Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 20:15:56 -0600 (CST)
From: Marie Buga <mbuga-AT-rpl.regina.sk.ca>
Subject: Re: PUPT: Rumplestilskin and Abracadabra


I work in a children's library and we recently did a puppet show of
Rumplestilskin following the traditional storyline as it appears in a
number of versions, including the Brothers Grimm I don't know where you
got your plot line or that business of saying his name backwards. It's a
potent story that (I assume) has to do with the transfer of wealth from
the ascendent mercantile class to the impoverished royalty - through marriage (much like
American heiresses in the 19th century married into the British aristocracy)
Have a look for it in your nearest Children's Library and also an
interesting American variant Tucker Pfeffercorn.And there's a British
version that relies for its humour on the local dialect for its humour and
the confusion that leads to the King's expectation that the dimbulb
daughter can spin straw into gold. Too arcane for children, alas. Also
check out a story by William Steig (the original Shrek) called a handful
of beans.
 On Wed, 13 Aug 2003, Mathieu wrote:

> Hi Dave and all.
>
> >never understood just who Rumplestiltskin was...
> >always thought he was analogous with the Devil...
>
>
> Rumplestilskin was a sort of magical sneaky small man with special talents.
> He once helped a young maiden who was asked to do impossible tasks , like
> spool gold thread out of straw, and then to make a coat out of that gold
> thread, in exchange for her first born. Since she was so intent on saving
> her life now, she accepted the deal.
>
> He may not be the devil, but he may know him, because when she finally says
> his name:
>
> "THE DEVIL TOLD YOU! THE DEVIL TOLD YOU!"  and disappears in some way or
> another (like ripping himslef in two) that last bit if from the Brother's
> Grimm
>
>
> funny fact: I once read a french version who named him Grigrigredinmenufretin,
> which include the words:
> grigri: voodoo name for a talisman,
> gredin: wrongdoer
> menu fretin: fish so small you just put them back in the water
>  ---------------------
>
> Abracadabra:
> from ancient Hebrew, dates back before Christianity.
> Abrec adabra I think.
> Was a powerful magical incantation, still used today by some mystics.
> Powerful in which it calls upon the life powers of the sun, among others.
> My memory of this is very faint.
>
>
>
>
> >never understood just who Rumplestiltskin was...
> >always thought he was analogous with the Devil...
> >
> >they got rid of him by saying his name backwards...
> >nikst lit selp mur
> >niks tlits el pmur   something like that...
> >
> >this is a common scheme...
> >
> >"abracadarba" for example is a "magic word" by virtue of the fact that
> >it is a palindrome, reading the same frontward and backwards
> >(yes it's often slurred into abraca dabra rather than darba; that's perhaps
> >why it doesn't always work?)
> >
> >waiting for Michael the Archangel to REALLY finish him off  :  )
> >David Youngdahl
> >daveyoungdahl-AT-earthlink.net
> >
> >
> >
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>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> Mathieu RENE
> CREATURISTE
> Marionnettes, masques, ateliers créatifs pour tous, etc.
> Puppets, Masks,  creative workshops for all, etc.
>
> Toujours à l'affut de nouvelles opportunités!
> Always seeking new opportunities!
> http://www.magma.ca/~uubald
> http://www.magma.ca/~uubald/ilo.html (+recent contrat)
> uubald-AT-magma.ca
> Montreal, Canada
> (514) 725 - 5821
> ----------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
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