Fracturing Your Fairy Tale
Think about changing or more of the following elements:
•
Time: Set the story in the present or future, instead of "once upon a time, a long, long time ago.”
•
Location: Set the story in a different country, region, or city. Imagine Rapunzel set in Los Angeles
or British Columbia or outback Australia.
•
Gender: Change the gender of the main character for a new slant. Perhaps Rumpelstiltskin is a
mischievous, grumpy female dwarf!
•
Ending: Keep the original elements but change the ending.
•
Cast of Characters: Instead of sticking with just one character from one fairy tale, have the
characters from several fairy tales meet.
•
Background: Come up with the back story behind the fairy tale. (i.e. Why is Goldilocks in the
woods on that fateful day?)
If you’re stuck, consider one of the following twists:












While locked in the tower, suppose Rapunzel always kept her hair styled in the latest fashion,
instead of allowing it to grow?
Instead of a house made of gingerbread, Hansel and Gretel discover a house made of what
else? Instead of a witch living inside the house, who lives there?
What if Cinderella refused to marry the prince?
What if Litle Red Riding Hood became a close friend to the wolf?
Instead of living at the woodland cottage after frightening away the robbers, what might
happen if the Bremen Town musicians actually moved to Bremen Town and got a recording
contract?
Suppose the elves refused to make shoes for the shoemaker.
Imagine that Sleeping Beauty awoke early, without a prince's kiss.
Snow White accidentally breaks the magic mirror. What happens next?
The queen never guesses Rumpelstiltskin's name. How does she ultimately foil his plans?
Suppose no one EVER told the emperor about his lack of clothing!
Instead of the little mermaid becoming a human girl, the prince agreed to become a sea
creature. How does this change the story?
Instead of a pea, the princess slept on rocks!
Which fairy tale or children’s story will you revise? __________________________________________
How do you plan to fracture your fairy tale? Briefly explain. ___________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________