written by the playwright. It is written in such a way so that the characters would seem to come alive and the event would seem realistic.

ACTION

The drama that is acted out depends entirely on the playwright’s success in bringing the caharacters to life. The actors then have to adopt the role well and act it out so that what is said and done would seem to be real or close to reality.

DRAMATIC GENRE

Rumpelstiltskin is a melodrama where the protagonist is normally the victims of circumstances. A melodrama has a strict sense of moral judgement and all matters are resolved in the end in a clear way. The good characters will be rewarded and the bad characters receive their punishment in a way that suits the crime they commit.

SMK ISKANDAR SHAH 32800 PARIT

SKETCH SCRIPT

RUMPELSTILTSKIN

 Narrator: In a cottage, in a small country Lisa has been baking. Her mother and father are very proud of her. They are always telling  people how clever she is and all the wonderful things she can do.

(Lisa  is  busy serving  the apple pies.)

Mother:  (mother enters,  put her hands around her shoulders and  looks at Lisa ) Oh, Lisa, what lovely thing you’ve made. You’re really brilliant. All fit for a King to eat.

Father:  (father enters  and stands besides mother, smiling looking at the audience  ) When the King comes to the village today, I’m going to tell him how clever you are.

Guards : (Sounds of trumpet) The King is here! The King is here!

Mother : Quick Lisa, see if the King is coming (Lisa goes to the window and looks out.) (mother stands behind Lisa holding her shoulder) I hope he visits us so I can show him all the wonderful things you’ve made.

Lisa : Mother, look, the King has stopped at our gate. ( mother quickly walks and stands in front of  Lisa and  father moves forward)

Father : I bet he can smell your cooking. ( father quickly rushes to Lisa’s side)

King: Guards!  (guards rush to the king’s side and bow )  I smell apple pie – my favourite.

Mother:  (mother moves forward to the King) Oh! please your  majesty, come and try a slice.  ( mother shows  a plate of apple pie to the King)

King: ( King follows the smell of the apple pie, sits on a chair,  mother puts the pies on the table and  the king eats greedily as he licks his fingers ) Mmmmm! Scrumptious! Delicious! Who made it?

Father: (Clumsily  enters and moves towards the King) My daughter Lisa (point to Lisa . Lisa looks at the King and smile)  made it and  she is the cleverest girl in the world. ( Lisa looks nervous)

Narrator: As the King wants to make a move, Lisa’s mother and father praise Lisa.

Mother: My daughter can do everything. ( standing besides Lisa and holding her arm and shoulder)

Father :  (thinking and  then runs after the king) Stop! Stop! My daughter  can spin straw into gold.

 ( Background music)

Lisa :  What ! Please you Majesty don’t listen to them. He is  only joking. (Lisa looked  worried and scared)

Narrator :  Lisa whispers to her mother and says that she knows that no one can spin straw into gold. But the King suddenly becomes greedy.

King:  My Kingdom is not very rich and I love gold. You must return with me to the palace and if you really can turn straw into gold you’ll be rewarded. But (  background music ) if not, I shall cut off  your head. (background music.)

Lisa : (crying ) But.. but your Majesty  nobody can spin straw into gold.

Mother : (worries) We are only joking your Majesty.

Narrator: The King isn’t listening and looks very  angry. He calls the  guard. ( Guards enter and begin to escort   Lisa off stage. Lisa cries and calls out for his father and   mother. )

King: Take her away and lock her up in the tower.(  leave the stage)( put straw on the desk) (king reenters ) The King walking alone and thinking)

King : If  it is true….  (pick a straw ) Gold from straw ( holds a straw) I will be rich ( laugh greedily) . Guards ! bring the spinning wheel and straw quick. (Guards  enter and  bring in the spinning wheel and straw on stage.)

Narrator: That night in a high tower  Lisa is crying. (Lisa enters)

(Lisa touches  the straw and spinning wheel and sits down on the floor and puts her head on the stool)  (background voice of the King … you’re such a clever girl that’s what I’m told and you can spin straw to gold. If not I’ll cut off your head)

Lisa: (Crying ) I will die tomorrow

Narrator : Suddenly there is a scratching noise and a strange little man with  a long pointed nose climbs  through the window.  ( background music)

Rumpelstiltskinstilskin:  ( enters with  a sack)Why are you crying?

Lisa: (frightens ) My father told the King I can spin straw to gold. Now he King will cut off my head. (crying )

(background music… evil laugh)

Rumpelstiltskin: Don’t cry. I will help you if you give me your necklace (pointing to Lisa’s necklace. Lisa takes her necklace and gives it to Rumple. Rumple laughs full of evil. (background music)Now, Sleep! (Sound of spinning wheel)

Narrator: The next morning ( crow crowing , Rumpelstiltskin quickly leaves the stage) , Lisa wakes up to find a heap of shinning gold instead of the heap of straw.

King: (Enters and claps his hand happily)  So you can spin straw to gold.

Lisa: Can I go home now? (Lisa bows and asks the King)

King: No! I need  more gold. Guard! (  guards enter and bow )  take her to a bigger tower and bring more straw ! (king leaves the stage )   (Lisa starts to cry)(  guards enter  with more straw and put the sack on the floor. ) (both guards leave the stage)(Lisa alone on stage crying)

Narrator: The King takes Lisa to a bigger room filled with straw. On the second night, the strange little man helps her  in exchange of Lisa’s  pretty ring . The King fells happy but becomes greedier.

Lisa:  (King enters happily)Can I go home today?( Lisa bows and asks the King)

King:  I need more gold (King talks to the audience). Tonight is the last night.  (the King turns and looks at Lisa)If  you can spin  all the straw into gold then I will make you my Queen. Guard, bring  more straw. ( Guards enter with  straw and leave the stage)

Narrator : The King goes away ( king leaves the stage. Lisa remains on stage and sits besides the spinning wheel)

 (Lisa touches  the straw and spinning wheel and sits down on the floor and puts her head on the stool)  (background voice of the King … you’re such a clever girl that’s what I’m told and you can be my queen if you spin straw to gold)

Lisa: I’ve nothing to give to the little man tonight. I will die tomorrow (crying )

Narrator: Lisa hears her mother and father shouting for her,  (Lisa, Lisa.Lisa)(Lisa  quickly stands up) (father and mother enter) She looks out and sees them.  She sadly tells them what happened. She tells them about the little man.

( Lisa holds mother’s hands. Father stands besides mother)

Mother : Don’t worry.  Tell him you’ll give him something when you get home.(mother faces Lisa)

Father : Promise him whatever  he asks. Don’t worry.(father talks to Lisa sadly) (father and mother  wave to Lisa and sadly leave the stage)(Lisa on stage alone)

Narrator: That night in a high tower  Lisa is crying.

(Lisa touch the straw and spinning wheel and sits down on the floor and puts her head on the stool)  (background voice of the King … you’re such a clever girl that’s what I’m told and you can be my queen if you spin straw to gold . Father and mother voice .. promise him whatever  he asks 3 X)

Rumpelstiltskin :  (enters and laughs) Crying again? (Lisa crying) Dry your tears! (Rumpel  gives her a handkerchief) I’ll help you if you promise to give me your first-born child when you are queen.( Laughs)

Narrator: Lisa thinks hard ( background voices  of father and mother  : promise him whatever he asks)  and she agrees.

Lisa: I promise. Yes, I promise. (Lisa leaves the stage) (Sound of spinning wheel with Rumpelstiltskin on stage)

Narrator: In the morning  (crow crowing)(Rumpelstiltskin leaves the stage)( Lisa enters) the King comes  (smiling and laughing) in delight.

King: (Walks towards Lisa smiling) I’m going to marry you and you’ll be my queen. You  and your  parents can live at the palace forever.

Narrator: Lisa forgets all about her promise  to the little strange man. A year passes and the King and Lisa have a baby son.   (parents enter) (Lisa and her parents are  playing with her baby ) suddenly… (  Rumpelstiltskin enters background music ) the little man appears.

Rumpelstiltskin: Remember me? (laughs full of evil) I want to take your baby. (laughs)

Lisa: ( Cries) No! No! No! you can’t take my baby. I can give you gold but not my baby. (Lisa holds her baby  and Rumpelstiltskin comes close. Father and mother are shocked)

Rumpelstiltskin: I have plenty of gold.  I don’t want any more gold (looks fierce) but I love riddle( looks happy). Yes, riddle. You must answer my riddle in three days. If your answer is right, you may keep your son. If  not (evil laughs) the baby’s is mine.(laughs)

Lisa: What is the riddle? ( stands facing Rumpelstiltskin  while holding the baby)

Rumpelstiltskinstilskin: (Rumpelstiltskin talks to the audience) Just guess my name. (turns and looks at Lisa fiercely) Each day you can have 3 guesses. ( leaves the stage with evil laughs)

Narrator: Mother and father regretted. On the first  and second  day,  her guesses were wrong. On the second day as the little man leaves the palace father and mother follow him into the jungle. (Father and mother follow Rumple) It was  night and dark but father and mother can see the little man dancing around  a small fire.

Rumpelstiltskin:  (Rumpelstiltskin dances and singing) Wife and family I have none. But tomorrow I’ll have the King’s own son. Tricks and riddles are my game, Rumpelstiltskin is my name. (laughs)

Nararator: Father and mother creep away  quietly.  The following  day the little man enters the nursery happily.

Rumpelstiltskinstilskin:  (laughs) Now, Little Queen. ( Rumpelstiltskin laughs) ( Lisa holds the baby and the baby cries) You have three guesses left.

Father: I bet it’s Jason. (Rumpelstiltskin  no…..laughs and dances)

Mother: Is it Oliver?  (Rumpelstiltskin  no… no….laughs and dances)

Lisa: I know! (Rumpelstiltskin stops dancing and looks hard  at Lisa) It’s Rumpelstiltskinstilskin!

(Rumpelstiltskin  gives a cry of rage and stamps his feets.)

Rumpelstiltskin: You cheated (3X)

Lisa: Go away and don’t ever  come back.

Narrator: Rumpelstiltskin looks at  Lisa , father and mother. He stamps hard on the floor and he goes right through it. (Rumple leaves the stage shouting wildly.)

Lisa: Father and mother, how can I thank you?

Mother : You don’t have to. It was our fault.

Father: We have learnt our lesson. We’ll never boast again. We have a great daughter and the best grandson. ( looks at the baby ( sounds of baby laughing)

The end.

Taj/smkis/bi/2011

SMK Iskandar Shah  took part in a sketch competition held by PPD Perak Tengah   for the new literature component last year   and came out as the second runner-up. Congratulations to all my students.