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A STUDY OF FAIRY TALES
Having observed the general characteristics of the narrative contained in the plot, let us examine the structure of a few tales to see: What is the main theme of the plot and how it works itself out; what are the large, leading episodes, and how they culminate in the climax; and what is the conclusion, and how closely it follows the climax.
The Story of Three Pigs | |
I. Introduction. Time. Place. Characters: Mother and Three Pigs. Mother gone. | |
II. Rise. | |
1. | First Pig's venture with a man with a load of straw. |
Builds a straw house. (Wolf enters.) | |
Wolf comes and destroys him. | |
2. | Second Pig's venture with a man with a load of furze. |
Builds a furze house. | |
Wolf comes and destroys him. | |
3. | Third Pig's venture with a man with a load of bricks. |
Builds a brick house. | |
Wolf comes. (Climax.) | |
III. Conclusion. Third Pig outwits the Wolf. | |
At the turnip-field in Mr. Smith's home-field. | |
At the apple tree in Merry-Garden. | |
At the fair at Shanklin. | |
At his own brick house. |
Evidently the climax here is when the Wolf comes to the third Pig's brick house. After that things take a turn; and the final test of strength and cleverness comes at the very end of the tale, at Little Pig's brick house.