Carol Knarr - Storyteller and Drama Specialist

 

Following a performance at Peabody Retirement Home, North Manchester, Indiana, it was mentioned that I should tell a few more jokes. That individual was well-meaning and did not intend to stir the storytelling pot of whether jokes can be told as stories. Many a storyteller has had heated discussions about the differences between stories and jokes not to mention the differences between storytelling and stand-up comedy. To add jokes to my repertoire would be damaging to my purist image as a teller!

 

However, the suggestion was a good one and I found a lovely joke I’ve turned into a trickster tale.

 

St. Patrick is given credit for ridding Ireland of snakes. This story is about that very last snake, more of a serpent really, that refused to leave.

 

St. Patrick, exhausted from his efforts, looked at that last snake lounging in the sun wonderingt how he was going to find a way to get it off the island. Then he thought of a plan.

 

“You are a mighty big snake, too big to fit in this little box. I guess I’m going to have to lose the bet.”

 

The snake looked at St. Patrick and looked at the box. “I could fit in it, if it would help you win a bet, Patrick.”

 

“You’ll have to show me then, for I do not think it can be done.”

 

The snake coiled himself tightly until every bit of him fit into that box. St. Patrick nailed the lid on and tossed him out in the water. That is how St. Patrick was able to trick all of the snakes out of Ireland. Some say he threw that box so far it landed in Loc Ness!