Today in teaching Mark school, I read him the story Rapunzel. It got a big thumbs down. Mark's enjoyment of a story is directly related to the violence contained therein. (I'm not proud of this fact, but there it is.)
When the witch cut off Rapunzel's hair and tricked the prince into climbing up the braid, Mark was alert, anticipating the altercation. When "in his pain and grief the prince leaped from the tower", Mark was disgusted and dismayed. He said, "I thought he was going to fight her." After all, what self respecting hero of a fairy tale doesn't wield a sword?
The prince did nothing to sway Mark's opinion of his worth. At the end, when Rapunzel and the now blind prince finally reunite and she restores his sight with her tears, "he took Rapunzel back to his kingdom, where they were greeted with great rejoicing..."
Mark was filled with contempt. He said, "He should have taken Rapunzel back to her mother."
I couldn't argue with him. (Although I'm always a little disgusted with the mother in the story and her thieving greedy ways.)
Sorry Grimm Brothers, we had a much more favorable review of The Valiant Little Tailor. Now that was a story.
1 comment:
Isaiah loved The Valiant Little Tailor also!
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