Robert Rubinstein´s Writings & Ideas

HOW TO LEARN A TALE TO TELL

by Robert Rubinstein

(This material has been excerpted from CURTAINS UP! THEATRE GAMES & STORYTELLING, authored by Robert Rubinstein and published by Fulcrum Publishing, Colorado. This nationally-reviewed book contains over 100 activities to improve speaking skills, enhance curriculum, promote family interaction and learn the art of storytelling.)

It´s easy to learn to tell a tale - and share it with others.

To learn a folktale, find a good folktale anthology or collection in the 398 section of the library. Joanna Cole's FOLKTALES TOLD AROUND THE WORLD, or Jane Yolen's FAVORITE FOLKTALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD are excellent collections.

Choose a tale you like and want to share with others.

The tale should only be two - four pages in length.

Read the story through THREE times:

A. On the first read: focus on the action of the story - the order of the action;

B. On the second read: pay attention to each of the main characters - what does each look l like, how does each speak and act;

C. On the third read: concentrate on the scene detail - what does each place - scene - in the story look like, feel like, colors, smells, sounds.

Close the book and tell the story out loud to yourself - or to a friend.

Don't stop your telling no matter how much you forget. It's important that you finish the story, get through it to the end.

Then, re-read the story to find out some of the detail you may have left out. Tell the tale again.

It's okay if you add or change parts of a folk- story. That's what happens with retellings: the story stays alive and changes all the time.

In about a half-hour, you will have a tale to tell.

*** Remember to mention the source for your story.

A Story to Learn

"The Sun, the Moon and the Water"

Let´s tell the Nigerian story of "The Sun, the Moon and the Water:"

Once, at the beginning of the world, the Sun and the Moon and the water lived on the earth -- and they were very good friends. Why each day the Sun and the Moon would come to visit the water. The Water would swirl and wave and dance for its two friends. They had a good time together.

However, one day, the Sun said, "We come every day to visit you, Water, but why don't you ever come to visit us at our home?"

The water gurgled and dripped. "It's simply because you have no place for me and all of my family: the oceans -- the rivers -- the lakes -- the ponds -- and the rain falling from the sky."

"We can solve that," said the Moon. "We´ll dig a huge, huge hole and then all of you can come to visit."

So, that´s what the Sun and the Moon did. They dug a huge, huge, HUGE hole. When they had finished digging, they invited the Water to come for its visit.

And the water came, rushing and flowing and gurgling, with all of its family: the oceans -- the rivers -- the lakes -- the ponds -- and the rain falling from the sky.

The water and its family stopped at the edge of the hole and asked politely, "May we enter?"

The Sun said, "Why, yes. Come ahead. That's why we built this huge hole -- just for your visit."

And the Water did just that. It poured and poured and poured into that hole until the hole was half-filled. And it stopped.

"Would you still like us to enter?"

The Sun looked at the Moon, and they both nodded "Yes"

So, the Water poured and poured and poured into that hole until the hole was completely filled, right up to the top!

And again the Water asked, "Do you still want us to enter?"

The Sun said, "Well, why not? There can´t be that much more of you."

And again the Water poured and poured and poured on to the land -- until the Sun and the Moon were forced to quickly climb to the roof of their house. The Sun and the Moon sat there looking down at all the water.

"Shall we still enter?" asked the Water one last time.

Well, by this time the Sun was VERY angry and VERY foolish, and said, "Certainly, you can come in. There can´t be much more of you now, can there?"

And so the Water and all of its family poured and poured and poured and POURED on to the land, swallowing up the house of the Sun and the Moon.

The Sun and the Moon were forced to climb all the way up into the sky. That's where they are today and that's how they got there.

We can learn this story in a series of steps with a quick review of the order of what happened. Remember: we're learning the story, not memorizing word-for-word.

1st the Sun, Moon and Water lived on the Earth -- and were friends

2nd the Sun and Moon came to visit the Water, but the Water never came to visit the Sun and Moon

3rd the Sun and Moon decide to dig a huge hole so the Water can visit

4th the Water comes and asks to enter = fills the hole half-way

5th the Water fills the hole all the way

6th the Water keeps pouring -- the Sun and Moon climb to the roof of their house

7th the Sun, angry and foolish, tells the Water it can still enter

8th the Sun and the Moon are forced to climb into the sky -- where they are today

That´s the story! Now, close your eyes and tell it out loud to yourself -- or open your eyes and tell it to someone else.

After you tell it through to the end of the story, no matter how much you think you have or have not left out, read the story over and focus on what you did skip over . . . then tell it again.

Within a half-hour or less, you should have a story to share with others.