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Compare and contrast two different versions of the same story or folktale.
Have you ever heard a story that felt familiar, but some parts were totally different? Imagine if the Big Bad Wolf wasn't mean at all, but just had a very bad cold!
Think of a story like a recipe. If you make a chocolate cake, you always need flour and sugar. Those are the 'bones' of the recipe. But one person might add sprinkles, and another might add nuts! Folktales are stories that have been told for a long time. Because many different people tell them, the 'sprinkles' or details change, but the 'bones' usually stay the same. When we compare two versions, we look for what is the same (similarities) and what is different (contrasts).
Quick Check
If two stories are versions of the same tale, what usually stays the same?
Answer
The 'bones' or the main idea of the story.
To find similarities, look at the big parts of the story. Usually, the main goal of the characters is the same. For example, in almost every version of 'The Three Little Pigs,' the pigs want to build houses to stay safe. Even if the pigs are replaced by other animals, like three little fish or three little javelinas, they are still trying to build a home to hide from a 'big bad' character.
1. Look at Story A: Three pigs build houses to hide from a wolf. 2. Look at Story B: Three javelinas build houses to hide from a coyote. 3. The similarity is: In both stories, three animals build houses to stay safe from a predator.
The differences are often found in the setting (where the story happens) and the character actions. In one version, a character might be brave, while in another, they might be scared. One story might take place in a cold, snowy forest, while another takes place in a hot, sandy desert. These changes make the story feel new and exciting even if we already know the ending!
1. In the classic story, the Wolf is mean and hungry. He wants to eat the pigs. 2. In 'The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs,' the Wolf is actually nice! He just wants to borrow a cup of sugar and has a loud sneeze. 3. The difference is: The character's reason for blowing down the houses changed from being mean to having an accident.
Quick Check
What are two things that often change in different versions of a story?
Answer
The setting (where it happens) and the character actions or personalities.
After you compare two stories, you get to decide which one you like more! To do this, you need to give a reason. You might like a version because the characters are funnier, or because the setting is more interesting. There is no wrong answer, as long as you can explain your choice using details from the book.
1. Choose: 'I liked the desert version better.' 2. Give a reason: 'I liked it because the coyote was more interesting than the wolf.' 3. Add a detail: 'It was funny when he got a tail full of cactus spikes!'
If one story has 3 pigs and another has 3 javelinas, what is the similarity?
Which of these is a 'difference' you might find in a new version of a story?
Is it okay to like a different version of a story more than the original?
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to remember: What are the 'bones' of the Three Little Pigs story? What parts must be there for it to be that story?
Practice Activity
Find two different versions of 'Cinderella' or 'Little Red Riding Hood' at the library. Draw a picture of one similarity and one difference between them.