Story notes for Year 4 by Phil McDermott

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This collection of stories on DVD provide rich content for use in Year 4. The units listed beside each story are simply guides on how they can be used with the Narrative Units of the Renewed Framework.

Po Wan and Kwan Yin. Units 1, 3, 4

Po Wan has a question to ask the great goddess Kwan Yin but she lives far away. On his long journey he is helped by a number of strangers, but in return each one of them begs him to ask the goddess a question for them. When he finally arrives, the goddess will only answer less questions than he has. It seems his quest is doomed.

This delightful quest story from China has many of the iconic Chinese story elements; merchants, proto-dragons, goddesses and magic. It is the innate honesty and decency of the main character however that leads to a successful conclusion to the quest. But in all quest stories, it is that fantastic journey and the adventures on the way that make it most satisfying.

Granddad and the Laundry Basket. Unit 4

Granddad is coming to stay. But he takes up too much room and drops things on the floor. If he behaves like a dog he should be treated like a dog. The parents hatch a terrifying plan. Granddad has got to go.

Originally from India this moving tale holds a mirror up to our modern society and the treatment of our seniors. The cruelty to the old man often has children aghast, and like the boy, they find themselves powerless in the face of such injustice. The Storyspinner has added the epilogue to show that there are no goodies or baddies here only people under pressure that can redeem themselves.

I Know A Man. Units 2, 3, 4

When a snake overhears a princess talking he grows jealous and eats her. Her father calls on everyone he can to get her back. A succession of bizarre characters combine with the villagers to rescue her.

From Genesis to the North Indian tales of the Lamia, the poor humble snake is maligned throughout the world of story. In this tale from West Africa he is a particularly malicious brute. The transformation of animals into humans is actually quite rare in story, bringing with it great powers. Unless undertaken by a god, transforming from human into animal is usually a punishment. The Storyspinner has modernised the characters here but whatever the cultural setting whether they be teenagers, concerned fathers or faithful friends, characters from the story world are always universal. As with most African tales, a measure of interaction in this story is to be encouraged.

Maschenka and the Bear. Units 1, 2, 3, 4

A vicious bear from the forest promises the little girl presents if she lets him inside the house. Her faithful cat warns her that the bear is a dangerous liar. She ignores him and unlocks the door.

This story from the Pueblo Indians of the United States with its talking animals and its warnings, reflects many European stories. Native Americans however do not have the prejudice against wolves when there are a variety of dangerous bears about. Maschenka’s curiosity about both the bear and the presents is understandable but her greed and the lying to her parents is unacceptable. The tale foresees our modern concerns with consumerism where our societies attempt to give us everything we want but rarely what we need.

Theseus and the Minotaur. Units 1, 2, 3, 4

Greek children are being taken to Crete and sacrificed as food to a terrifying creature that lives under the ground in a labyrinth. Theseus the hero promises to save them, but even he needs help. His nerve tingling ordeal and daring escape leave him free to return home, but what he has not bargained for is that his behaviour will catch up with him.

This atmospheric story, more legend than myth, shows that heroic status is often undermined by human frailty. It is only when we get to the early Middle Ages that we come across heroes without flaws making the characters less rounded and less honest. The Greeks give us people whose heroic traits we can aspire to whilst also giving us a certain satisfaction in seeing them destroy themselves. The remarkable aspect to the tale is that four hours away from Gatwick we can walk around the scene of the action.

Girl and the Unicorn. Units 1, 2, 4

After she and her family have been ill treated by the lord of the castle, Rhiannon finds solace in the woods. There she meets and befriends a secretive young unicorn. When the lord finds out that there is a mythical creature in the woods that he can hunt down and kill, he gives Rhiannon a terrible choice, betray her new friend or see her father killed.

The merry Middle Ages were a time when the law was often at the whim of the powerful and the violent. This Welsh story portrays how the gentle and the kind can sometimes prevail. Traditionally unicorns can only be approached by girls and are the most beautiful and elegant of all fantastical creatures. This contrasts well with the reality of dungeon fire and sword. Finally the unicorn parents do what Rhiannon’s parents could not, protect their offspring.

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