6. Grade 9

Read The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet, pp.287-305.
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Enrichment Information:

What causes the structure of a story to change when its version is altered?

The structure of a story often changes across different versions due to a variety of literary, cultural, and practical reasons. Here are some key factors:

1. Cultural Context and Audience

• Adaptation to audience values: Stories are often modified to reflect the morals, beliefs, and values of a particular time or culture.

  • Example: In older versions of Cinderella, the stepsisters cut off parts of their feet to fit the shoe—modern versions remove this to make it more child-friendly.

• Language and humor: To suit regional or generational preferences, dialogue and tone may be adapted.

2. Medium of Storytelling

• Books vs. films vs. plays vs. games: Different platforms require different pacing, visuals, and storytelling techniques.

  • Example: A novel may include deep internal monologues, while a movie version must show those feelings visually or through dialogue.

• Time constraints: Films or TV shows often condense or rearrange plot points to fit within a limited runtime.

3. Narrative Focus and Themes

• Shifting emphasis: A retelling might highlight different characters or themes to give the story a new interpretation.

  • Example: Wicked retells The Wizard of Oz from the witch’s point of view, completely changing the tone and structure.

• Modern relevance: Retellings may add contemporary issues (like gender roles, racism, or mental health) that weren’t addressed in the original.

4. Creative Vision of the Author or Director

• Artistic interpretation: New creators often want to put their own spin on a familiar tale.

  • They may add new plot twists, backstories, or endings.

• Genre changes: A classic fairy tale might be turned into a horror story, comedy, or dystopian fiction, altering its structure significantly.

5. Historical Evolution and Oral Tradition

• Oral storytelling: In folk tales passed down verbally, each storyteller might tweak the story, gradually changing the structure.

• Lost or discovered texts: Rediscovered manuscripts or missing parts of a story can also alter future versions.

References

• Dundes, A. (1980). Interpreting folklore. Indiana University Press.

• Hutcheon, L. (2013). A theory of adaptation (2nd ed.). Routledge.

• McFarlane, B. (1996). Novel to film: An introduction to the theory of adaptation. Clarendon Press.

• Sanders, J. (2006). Adaptation and appropriation. Routledge.

• Zipes, J. (2006). Why fairy tales stick: The evolution and relevance of a genre. Routledge.