Out of the stories in the anthology, I decided to retell "The Three Roses," which is a fairy tale found in Josef Baudis' 1922 book, The Key of Gold: Czech Folk Tales. This story, while not my favorite out of the anthology choices, made me think of so many ideas I would want to use in my retelling. For this week, I decided to format my notes with the problems I saw in the story and the changes I would make in my retelling.
Plot Holes I found and My Retelling Solutions:
Why did the mother have to resort to stealing the roses? Why couldn't she buy them at a store?
There are no roses at the store. Maybe the mother had to go on a long trip and was delayed until winter, so she had no opportunity to buy roses for her daughter. Because she doesn't want to disappoint Mary, the mother decides to steal from the Basilisk.
How did the mother find the castle?
A little boy mentioned how he saw roses at the monster's castle. The mother doesn't believe in monsters but decides to go there in case the roses are real.
Why does the Basilisk want to meet Mary?
The Basilisk is lonely, and he wants to know what kind of young lady would ask for lowers instead of silk and jewels.
Why doesn't the mother try to protect her daughter from living with a monster? Why is Mary so casual about being told to live with the Basilisk?
The mother lied to the Basilisk and brought the roses home to her daughter. The daughter loves the roses. The Basilisk tracks the scent of the roses to the cottage and tells the mother that she made a deal with him. Mary is understandably frightened to see a monster at her house and that he has come for her. However, she notices that the Basilisk is not trying to eat them. She asks the Basilisk if he will hurt her or her mother. The Basilisk swears a magical oath that he will not harm them upon his life. Mary agrees to go with the Basilisk.
Why does the Basilisk threaten the girl to cut off his head? What is the nature of this curse? Why was the Basilisk cursed?
The Basilisk is a prince who was cursed to become a monster body and spirit. His body changed instantly, but slowly, the curse is stripping him of his humanity. He accidentally loses control and bites Mary's arm. He dies because he swore on his life to not hurt Mary. Mary cries over the Basilisk's body, and her blood and tears break the curse.
Mary and the Basilisk have no chemistry.
Have Mary stay with the Basilisk for longer than three days. They tell stories to each other, and Mary slowly sees that the Basilisk is lonely and wants a friend. Over time, she enjoys being with the Basilisk very much.
Plot Holes I found and My Retelling Solutions:
Why did the mother have to resort to stealing the roses? Why couldn't she buy them at a store?
There are no roses at the store. Maybe the mother had to go on a long trip and was delayed until winter, so she had no opportunity to buy roses for her daughter. Because she doesn't want to disappoint Mary, the mother decides to steal from the Basilisk.
How did the mother find the castle?
A little boy mentioned how he saw roses at the monster's castle. The mother doesn't believe in monsters but decides to go there in case the roses are real.
Why does the Basilisk want to meet Mary?
The Basilisk is lonely, and he wants to know what kind of young lady would ask for lowers instead of silk and jewels.
Why doesn't the mother try to protect her daughter from living with a monster? Why is Mary so casual about being told to live with the Basilisk?
The mother lied to the Basilisk and brought the roses home to her daughter. The daughter loves the roses. The Basilisk tracks the scent of the roses to the cottage and tells the mother that she made a deal with him. Mary is understandably frightened to see a monster at her house and that he has come for her. However, she notices that the Basilisk is not trying to eat them. She asks the Basilisk if he will hurt her or her mother. The Basilisk swears a magical oath that he will not harm them upon his life. Mary agrees to go with the Basilisk.
Why does the Basilisk threaten the girl to cut off his head? What is the nature of this curse? Why was the Basilisk cursed?
The Basilisk is a prince who was cursed to become a monster body and spirit. His body changed instantly, but slowly, the curse is stripping him of his humanity. He accidentally loses control and bites Mary's arm. He dies because he swore on his life to not hurt Mary. Mary cries over the Basilisk's body, and her blood and tears break the curse.
Mary and the Basilisk have no chemistry.
Have Mary stay with the Basilisk for longer than three days. They tell stories to each other, and Mary slowly sees that the Basilisk is lonely and wants a friend. Over time, she enjoys being with the Basilisk very much.
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| Basilisk by Friedrich Johann Justin Bertuch (1747-1822). Source: Wikimedia Commons |
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