A Collection of Poems, Short Stories and Drama !

Once, there was a miller who was very poor and very boastful. He had a beautiful daughter named Lisa. The miller lied to the King about Lisa who could turn straw into gold. The King demanded Lisa to turn the straw into gold in three days or else she would be sentenced to death. Then, a stranger was known as Rumpelstiltskin who spun the straw into gold and in return Lisa gave him her necklace and ring. The King became so greedy and wanted more gold.  As Lisa was sitting sadly on the floor, Rumpelstiltskin appeared for the third time and offered his last help to Lisa. In return, Lisa had nothing to reward him. Rumpelstiltskin spun the straw into gold and for a promise Lisa would give her first-born child to him after she became a queen. After a year, the King and Lisa had a baby son. Rumpelstiltskin returned to claim his reward. The queen was frightened and offered him all the wealth she had if she could keep the child. Rumpelstiltskin refused and finally agreed to give up his claim to the child if the queen could guess his name in three days. At first she failed, but before the final night, her parents followed Rumpelstiltskin to the woods and they overheard him singing. While he was singing and hopping around the fire, they discovered his name as Rumpelstiltskin. When the dwarf came to the queen on the third day and she revealed his name, Rumpelstiltskin lost his bargain. 

Plot

(Introduction)

Exposition

This is first stage of a fictional or dramatic plot, in which necessary background information is provided. It introduces characters, scene, time, and situation.

It happened when, 

The King visits a cottage. The cottage belongs to Lisa’s parents. The King was lured by the smell of freshly baked apple pie. Lisa’s parents praised Lisa in an attempt to make the King marry their daughter. They tell the King that she bakes the best pies in the world. To impress the King further, they also tell the King that Lisa can spin straw into gold. The King brings her to his palace and asks her to turn straw into gold. If she fails she will be beheaded.

(Action starts)

Rising Action

This is a set of conflicts and crises that constitute the part of a story’s plot leading up to the climax.

It happened when,

Lisa sits and cries in the high tower. Then she hears scratching noise. A strange little man appears and promises to spin the straw into gold in exchange of her necklace. The King was impressed and takes her to another bigger room filled with straw. The King asks her to turn the straw into gold. If she fails she will be beheaded. That night the strange little man appeared again and promises to spin the straw into gold in exchange for her ring. The King was impressed and takes her to another bigger room filled with straw. This time he promises to marry her. Lisa has nothing else to offer to the little man. Her parents advised her to give whatever he asks for. That night, when the strange little man appeared, she promises her first born child.

(Climax)

This is the turning point of the action in the plot of a story. The climax represents the point of greatest tension in the work.

It happened when, 

A year passed. Lisa is the queen and she has a baby boy. The strange little man suddenly appears and reminds her of her promise. Lisa pleaded to the little man not to take her baby away as she is willing to give him all her money. The little man refuses but finally agrees to give her three days to guess his name. She fails to guess his name on the first and second day. Lisa’s parents follow the little man and find out his name.

(Falling Action)

In the plot of a story, the action following the climax of the work that moves it towards its denouement or resolution.

It happened when, 

 On the third day, the little man comes to the nursery. Lisa guesses his name as “Rumpelstiltskin”. The strange little man gets angry and stamps his feet hard on the floor and disappears in a puff of smoke.

(Resolution)

The ending of the story, the final stage or unraveling of the plot; usually very brief. Here the tension is over, and unanswered questions may be explained. The resolution is reached following a major crisis and climax.

It happened when,

Lisa’s baby boy is now safe. Lisa’s parents promises that they will never boast again.

Themes

Telling lies

When people lie they are often trapped by their own deceit. In this story, claiming to be able to weave gold from straw got Lisa the attention of the king but also got her locked in a dungeon with a haystack and a spinning wheel. 

Using one’s survival skills

Persistence pays off in the long run and to never give up. Lisa tried her best to find the answer to the strange man’s riddle. She did not give up.

Setting

 Place: 

• ·  Cottage where Lisa lives with her parents.
• ·  Castle where the King lives
• ·   Nursery where Queen Lisa looked after the baby and where the strange little man appeared.
• ·  Woods where the strange little man lives.

Time:

• ·  Medieval Times
• ·  The story is set at a time when people talked about magical creatures.

Main Characters

Lisa: She is a young, sweet girl. She lives with her parents in a cottage. She loves to do household chores such as baking. She is very obedient as she listens to her parents.

Rumpelstiltskin: A strange little man. He has magical powers. He is able to help Lisa by spinning the straw into gold. He likes riddles. Rumpelstiltskin is a fairy tale character, not a real person. 

The King: He is an opportunist. He uses Lisa to get him gold. He is rather cruel as he keep Lisa alone in a tower and he threatens to kill her if she cannot spin the straw into gold. However he is very gullible as he believes that straw can be turned into gold.

Lisa’s Father: He is rather foolish as he goes to far to boast about his daughter. He is also greedy as he is willing to sacrifice Lisa’s life in order to get wealth. He was remorseful when he promised Lisa that he will not make the same mistake. Nevertheless, he is a loving father as he tries to solve the riddle for Lisa.

Lisa’s Mother: She is very proud of her daughter. She is a kind-hearted as she invites the King into her house and offers food. She is rather silly as she agrees with her husband that Lisa can spin straw into gold. She is also remorseful and promised never to boast again. It cannot be denied that she is a loving mother as she helps Lisa to solve the riddle.

 Video source : Youtube (Rumpelstiltskin)