Reading Notes: How the Rabbit Killed the Giant, Part B

For Part B this week I finished reading the Great Plains unit stories and focused on the story titled How the Rabbit Killed the Giant. This story is from Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson. I enjoyed this story because the rabbit kills the giant and basically saves the whole town. A creature so small takes initiative to save everyone else.

The thing that I did not like about this story was the way that the rabbit killed the giant. The rabbit had an insect bite the giant, making him sick and he later died. Technically, the insect saved the town but they recognized the rabbit. If I were to change the story I would have the rabbit stab the giant when the giant attempts to steal the deer, and that way it seems more heroic and dramatic than a simple insect bite.

Another thing I could do, is have the rabbit kill the giant when he goes to have a feast with him in the beginning. I would change the plot to where that happens last though. The other animals are tired of sharing their food and going hungry so when the rabbit arrives he is the only one who is strong enough to defeat the giant. They ask him to do it, and he is more than willing.

I may also change the character of the rabbit. I could stick with the insect being the main character and killing the giant by biting him. Or, I could use an entirely new character. The way that the character kills the giant, somewhat reminds me of the biblical story of David and Goliath. I could try to incorporate that into the story also.

One last idea I had was telling the story from the Giant's perspective. Maybe making it easier to see why the giant does the things he does, whether it is wrong or right.

The Giant

Source: Wikipedia