Reading Notes: Nigerian Folk Stories, Part B

Notes: Nigerian Folk Stories B

(Lightning by Creative Commons)

Focus on The Lightning and the Thunder

Characters:

Lightning: Thunder's child. In this story, the lightning is a ram. He has a very bad temper and when he is angry he destroys things, burns things, and even kills people. I would challenge finding a way to make this character do good or develop into good.

Thunder: Lightning's mom. In this story, thunder is represented by a mother sheep. She tries her hardest to protect others by telling her child no. She would use a very loud voice.

King: The king attempted to keep peace in the town by putting them far on the edge of town. When that failed, he put them in the sky.

Changes I would like to make/ideas:

Adding Rain

• There are three main characters: Lightning, Thunder, and Rain. 
• Rain is very emotional and gets scared of Lightning?

OR

Story set when Lightning was just a baby. Possibly change the animals.

• Would be told from the King's perspective
• Why things were burning down?
• Interviewing several people in hopes to find an answer?
• Questioning characters like snow, rain, and cloud.
• Finally figure out it was Lightning and warning Thunder about him
• Lighting and Thunder could be birds instead of a sheep and a ram

Point of View:

• A letter from Thunder to her mom (cloud?) for advice 
• Point of view of the King
• Why Lightnings gets so upset (in the mind of Lightning)
• Detective interview

General notes:

Start of story was a once upon a time type. It was "IN the olden days,..."

Middle is slightly repetitive, but gives a brief run down of why thunder and lightning are in the sky.

The ending of the story is an explanation of why thunder and lightning are the way they are today. 


Bibliography: 

Nigerian Folk Stories Part B by Elphinstone Dayrell . Website: Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook