Grimm Debate: "Iron John" vs. "Hansel and Gretel"

The Grimm Brothers gathered many stories that most of us know today.

We have such tales as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White that Disney has made popular.

Of the many Grimm tales, Iron John and Hansel and Gretel had possibilities to shed light indirectly on child abuse in the home. The only time to bring up the abuse was at the beginning of each of the stories.

This seems like a strange way to begin the whole "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" program.

Where was the humor?

While at the Utah Storytelling Guild Olympus Chapter Christmas party, I brought some of my books on Iron John so people could get a taste as to what direction I was heading. Luckily, everyone there knew the story of Hansel and Gretel.

Strengths for Iron John:

• Interesting relationship between the boy-prince and the Wild Man, as the Wild Man is really like a second father
• Heavily a "guy" story while the ending story, The Gardener's Wife, is heavily a "girl" story so it balances out the program
• Boy-prince is an eight-year-old while the boy in the center story, Forsaken Brother, is one which I already planned for the boy to also be an eight-year-old
  

Strengths for Hansel and Gretel:

• Familiar story with a "Rachel twist" could be welcomed by the audience
• Chance for children to be heroes and show how siblings can help each other
• Mother character is intriguing for she (and not a stepmother as shared in other versions) was the one who took the children to the woods to get lost

One of my friends, Julie Barnson, predicted that I may not choose either one of these stories to be the opening piece for "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere.

We shall see.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

"Forsaken Brother" & Ojibwa Influences on the Boy

There are so many beautiful cultures in the world, and, as a storyteller, I do my best to honor them.

The same is for the Ojibwa people.

I shared what I learned with Julie Barnson, my story buddy for "Forsaken Brother", and we were also able to discover even more elements that could prove crucial to the telling of the tale.



Ojibwa Cultural Elements that may Shape Story:

• The boy will be at least seven-years-old as this is the age when children are expected to help with the chores. Perhaps I will place him at age eight about to turn nine as this could add to why the older sister feels she must abandon him.
• When boys reach age twelve, they go on a Vision Quest. Though the boy in "Forsaken Brother" will not yet be this age, he could reflect on this future ceremony. During a Vision Quest, there is fasting that is chosen of the boy's own free will. Whereas, in this story, he is forced to starve. A Vision Quest is often connected to sights or sounds for the boy only. Listening to the wolves howl and seeing them off in the distance could seem like a vision at first but then realizes that they are truly before him.
• The words for food and water in the language would add more culture to the story. For example, the word for "water" is "nibi" or pronounced "ne-be".
• At one point the boy finds shelter in a tree. Though the type is not shared in the original story, I may make it a maple tree. The Ojibwa would gather syrup as families. The boy could take his fingers and peel the bark away, attempting to make a hole, and then remember that it is wintertime and the syrup comes in spring. The tree that once gave him food could not at his time of greatest need.
• While huddled in the tree, he could reflect on a story or two about Nanabozho, a half spirit/half human being. Nanabozho is credited with the discovery of wild rice as well as hunting skills. He also drove Winter-Maker away so spring could come and food be present once more. Of all times, these skills are needed for the boy. This could be a little story within a story.
• The family may be part of the Nooke ("Tender", i.e. Bear) clan, which is known for healing and defense. These attributes are prominent in the story. The bear, lynx, and wolf are part of the Nooke totem/doodem. It is the largest totem.
• When someone is ill, it is thought to be of the spirit as well as for the physical body. I have added that the sister could see her father's eyes through the eyes of her younger brother. The eyes are often thought as the "window to the soul".
• Mourning for the dead--There is mourning for about a year and then you can join the community again. This could partly explain why the lodge was so far from the village at the beginning of the story. The sister may have been surprised when the older brother left the lodge so soon as the year of mourning was not complete for the passing of the father or of the mother.
  
• Ritual for the dead--The dead are placed in special clothing and have a spirit bundle that holds a lock of the dead person's hair. Then the dead are wrapped in a blanket and birchbark. The body is removed from the west side of the wigwam and food is placed with them. A close family member dances around the open grave. A barkhouse is made and reflects the symbol of the family's clan over the grave.
• The boy would know about the food buried with his father and mother, though the thought to get the food would never have crossed his mind.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Oh Where, Oh Where is that Opening Story?

My center and final stories for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" came in such miraculous ways that I expected another miracle to shine light on a story and say "Here is your opening story!"

So far no light.

I dedicated today to the libraries to find that opening story. There is a certain mood that an opening story needs that, at times, can make it so difficult.

Humor is powerful. Yet, I had always imagined one of my stories to address child abuse, at least in an indirect way. My center story is on abandonment while the final story is on adoption.

I have tossed around the idea of a version of "Hansel and Gretel", but nothing so far has struck me as "I must tell this one!"

In "emergencies" such as finding the opening story with the premiere a little over two months away, I settled on the floor at the Central Branch of the Davis County Library system. It seems more inspiration has come from sitting on the floor rather than sitting in a chair.

At times I worried if I blocked the way for other library patrons, so I was quick to move my feet aside to allow people through. Some people could tell I was on a serious mission and so avoided my area.

Normally I would check out about 20-30 books and take them home to peruse. This time I sat for hours reading. I scanned titles and the first paragraphs as most likely the focus would be revealed through those means. If the story did not connect with some level of family relationship or even with food or famine, then I skipped to the next story.

Finally, I ignored the collections of folktales and moved on to the picture books. Sometimes these books reveal the ethnic background and bibliographies to further research. I did not want to do a literary piece. I wanted to create the story based on the folktale's structure and culture.

When a few hours passed and still I seemed no closer than when I first arrived at the library, the story "Iron John" jumped out at me. Many years ago I considered telling this story. To this day, I do not know many storytellers who tell it despite it being part of the Brothers Grimm collection.

In all the versions I have read for "Iron John", not once have I read that the boy-prince's father was abusive. Yet, the boy feels a need to have a second father in the form of a wild man. My imagination fills in the blanks by thinking perhaps the king was not all that he seemed.

The story may be too heavy for an opening piece.

So the search continues for that elusive opening story.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Utah First Friday: Sing through Noise in 60 Seconds

Whenever possible, I like to attend the Utah First Fridays, which are monthly gathering of business owners and entrepreneurs.

Usually I am the only storyteller so it catches people off guard when they ask me what I do.

Twice a year there are exhibits. As my posters and postcards were not done yet for the premiere, reserving a table seemed a waste. However, I did provide a prize for the drawing.

Any prizes needed to have at least $25+ in value. Though the Covey Center for the Arts is the only place allowed to sell tickets, I do have authority to give a few away as long as I give them the details. I decided to have four tickets ($40 value) plus a fruit basket. Since it is called "Family Famine: Hunger for Love", thought the fruit added a nice touch plus then they could enjoy the food while anxiously awaiting the premiere.

Part of the benefit of giving a prize is the 60 seconds given to the sponsor.

In my imagination, I pictured at least 100 or more business people all at rapt attention as the drawings were called out. The number was right but not the silence!

Due to the booths, people were chatting even during the drawings and the 60-seconds that people shared about their companies, products, or events.

Luckily, I had already decided that 30 of my 60 seconds would go towards singing the lullaby in "The Gardener's Wife" story. I thought about telling a snippet of a tale, but that may still seem similar to the regular talk shared by other people. I doubted anyone else would sing.

I was right.

Though there was quite a bit of chatter for other people's time announcing, it did quiet the most with me. I did not even give an introduction. I took the microphone and sang. I figured to get their attention first and then talk.

As a storyteller, I know that a list of facts will not get me anywhere. Stories bring emotions and songs are a level of storytelling.

I gave some of the details of the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere and then gave the prize away. Afterward, I was pleased that people came up to me and complimented me on my singing. One lady became interested in joining the Utah Storytelling Guild. That alone made it worth it.

Though I did not have any posters or postcards yet, I did create make-shift business cards only on the event. I am confident that some people will attend the premiere from these cards.

***As a side note, I met a man named Clayton Rand from United Bank Card who showed me a credit and debit card processing system as small as a cellphone with a printer for the receipt about the same size. The picture above is when this small device on the right while the regular size is on the left.

Clayton can be reached at (801) 897-8911 or at claytonrand@gmail.com. "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" will tour and it will be nice to have a portable device to sell DVD copies of the premiere as well as any other storytelling merchandise. It is too late to add to the Christmas list, but eventually I will have something like that device. As of now, it costs $225. If you contact Clayton, please mention my name and say "hi" for me!

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

"The Gardener's Wife" and Character Sketches

Each time I see Holly Robison, my story buddy for "The Gardener's Wife", I like to have goals in mind.

This time I wanted to figure out the character and personality of the Gardener's Wife, the one I transformed into the main character. I also wanted to explore how the Garden itself is a character.

On other days I may delve into the personalities of the other characters.

If I know people in real life who are like the characters, then I have done a good job.

Holly asked questions and I responded to what I thought was the correct answer. Some questions required further understanding of the Colombian culture. I checked out all the books possible on the country--at least in Davis County!


Questions for the Gardener's Wife:

• What is her house like? This says a lot about a person. I will need to research what is common in Colombia.
• What is her favorite color? Bright blue or maroon.
• What does she do in her spare time? She loves to go off into the mountains, walk among the ruins. From the plateau, she enjoys leaning against the pine and oak trees to see the view. (Yes, there are pine and oak trees in Colombia.)
• What is her favorite plant? Squash, as it reminds her of a baby when seen a certain way. Her husband does not see it like that and only grows them because the king likes them.
• What are her typical facial expressions or postures? She tends to cock her head, usually because she dreams of when she will have a real baby in her arms rather than an imaginary one. She uses both arms for most gestures with the palms up or cupping shape as if she is always giving. This is opposite of the three sisters in the story who are always taking.

Questions of the Garden:

• What type of garden is it? There are almost all the plants of Colombia, especially as the queen says that it is only missing three things: the bird that speaks, the orange tree that dances, and the water that jumps and leaps.
• How many types of plants are in it? There are about 4,000 species of plants. There are 3,000 orchid species.
• How many kind of birds? There are 1,500 species of birds.
• What are some examples of plants in the garden? Vanilla trees, ginger, castor beans, papayas, mangoes, melons, pineapple, passion fruit, bananas, coconut, and the list goes on.
• Of what importance is the garden to the story? The garden causes the request from the queen. These turn into quests for the three youth. It is also believed that the condition of the environment is tied to politics, economics, and relations with the world.
  

Every session with Holly opens my eyes even more to how much I love this story.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Adventures for my Student: Denae Palm

I had a request for Denae Palm, undergraduate student from Weber State University, who will dedicate her 30-hour+ senior project to the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere.

I told her I would like a list of her strengths and interests. Today I received her list.

This guided me in the types of projects/adventures in connection with her senior project and the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere.

These were the adventures and details I gave her:

1. Gather information of family associations on local, national, and international levels and compose in Excel spreadsheet

• Create column for each of the following: Name of Organization, Contact Name(s), Title/Position of Contact, Address, City, State, Zip Code, Telephone, Website, Email, One-Sentence Description of Focus
• Family Associations relating to Education are preferred though groups could connect with child abuse, abandonment, adoption, parenting, etc.
• Goal: At least 100 groups discovered by December 17th

2. Schedule practice performances for each of the three stories in the premiere

• Opening Story TBA--Either "Iron John", German tale also shared by Brother Grimm, or version of "Hansel and Gretel"

-- Approximate time of story: 25 minutes
-- Requires no coordination with other guest artists
-- Aim one for 4th and/or 5th grade, one for junior high, and one for high school
-- Focus: Child Abuse and Gaining a 2nd Father--"Iron John"
-- Focus: Child Abuse and Sibling Strength--"Hansel and Gretel"

• Middle Story "Forsaken Brother", Ojibwa tale

-- Approximate time of story: 25 minutes
-- Requires coordination with Joshua Payne, accompanist/guitarist
-- Aim one for 4th and/or 5th grade, one for junior high, and one for high school
-- Focus: Child Abandonment and Broken Promises
-- Due to sad mood to story, a 5-6 minute story is needed at beginning and end

• Final Story "The Gardener's Wife", Colombian tale

-- Approximate time of story: 40 minutes
-- Requires coordination with Holly Robison, singer
-- Aim one for 4th and/or 5th grade, one for junior high, and one for high school
-- Focus: Desire for Children and Adoption

• Donations of $50 or more suggested though lack of funds will not dissuade performing at the school (they need to be aware that normally Rachel Hedman is paid $200/hour)
• Three practices for each of the stories for a total of nine times

-- Stories will be as polished as possible
-- Rachel desires 10-15 minutes for feedback from students and teachers
-- Classroom size as well as Assembly size is acceptable
-- Encourage pdf file of "Save the Date" postcard to be emailed to teachers
-- Request 3 dates/times to see if will work with Rachel's schedule

• Goal: At least 9 practice performances scheduled from the 2nd week of January to the end of January to be completed by December 23rd

3. Determine which Utah curriculum standards for 4th grade on through high school relate to storytelling in general as well as specifically to the themes and stories from "Family Famine: Hunger for Love"

• Consider social, political, geographical, religious, or economic details highlighted through the cultural tales
• Delve into the language arts and how to structure a story
• Explore emphasis on oral, verbal, and nonverbal communication skills
• Goal: List the standards with a paragraph under each using terminology known and respected by educators on how storytelling and/or "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" fulfills them by January 3rd

4. Create lesson plans that could be applied for residencies for 4th grade on through high school

• Brainstorm discussion questions
• Test activities with children in neighborhood or nearby schools and receive feedback
• With permission from the parents, take pictures of the activities in action with the kids so that they can be shared through publications, websites, or other items
• Goal: Develop at least three activities each for an elementary grade, at least three activities for a junior high grade, and at least three activities for a high school grade that connect with themes and/or stories found in "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" by January 3rd
  

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Invite from the Timp Tellers: Playing with Story

Thanks to the Timp Tellers of the Utah Storytelling Guild for granting permission to share their comments and to post these pictures from December 4, 2008.

During the annual Utah Storytelling Guild Story Swap, April Johnson invited me to come to the December meeting of the Timp Tellers.

I would have a chance to practice 30-45 minutes with a larger group on the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production. I was thrilled at the offer.

Currently I attend two different chapters of the Utah Storytelling Guild: Olympus of Salt Lake County and Ben Lomond of Davis/Weber Counties. I would also regularly attend the Timp Tellers of Utah County, but it is always a Cub Scouts night. More specifically, it is a Roundtable Training for Leaders. Rarely do I miss.

This premiere is to such level that I need any chance I can get to practice. I told my Wolf Assistant Leader to cover for me at the training and bring back the great activity ideas. This way I did not feel as guilty missing Roundtable.

Since the whole premiere would last one and a half hours, I knew I had to choose one story to present to the Timp Tellers. I chose "The Gardener's Wife", mainly as it would be my most complicated piece. Even so, I expected the story in its polished form to be about 35-40 minutes. I decided I would tell a portion of the story, pause at a certain moment, and then "play" with the story by exploring scenes and dialogue that may or may not make it to the actual performance.

Last night on The Art of Storytelling with Children Podcast, Elizabeth Ellis shared that rather than rehearsing a story, it is better to dwell in a story. That was my plan with the Timp Tellers.

I displayed the drawn outline of the story and said I may glance at it as I switched some parts around so that the Gardener's Wife is more prominent rather than in the original story where it starts with the three sisters. That was the only "cheat sheet" I had, though I do not remember looking at it except before I started the story.

I came to about a quarter through the story and said, "Pause. Now it is time to play. What scenes would you like to explore?"

One person wondered "Why do the two older sisters turn so quickly against their youngest sister and replace her baby with a dog?"

At this point, I had two volunteers come to the stage with me and be those two older sisters. I became the youngest one. I would talk about all the wonderful foods at the palace since I married the king. Then I would create an excuse to "leave" the stage--though still in earshot--and the two sisters would complain, especially as one married the king's baker and the other married the king's steward. Finally, I would return and hear a word or two of their "private" conversation and interpret it into another wonderful blessing I had for being married to the king. I "left" the stage about three to four times.

I called on another person for a different scene to explore. A lady wanted her "heart strings to be pulled" and wanted to see a moment when the Gardener's Wife is with her newly adopted son.

I held my arms as if I held a baby and the first words I said were "You are so much cuter than a squash!" This referenced the beginning of the story when the Gardener's Wife looks out into her garden and thinks she sees a child, but it only the squash. As the Gardener's Wife, I continued to tell this imaginary child how it was like without him and seeing all the villagers march past my home with children and I not having any. This time I could march behind my son as he took on great adventures. I ended by singing the lullaby.

This exploration triggered Janet Low to ask what the Gardener's Wife told the other villagers on how this child came to them.

"I had not thought about that," I responded.

As the Gardener's Wife, I spoke to Janet, who was one of the villagers, on how my husband had gone out to the garden. We had fertilized the land so well that--Pop!--a little boy came out of the ground.

"I see you do not believe me," I commented.

I told Janet the actual story of the wooden box floating down the river with the baby in it. Again, I followed this story with "I see you do not believe me on that one either."

Finally, I said, "All this time I was pregnant but I did not show it. And so now we have this little boy."

After playing with the story, the Timp Tellers gave appreciations. Many commented on how lovely the lullaby was and that they loved it the more I sang it. Several enjoyed the dialogue between the Gardener and his wife at the beginning of the story.

Luckily, this session was recorded so that I can listen and see how the story may evolve as a result.

Thank you, Timp Tellers!

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller