Reading Notes: Jewish Fairy Tales, B

Reading Notes

In Reading B of the Jewish Fairy Tale unit I was really interested in the story the Higgledy-Piggledy Palace. As I stated in my last reading notes blog, Reading Notes, Jewish Fairy Tales (A), I grew up in a Christian household and was taught many Biblical stories both at home and in church. In fact, I was named after the biblical character, Sarah, who is considered to be the mother of the Jews and is the wife of Abraham. The Sarah and Abraham story I am familiar with is the story of how Sarah was very old and prayed for a child and finally was blessed with a child in her old age because of her faith and patience. In the story the Higgledy-Piggledy Palace, Sarah was young and so beautiful that she needed to be hidden from the Egyptians, but was found and taken to the Pharaoh anyways. I was impressed with the in depth details of Sarah's beauty and I would try to include this if I were to retell this story. Also, if I were to retell this story I would really enjoy telling it from the perspective of Sarah. Both in the biblical version and this version the story was written without her personal thoughts and feelings throughout the stories entirety so I think it would be fun to give Sarah a voice. Another aspect of the story I would change is some of the word choices, such as using the term spirit to the supernatural being that helps Sarah. In my opinion, since Sarah is praying to God for help it would be more clear for the spirit to be an angel of God.  I am really excited to retell this story from a new perspective and am thrilled that there is a story about the biblical Sarah.

(Biblical Sarah, Credit to Jim Padgett)

Bibliography

Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa