Story: A Man and a Lion's Adventures

 

(Lion. Web Source: Wiki Commons)

Story. Androcles, a former slave, and Lion, a former circus lion, has been friends before they were granted freedom. They have shared a lot of time together in the forest. Usually, Lion would bring Androcles game and Androcles would make the food. After both were granted freedom and a reward for their friendship, they decided to travel the lands.

On their first journey, the man and lion walked to a neighboring kingdom. They saw a group of men running towards them. Androcles and Lion stopped in their tracks in case they had to run away as well. However, there was nothing chasing them. There was just a house.

“Hm, that was weird,” commented Androcles.

Both Androcles and Lion kept walking until they heard someone talking.

“It was me. I made them run away,” said a voice.

Androcles and Lion looked around for the person talking.

 (Windowsill. Web Source.)

“Over here, on the windowsill,” said the voice.

They both looked at the windowsill and found a boy the size of a thumb.

“You two look like a mighty fine pair. Do you mind helping me?” asked the thumb-sized boy.

They both looked at each other wondering whether they should help him. After all, this thumb-sized boy did scare off a group of men.

Reading their minds, the thumb-sized boy said, “Don’t worry about me. They were a group of thieves. They wanted to rob this house, but I alerted the owner. My name is Thumbkin and I need help returning home.”

After hearing this, they were happy to help. Androcles put Thumbkin on his shoulder and escorted him home with Lion. At Thumbkin’s house, his parents were overjoyed to be reunited and they asked Androcles and Lion to stay a few days in return for their help.

Two days later, on a hot day, Androcles and Lion traveled to another kingdom. At this kingdom, they met a group of three men sitting and eating under a tree.

One man greeted them. “How do you do?”

“I am well. And you?” said Androcles.

“I’m very hungry,” said the Lion.

“Why,” the man said to Lion, “you can have some of our food.”

“You understand Lion?” Androcles asked in astonishment.

“Yes, I understand lion. I may be the only one who does. My name is Jack, and this is Andrew and Paul.” said the man while he motioned to his sitting companions. "And you are?"

Androcles and Lion introduced themselves, and they all chatted away as they ate. After eating, they all packed up, washed up, and walked to the nearest city. At the city, Paul pointed at two doves on top of an arch with a bell under it. Andrew, Paul, and Jack stood in line to walk under the arch. Paul and Andrew walked under the arch but nothing happened. Then, right when Jack passed through the arch, two doves flew on his shoulders and the bell rang even though there was nothing close to it. All the locals cried in joy and surrounded Jack.

“What is happening?” Androcles asked Paul, who walked under the arch first.

“Jack said that one of us three would become Pope. It is said that when someone walks under the arch and two doves fly on one’s shoulders and the bell rings, that person is fated to be the Pope.”

After Jack became the Pope, he traveled around with his two companions, Androcles, and Lion to experience all that they could and help everyone they could.

Author's Note. In Androcles and the Lion, Androcles was a slave who ran away from his master. He met Lion, who had a thorn on his paw, in the forest, and pulled out the thorn. Lion liked him ever since and Lion would bring Androcles an animal for Androcles to make food. Later, Androcles was captured by soldiers because he couldn't tell them what he was doing. When he was brought back, he was to be put to death because he ran away from his master. He was thrown in with lions in a huge circus so that the public can be entertained. However, when he was thrown in, Lion was his opponent and Lion just showed love towards Androcles. So, the king had both of them freed.

After reading Androcles and the Lion, I wondered if they traveled together in he end. All that was said in the end was that Androcles was freed and Lion was released to the forest. So, I wrote a story that continued their friendship. I wanted to write about their adventures, and since I have not incorporated characters from many stories in a single story, I decided to write this story. I chose Thumbkin and Jack because those two stood out to me while reading the whole unit.

As I wrote in Thumbkin, I figured that I would save him the trouble of going through many animals' stomachs. As for Jack's story, I wanted to write about one of the important parts that occurred in his story.


Bibliography. 
"Androcles and the Lion" from Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs; link to reading online.
"Thumbkin" from Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs; link to reading online.
"The Language of Animals" from Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs; link to reading online.

Reading Notes: Europa's Fairy Book, Reading B

 

(Swan feather. Web Source: Flickr.)  

Notes. In the Swan Maidens, I cannot believe that the six eldest sisters would leave the youngest at the pond to fend for herself. They should stay together. Aside from this, the shoes of swiftness and the invisible cap are interesting items. I could add this to another story. But the thing that doesn’t make sense is why the hunter’s wife returned home. It may be because he needed to show his love through going through troubles, but I am not sure. Perhaps I may write what she was thinking.

In Androcles and the Lion, I could continue their story. Androcles and the Lion was set free, but did they stay together? I can write about their adventures together after freedom. They may even meet with other characters.

Johnnie and Grizzle was a bit like Hansel and Gretel except there were pebbles, and the parents wanted to leave them in the forest. It was messed up that the parents wanted to leave them there because they didn’t want them to die in front of them. However, it does not justify their actions to leave the children in the forest. I may have to write a piece of karma for the parents. Later on, the father gave them bread. This is where it starts to get similar with Hansel and Gretel.

I have only heard bits and pieces of Hansel and Gretel, so I was glad the Johnnie and Grizzle got a happy ending. Perhaps now, I may not need to write an unfortunate ending for the parents because they went to find them in the forest. Yet, this all could have been avoided unless having the children really caused them financial struggles.

It was so sad in Thumbkin that all the boys died except one. He turned out to be quite useful and living. I wonder how all those beans turned into boys. It would be interesting to add siblings for Thumbkin. Thumbkin went quite on an adventure. Several of these stories are about an adventure. It was very strange for him to still be alive in the stomach. It must have been traumatic. I could add his character in another story.

Bibliography. Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs; link to reading online.

Reading Notes: Europa's Fairy Book, Reading A

Notes. In Cinder-Maid, it is almost like Cinderella, but she weeps at her mother's grave and planted a hazel tree there that gave her a blue dress instead of a fairy godmother giving her a blue dress. Her rhyming brought a mist. That was interesting. Another thing that was interesting was that the stepsisters cut their parts of their foot just to get the shoe to fit. Another thing I wonder is why there was no one else who could fit it. I might make it comedic to have a man try it on. I wonder if I should write a story to give Cinderella a nice stepmother.

Perhaps for Beauty and the Beast, I could add more interaction between Belle and her sisters. That is something that was a bit lacking, because they lived together in the end, but I am not sure about their relationship prior to her marrying a prince. Like many stories, the sisters might get jealous and try to kill her.

(Three friends. Web Source.)

In the Language of Animals, Jack's story was quite interesting with his travels and learning to understand animal language. I can go in depth with his schooling or his friend who admires him. In his schooling, his teacher could have an all-knowing animal. So, instead of learning from the teacher, he learns from the teacher's pet. And in Jack's story, he always has a friend. I can write about his friend boasting about Jack at a bar or something. Because he is with Jack, he might even learn a thing or two.

I have not read about a giant before. Perhaps I can add that character to a story. In A Dozen At a Blow, I am not quite sure if I like the main character. Although he is witty, he is cheating. With his wits, I could even insert him into one of the other stories. He can travel with Jack in the Language of Animals.

Another story I could write about is the cat's background in The Earl of Cattenborough. Since the cat did all the talking and thinking, I wonder if they liked the cat or John/Jack.

Bibliography. Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs; link to reading online.