Ferradiddledumday: An Appalachian Version of Rumpelstiltskin by Becky Mushko; Bruce Rae - A Book for All Ages
Ferradiddledumday: An Appalachian Version of Rumpelstiltskin by Becky Mushko; Bruce Rae Download bo
Ferradiddledumday is a retelling of the classic fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin with an Appalachian twist. It is a story of magic, greed, love, and luck set in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In this article, we will explore what makes this book a unique and enjoyable read for children and adults alike.
Ferradiddledumday : an Appalachian version of Rumpelstiltskin by Becky Mushko; Bruce Rae Download bo
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The story of Ferradiddledumday
The story follows Gillie, a young girl who lives with her father Jeptha, a miller who likes to boast about his daughter's talents. One day, he tells the king Zebulon that Gillie can spin straw into gold. The king is intrigued and decides to test Gillie's skill. He takes her to a room full of straw and tells her to spin it into gold by morning or else he will chop off her head.
Gillie is terrified and doesn't know what to do. She starts to cry when a strange little man appears out of nowhere. He introduces himself as Ferradiddledumday and offers to help her in exchange for something. Gillie agrees to give him her necklace if he spins the straw into gold. Ferradiddledumday accepts and does the job.
The next day, the king is amazed by the gold and takes Gillie to another room with more straw. He tells her to repeat the feat or else he will kill her. Gillie is again helpless and cries until Ferradiddledumday shows up again. He asks for something else in return for his help. Gillie gives him her ring this time. Ferradiddledumday spins the straw into gold once more.
The third day, the king takes Gillie to an even bigger room with more straw. He tells her that if she succeeds again, he will marry her and make her his queen. Gillie is not sure if she wants to marry the greedy king, but she has no choice. She cries again and Ferradiddledumday appears for the last time. He says that he will help her only if she promises to give him her firstborn child. Gillie is shocked and reluctant, but she thinks that she will never see him again. She agrees to his demand and Ferradiddledumday spins the straw into gold.
The king is overjoyed and marries Gillie. They live happily for a while until Gillie gives birth to a baby boy. Ferradiddledumday comes back and claims his reward. Gillie begs him to let her keep her child, but he refuses. He says that he will only spare the child if she can guess his name in three days. He gives her a clue: it rhymes with "someday".
Gillie tries to think of all the possible names that rhyme with "someday", but none of them are correct. She asks her friends and neighbors for help, but they don't know either. She is desperate and hopeless until she overhears Ferradiddledumday singing a song in the woods. He reveals his name in the song and Gillie memorizes it.
On the third day, Ferradiddledumday comes to take the child away. He asks Gillie if she knows his name. She pretends to guess wrong at first, but then she says his name correctly: Ferradiddledumday. He is furious and stomps his foot so hard that he falls into a hole and disappears. Gillie is relieved and happy. She hugs her child and thanks her luck for saving her.
The characters of Ferradiddledumday
The characters of Ferradiddledumday are based on the original characters of Rumpelstiltskin, but they have their own personalities and traits that reflect the Appalachian culture and dialect. Here are some of the main characters and their roles in the story:
Gillie
Gillie is the heroine of the story. She is a kind, brave, and clever girl who loves to spin yarn and weave cloth. She is loyal to her father, even though he puts her in danger with his lies. She is not interested in wealth or power, but in happiness and freedom. She is resourceful and smart, as she manages to trick Ferradiddledumday and keep her child.
Ferradiddledumday
Ferradiddledumday is the trickster of the story. He is a mysterious and magical creature who can spin straw into gold. He is greedy and cunning, as he makes deals with Gillie that seem to be in her favor, but are actually traps. He is also arrogant and careless, as he reveals his name in a song and loses his bet.
Jeptha
Jeptha is Gillie's father and the miller of the town. He is a proud and boastful man who likes to exaggerate his daughter's abilities. He is also selfish and cowardly, as he doesn't care about Gillie's safety or happiness, but only about his own reputation and wealth. He doesn't help Gillie when she needs him, but leaves her alone with her problems.
Zebulon
Zebulon is the king of the land and Gillie's husband. He is a greedy and ruthless man who wants more gold than he can spend. He is also cruel and heartless, as he threatens to kill Gillie if she fails to spin straw into gold. He doesn't love Gillie for who she is, but for what she can do for him.
The setting of Ferradiddledumday
The setting of Ferradiddledumday is the Appalachian region of the United States, specifically the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The author, Becky Mushko, uses vivid descriptions and authentic details to portray the natural beauty and cultural richness of this area. She uses words like "sassafras", "paw-paw", "poke salad", "corn pone", "moonshine", "fiddle", "banjo", "hoe-down", "yonder", "reckon", "fixin'", "holler", "kinfolk", "critter", "varmint", "tarnation", "daggone", "ornery", "cuss", "spit", "haint", "booger", etc., to create a realistic and colorful atmosphere.
The setting also reflects the historical background of the story, which takes place in the late 1800s or early 1900s, when Appalachia was still largely rural and isolated from the rest of the country. The people 71b2f0854b