This guide was inspired 의해 a 질문 recently 게시됨 의해 link on this spot. The user was looking for ways to put a twist on fairytales. I began to write an answer, but my answer soon developed into an article. So here it is.
Note that these aren't specifically for fairytales; they can be used on any old, well-known stories. After listing some ideas on how 당신 can put a twist on such stories, I'll give a few examples of 영화 that have done used one 또는 더 많이 of these ideas.
1. Swap the genders of the traditional characters.
Do any of the characters behave especially "typical" for their gender? Do they follow any stereotypes that would be made 더 많이 interesting and surprising if they were the opposite sex? This option allows 당신 to put all those cliché gender roles to a 더 많이 original use.
2. Set it in a different time period.
A 인기 way to parody stories that are hundreds of years old is to set the new version in the modern day. This is sometimes done so that the audience can relate to the characters easily, but it also pushes the writer to think carefully about their new setting. What would and wouldn't work in the modern day, compared to the original story's setting? Another option is to set the story merely in another past time period, or, if you're feeling extra imaginative, set your story in the distant future!
3. Set it in a different location.
This one is very similar to the above suggestion; once again, a change of setting might cause 당신 to change certain parts of the story. Note that this is a risky one. 당신 might not want to do this if the story's nationality is especially important to the plot 또는 message, otherwise this could come across as racist. However, on the flip side, if a story's location does not matter, 당신 could change its setting to wherever 당신 live and throw in some accurate cultural representation!
4. Focus on someone other than the original protagonist.
In other words, make a different character the new protagonist! Tell the story from a support character's perspective, 또는 put the villain in the spotlight. This is a very simple yet very 인기 idea. If 당신 are fond of a minor character in a fairytale, why not try 글쓰기 in first person from their perspective? It can be very interesting and very fun!
5. Change an event 또는 two from the original story, just because 당신 can.
Some fairytales are actually pretty gruesome, and so a lot of adaptations decide to go with a 더 많이 child-friendly ending. Other stories, however, hardly stay true to the original tale at all and the writer only uses the original as a basis. Think about how true 당신 want to stay to the traditional version; do 당신 want to just put your own spin on things here and there, 또는 do 당신 want to base just a portion of your own version on the original, and otherwise write something new?
Examples of 영화 that have used one 또는 더 많이 of these techniques:
Nickelodeon's Rags (2012 movie): A parody of 신데렐라 that combines #1 and #2 (and somewhat #3 in that it is set in America).
Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (1996): Uses #2 and still manages to stick to the original script (for the most part).
Disney's Maleficent (2014 movie): A re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty that uses #4 and turns the villain into the main character.
Disney's The Lion King 1 & 2 (1994 & 1998): Shakespeare plays with African wild animals; the first being based on Hamlet and the 초 on Romeo & Juliet. Both 영화 make use of #3 and #5.
In fact, a lot of 디즈니 classics put a twist on fairytales. Walt 디즈니 had a rule that the company still follows; good must always triumph over evil. Some of the original stories that their 영화 are based on have surprisingly tragic endings, and so many 디즈니 영화 use technique #5 to ensure that they do what Walt 디즈니 told them to a long time ago! A few of their classics also use #3 (e.g. Aladdin being set in Arabia instead of China).
(Of course, there are other 영화 that have done this, and you're welcome to list 더 많이 in the comments, but I'd better not get carried away!)
Also, if you're interested in this sort of thing, I recommend Gregory Maguire as an author that 당신 need to check out if 당신 haven't already! He writes novels for adults that make great use of #4. He wrote the Wicked books, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Mirror Mirror, and his most recent book, After Alice.
Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted and Fairest are a couple of other book examples that reimagine famous fairytales.
Note that these aren't specifically for fairytales; they can be used on any old, well-known stories. After listing some ideas on how 당신 can put a twist on such stories, I'll give a few examples of 영화 that have done used one 또는 더 많이 of these ideas.
1. Swap the genders of the traditional characters.
Do any of the characters behave especially "typical" for their gender? Do they follow any stereotypes that would be made 더 많이 interesting and surprising if they were the opposite sex? This option allows 당신 to put all those cliché gender roles to a 더 많이 original use.
2. Set it in a different time period.
A 인기 way to parody stories that are hundreds of years old is to set the new version in the modern day. This is sometimes done so that the audience can relate to the characters easily, but it also pushes the writer to think carefully about their new setting. What would and wouldn't work in the modern day, compared to the original story's setting? Another option is to set the story merely in another past time period, or, if you're feeling extra imaginative, set your story in the distant future!
3. Set it in a different location.
This one is very similar to the above suggestion; once again, a change of setting might cause 당신 to change certain parts of the story. Note that this is a risky one. 당신 might not want to do this if the story's nationality is especially important to the plot 또는 message, otherwise this could come across as racist. However, on the flip side, if a story's location does not matter, 당신 could change its setting to wherever 당신 live and throw in some accurate cultural representation!
4. Focus on someone other than the original protagonist.
In other words, make a different character the new protagonist! Tell the story from a support character's perspective, 또는 put the villain in the spotlight. This is a very simple yet very 인기 idea. If 당신 are fond of a minor character in a fairytale, why not try 글쓰기 in first person from their perspective? It can be very interesting and very fun!
5. Change an event 또는 two from the original story, just because 당신 can.
Some fairytales are actually pretty gruesome, and so a lot of adaptations decide to go with a 더 많이 child-friendly ending. Other stories, however, hardly stay true to the original tale at all and the writer only uses the original as a basis. Think about how true 당신 want to stay to the traditional version; do 당신 want to just put your own spin on things here and there, 또는 do 당신 want to base just a portion of your own version on the original, and otherwise write something new?
Examples of 영화 that have used one 또는 더 많이 of these techniques:
Nickelodeon's Rags (2012 movie): A parody of 신데렐라 that combines #1 and #2 (and somewhat #3 in that it is set in America).
Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (1996): Uses #2 and still manages to stick to the original script (for the most part).
Disney's Maleficent (2014 movie): A re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty that uses #4 and turns the villain into the main character.
Disney's The Lion King 1 & 2 (1994 & 1998): Shakespeare plays with African wild animals; the first being based on Hamlet and the 초 on Romeo & Juliet. Both 영화 make use of #3 and #5.
In fact, a lot of 디즈니 classics put a twist on fairytales. Walt 디즈니 had a rule that the company still follows; good must always triumph over evil. Some of the original stories that their 영화 are based on have surprisingly tragic endings, and so many 디즈니 영화 use technique #5 to ensure that they do what Walt 디즈니 told them to a long time ago! A few of their classics also use #3 (e.g. Aladdin being set in Arabia instead of China).
(Of course, there are other 영화 that have done this, and you're welcome to list 더 많이 in the comments, but I'd better not get carried away!)
Also, if you're interested in this sort of thing, I recommend Gregory Maguire as an author that 당신 need to check out if 당신 haven't already! He writes novels for adults that make great use of #4. He wrote the Wicked books, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Mirror Mirror, and his most recent book, After Alice.
Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted and Fairest are a couple of other book examples that reimagine famous fairytales.
~ Chapter 1: Dreams
Love. Unconditional and pure 사랑 was there, found in their hearts. Feelings, pure and strong lived from 일 to day.
But the days were cold. Cold wind froze their dreams.
A child was born.
Dreams, spreading its roots, now slowly fade.
But still live and last in the hearts of the dreamers.
A child wasn't a part of a dream, though.
It wasn't. But 사랑 was still there, although destroyed 의해 many issues, it started fading slowly like a smothered flame.
Mother's eyes was full of hope and 심장 full of love, so pure, so gentle.
She knew. Life won't be 우유 and honey, though she must be strong.
Looking at her baby girl, happy and sad in the same time, so many thoughts were flying through her head.
So many questions, perhaps a small dose of regret.
She felt sadness inside.
사랑 was still there, that pure 사랑 that kept them alive, though these dreams they both had were somehow far and unreal.
A flame of 사랑 was still burning...
Love. Unconditional and pure 사랑 was there, found in their hearts. Feelings, pure and strong lived from 일 to day.
But the days were cold. Cold wind froze their dreams.
A child was born.
Dreams, spreading its roots, now slowly fade.
But still live and last in the hearts of the dreamers.
A child wasn't a part of a dream, though.
It wasn't. But 사랑 was still there, although destroyed 의해 many issues, it started fading slowly like a smothered flame.
Mother's eyes was full of hope and 심장 full of love, so pure, so gentle.
She knew. Life won't be 우유 and honey, though she must be strong.
Looking at her baby girl, happy and sad in the same time, so many thoughts were flying through her head.
So many questions, perhaps a small dose of regret.
She felt sadness inside.
사랑 was still there, that pure 사랑 that kept them alive, though these dreams they both had were somehow far and unreal.
A flame of 사랑 was still burning...
Texas Rancho Viejo 1942
Bonnie's POV
I walked quickly down the dusty dirt road, I kicked and scrapped pebbels, It was hot and dry today, another great thing when your isolated! *CRASH* I gasped, I slowed to a stop and carfully and slowwly turned around. Behind me stood a man. He had wild brown hair and blue piercing eyes, He held a gun and a charcol covered teddy bear. He smiled and inchined twords me. "Whoa pardner, who are you?" I asked in my thick texian accent. "I am a friend" He said kindly. I suspiciously eyed him up and down. I reached into my back pocket and gripped my fingers around a gun I found. "Dont be afraid i'll make it all better" He moved closer to me, I panicked.Is this the phantom murder? I thought. I pulled out my gun and aimed it at him. "I dont think 당신 will"
I said sweetly, then I triggered it and shot him, he fell to the ground stunned. I smiled. When your isolated in texas 당신 cant trust anyone. and i mean ANYONE.
Bonnie's POV
I walked quickly down the dusty dirt road, I kicked and scrapped pebbels, It was hot and dry today, another great thing when your isolated! *CRASH* I gasped, I slowed to a stop and carfully and slowwly turned around. Behind me stood a man. He had wild brown hair and blue piercing eyes, He held a gun and a charcol covered teddy bear. He smiled and inchined twords me. "Whoa pardner, who are you?" I asked in my thick texian accent. "I am a friend" He said kindly. I suspiciously eyed him up and down. I reached into my back pocket and gripped my fingers around a gun I found. "Dont be afraid i'll make it all better" He moved closer to me, I panicked.Is this the phantom murder? I thought. I pulled out my gun and aimed it at him. "I dont think 당신 will"
I said sweetly, then I triggered it and shot him, he fell to the ground stunned. I smiled. When your isolated in texas 당신 cant trust anyone. and i mean ANYONE.
Always running
All the time,
Chasing a dream
As I follow the signs.
Out of breath
I miss a turn,
I wander the paths
Ready to learn.
I start to get impatient
I'm working so hard,
So how come I'm not there yet
I've played all my cards.
Life is like a rollercoaster
Mine never stops,
It takes me round in circles
Back to the start.
There are so many highs and lows
Yet they''re all the same,
I need a change of track
Something different to my name.
Each step I take aches my body
And I'm waiting for the day,
That a different train will come along
And take me a different way.
All the time,
Chasing a dream
As I follow the signs.
Out of breath
I miss a turn,
I wander the paths
Ready to learn.
I start to get impatient
I'm working so hard,
So how come I'm not there yet
I've played all my cards.
Life is like a rollercoaster
Mine never stops,
It takes me round in circles
Back to the start.
There are so many highs and lows
Yet they''re all the same,
I need a change of track
Something different to my name.
Each step I take aches my body
And I'm waiting for the day,
That a different train will come along
And take me a different way.
Dusty Streets
A blazing sun,
음식 and Water
There is none.
Living on hope
Crying out,
Helping others
Around and about.
Children Shouting
They wail and cry,
Willing for a change
A signal, a sign.
They're grateful for everytihng
Whatever comes their way,
They're constantly working
All night, all day.
The air is filthy
They cough and they weep,
They want to survive
They sniffle and sleep.
Begging off strangers
It's all they can do,
Someone to help them
It could be you.
-Emily Eaton (13)
A blazing sun,
음식 and Water
There is none.
Living on hope
Crying out,
Helping others
Around and about.
Children Shouting
They wail and cry,
Willing for a change
A signal, a sign.
They're grateful for everytihng
Whatever comes their way,
They're constantly working
All night, all day.
The air is filthy
They cough and they weep,
They want to survive
They sniffle and sleep.
Begging off strangers
It's all they can do,
Someone to help them
It could be you.
-Emily Eaton (13)
