FAIRY TALE: THE GIRL AND THE DEAD MAN

Fairy Tale: The Girl and the Dead Man

John Francis Campbell (Popular Tales of the West Highlands)

A poor woman's oldest daughter said she would go seek her fortune. The mother offered her a big bannock with her curse or a little one with her blessing. She took the big one, and when she ate and birds begged for some, she refused it. She found a place at a house, where it was the body of the housewife’s brother watched over by night and which was under spells, but she quickly fell asleep the first night and the mistress hardly hit her that she died.

The second sister endeavoured (tried) the same way and came to the same end.

The youngest also tried, but asked for the little one with her blessing, and shared it with the birds. She got the same place as her sisters, but stayed awake. In the night, the body propped itself up on its elbow and grinned; she threatened to beat it. It propped itself up twice more, and the third time, she hit it with a stick. The stick stuck to the body, and to her hand, and she had to follow it into the woods, where the nuts and sloes hit her as they went, but they got out of the woods and back to the house. They gave her a peck of gold and a peck of silver, and a cordial, which she used to bring her sisters back to life.

Vladimir Propp’s Functions

1. Absentation: The daughters leave home.

6. Trickery: The use of the bannocks.

8. Villainy: The mother and the housewife.

9. Mediation: The discovery of the trick.

10. Beginning counter-action: The youngest daughter seeks to change fate.

12. First function of the donor: The nuts and sloes.

13. Hero’s reaction: Trying to do everything differently.

14. Receipt of a magical agent: The cordial.

16. Struggle: The fight against the body.

19. Liquidation: The misfortune is resolved.

20. Return: Return to the normal life and subsequently to the house.

 John Francis Campbell
John Francis Campbell, also known as Young John of Islay, was a renowned Scottish author and scholar who specialised in Celtic studies. Campbell was known as an authority on Celtic folklore and of the Gaelic peoples in particular.

His most well-known published works are the bilingual Popular Tales of the West Highlands and The Celtic Dragon Myth, published posthumously in 1911. 

HAMLET

Hamlet Summary

By William Shakespeare

Hamlet dramatizes Prince Hamlet's gradual descent into madness. Early in the play, the Ghost appears to Hamlet and informs him that Hamlet's father, the King of Denmark, was murdered by Hamlet's uncle, Claudius. Hamlet isn't sure that he believes the Ghost and sets about uncovering the truth.

• Hamlet makes himself appear crazy to deflect suspicion. He later rejects his sweetheart Ophelia and convinces players to enact the scene of the murder in front of Claudius, who reacts suspiciously.
  
• Hamlet’s attempt to kill Claudius results in the death of Ophelia’s father Polonius. Claudius sends Hamlet to England, expecting him to be killed upon arrival, but Hamlet cleverly escapes and stumbles upon Ophelia’s funeral.
  
• Claudius arranges a duel between Hamlet and Ophelia’s angry brother Laertes. Gertrude drinks from a poisoned goblet that was intended for Hamlet, and Laertes and Hamlet each deal poisoned blows to the other. In the end, Hamlet kills Claudius, avenging his father.

Further summary 

THE RESTORATION ERA

The Pilgrim’s Progress from this World to that Which Is to come: Delivered under the Similitude of a Dream

John Bunyan

First part

Christian leaves his wife and children behind in the City of Destruction. He passes through the Slough of Despond and under the wicket Gate (the way for the elect and the beginning to achieve to Heaven). Soon, he arrives to the Interpreter’s House. After being in the previous place, he receives the garb (clothes) and the certificate from some angels of having been elected. The next stop is the Beautiful Palace and after leaving the palace, he goes to the valley of Humiliation where he battles and defeats Apollyon (a demon). After traversing the Valley of the Shadow of the Death catching up his friend Faithful. Christian and Faithful arrives in Vanity-Fair and are suddenly arrested under a false charge of inciting a riot. Faithful is burnt and Christian miraculously delivered. Then, he has a new companion: Hopeful; they come to the Doubting Castle whose owner is the giant Despair who traps them and intends to kill them. But, the scape thanks to their faith and make their way to the Delectable Mountains. There, they are warned about the Flatterer and other threats, but he fools them so an angel has to rescue them but also punishes them for not being attentive about the warnings.

In the final part of the journey, they encounter Ignorance who has not passed under the Wicket gate. They arrive to a River in Beulah which means that to cross it is to die but it is the only way to reach Heaven; therefore, they fortunately resolve to cross it and are graciously welcomed. Ignorance cannot do it because he does not have a certificate and is sent to Hell. The author awakes from his first dream.

Second part

Christian’s wife, Christiana, starts a pilgrimage with her four sons and a young neighbour called Mercy to follow Christian’s footstep to achieve to Heaven. They also pass through the Wicket Gate, the Beautiful Palace, the Valley of Humiliation, the Valley of the Shadow of the Death, Vanity-Fair and the Delectable Mountains being guided and protected by Mr. Great-Heart. They meet Honesty and Feeble-Mind and kill giant Despair and rescue Mr. Despondency as well.

Finally, the sons triumphally enter to the City of Zion where they decide to stay in in order to grow the church on Earth.

John Bunyan

John Bunyan was born in Bedfordshire in 1628 and died in London in 1688. He was an English writer best remembered as the author of The Pilgrim’s Progress. In addition, he wrote nearly sixty titles, many of them expanded sermons.

He belongs to the period called Restoration since the restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II’s reign after the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Writing Style

The author presents a story to be easily understood especially when the message is extra important. The whole story is an allegory in which he uses metaphoric language with very simple sentences to point towards something more abstract or profound or hidden meanings.

LITERARY GENRE: FICTION

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Plot

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first book in a seven-part series about the powerful young wizard Harry Potter and which was written by the English writer J. K. Rowling and published in 1997 by Bloomsbury. In this book, he is orphaned and sent to live with his aunt and uncle. Years later, he receives an acceptance letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he will have many dangerous and fantastic adventures.

Hagrid leaves an infant Harry Potter with his aunt and uncle, the Dursleys. There is some mystery surrounding Harry's parents, and it isn't until later that he learns they were killed by Lord Voldemort, an evil wizard. This attack left Harry with a prominent scar.

Upon acceptance to Hogwarts, Harry discovers that he is one of the most famous people in the wizarding world. He quickly becomes friends with Hermione and Ron and makes an enemy of Draco.

At the end of the school year, Harry comes face to face with Lord Voldemort, in fact, what is left of him. With the help of his friends, Harry manages to defeat Voldemort and the professor who had been helping him. For the moment, Harry is safe.

Literary Genre: Fiction

This novel belongs to fictional genre since the story derived from imagination, it means that it is not based strictly on history or facts. The book constitutes an act of creative invention and is not typically expected to present only characters who are actual people or descriptions that are factually true. Therefore, the writing presents giants, fantastic creatures, the possibility of being able to fly using a tool and a great amount of magic, witchcraft and wizardry, etc. Indeed, the author created own words, a kind of a new language, for the spells to be carried out.