Blog Partner Discussion 4: Modern Fanstasy
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1. Your personal response to the book
2. Evaluate it in terms of its genre
3. Evaluate its literary quality
4. Evaluate its illustrations
5. Evaluate in terms of multicultural considerations including the credibility of the author and illustrator
Discuss for whom the book is intended and the ways in which it might be used in the classroom
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Linda I read a modern fantasy book, 'The Tiger Woman ' written by Laurence Yep in 1995 and found that I was a little surprised to find that there were actual recent fictions that transformed human into magical animal form.This goes to show that fantasy tales still has its place in this era. Irrespective of how advanced things become and change in a technological society there is still a place for stories that stretch the imagination and defies the natural physical laws of the known world.
ReplyDeleteI see two of basic motifs of fantasy present in the story in the form of magic and the character type. The magic is experienced when the old beggar pronounces a spell upon the the greedy old woman so that whatever she says she becomes. The old man in this case is behaving like a wizard as the old woman predicable changes to various animals as she makes the utterances. That depicts magic.
Linda have you also noticed that all the animals she names show greedy characteristics-the tiger, ox, elephant and pig? What are your thoughts on the illustrator's beautiful use of water colour to accentuate the story plot?
Mary, the Tiger Woman was an interesting read for me. Robert Roth, the illustrator, really impressed me with how he depicted his pictures. The story, as you said, is magical, and he has made the pictues depict this. As I viewed the illustrations, I could not help but feel the magic engulfing me.
ReplyDeleteOn the cover, I was able to predict a sense of hiding from the shadowed background as well as from the woman/tiger in one picture. I must also comment that these illustrations were more representational than real. The idea of being fictitious, magical, fantasy-filled were uppermost in my mind.
What did you think about the conversations, the dialogue in the story? I thought it was musical with constant rhyming. What a lovely way to engage our students in free writing! What are your other thoughts?
Oh Linda, I know we couldn't discuss the book without looking at the writer's style. In addition to the third person narrative voice, he added rhyming poetry with metaphorical lines which give a sing song rhythm to the story which created more interest and flow in the plot as each rhyming lines takes the reader to the next event.
ReplyDeleteThis enhances the illustrations which are done in artful water colors which move fluidly from one page to another. The readers' eyes can easily follow the actions-running,the chaos caused by the magical transformation of the old woman from tiger to the ox, the elephant, bird and finally a pig.
Linda did you also note that the story departed from reality at various points? For example when the animals kept talking in the old woman's voice?
Mary, what an interesting take, and I agree with you totally. I am glad we have the opportunity to share our ideas. But did you also realize that the story ended exactly where it began but with an ironical twist? It was interesting to me that it began with the woman sitting selfishly eating her curd bean and watching the spectacle in the town square. By the time the story ended we saw where she became the spectacle running throughout the town being transformed from one creature to another. In the end, it was the bean curd that transformed her back into her human self and she was seated at her gate sharing it with the beggar. How interesting! Do you have any other insight to share?
ReplyDeleteThe literary quality as you said was truly evident. The tone was musical at times and the mood flowed according to the movement of the story. At the onset, we felt the mean-ness, the greed, the selfishness. As she changed, I lost sympathy for her due to her deep-rooted greed. It was magical how she always escaped and I kept hoping that each time she would have learnt her lesson. Eventually she did and I could see that a lesson being taught could be “Never give up on people, no matter how terrible we may think they are” also “People learn at different stages”. Look at this old woman who changed after going through a process. I think this is a profound message to pass on to children, even adults. I agree that the ideas were smooth as they ran into each other; consequently, the plot can be described as having a circular ring to it, wouldn’t you say? And look at the setting, it was fantastic from a fantasy filled perspective, and the characters represented to me variety or diversity in people, in human nature and in the world at large. Continue to share your insights. I like them.
I know we could go on and on , however I will look at its' opportunity for use in my class. One area of use I immediately note was in teaching metaphors in writing as they are expertly employed in the story to work out one life's truth. The choice of animals are representative of greed in human nature.The tiger scares off humans. A selfish person exhibits that chracteristic and does not attract people to them.
ReplyDeleteStudents could identify other animals which represents other human traits and do quick writes to elaborate on their choice. For example people often associate the mule with persons who are strong willed or stubborn. It's quite an instructive fantasy.Any other ideas Linda?
The themes were basically about greed and mean-ness. The focus was on how greed and being mean can cost you, and the story shows that possessing these traits does not become anyone. The tiger woman was greedy and mean from the beginning and her greed got her into trouble numerous times and her mean-ness negatively impacted her life. The story transforms her six times. In the end she learnt her lesson and became the epitome of kindness thereafter. What was interesting for me was that prior to her finding some food to gobble up, in her greed she forgot her fears about being killed. This symbolically teaches the lesson that greed is so powerful that it can overshadow everything and everyone around. How often do we hear in modern times as well as in traditional tales where greed supersedes ones ability to do good. I agree that this tale of the Tiger Woman is mainly geared at teaching a life lesson and has done so explicitly.
ReplyDeleteApart from using this to teach life lessons to our students, Mary, I believe that this text - a good modern fantasy – can be used to teach vocabulary as well. The use of language was at the required age level but there were words to challenge the students and help them to extend their vocabulary. There were words such as blundered, frantically, devoured etc which were strongly used to depict the writers’ expression. Also, the bold pictures, which were also mystical, can be used to teach picture reading or simply be used to build prediction skills. Mary, Let us take something from this Chinese Shantung folk song. There are consequences or effects to every action or attitude, and let us NOT misjudge people. A PROFOUND BOOK.