Carol Knarr - Storyteller and Drama Specialist

 

One of my favorites is The Lion and the Mouse. In short, a little mouse runs into a lion that is determined to eat her. The mouse promises to help lion if allowed to live. The idea of a little mouse helping the king of the forest causes lion to laugh so hard he drops the mouse who runs to safety. The next day, the lion is caught in a rope trap. Mouse hears his cries for help and gnaws at the ropes insuring his freedom. Lion learns that even the small can help the strong.

 

I have used puppets, straight telling, as well as full group participation to tell this story. It is so fun to have a room full of children roar and laugh like a lion then nibble, nibble, nibble at the rope as mouse. I have told the story many ways, adjusting the language for various age groups, but always keeping the moral the same. Even adults enjoy fables. The stories feel familiar.

 

Many have asked me if it is okay to change the words of a story. It isn’t always, and this is not the place for a lecture about copyright laws, but Aesop’s Fables are public domain. I protect the structure of the story keeping the moral the same, although oftentimes paraphrased. The language itself may need to be changed to be understood and enjoyed by your audience. Most importantly, create a story that is fun to tell. When you enjoy telling a story, the joy is infectious.

 

McGovern, Ann. Aesop’s Fables. New York: Scholastic, 1963.