Page:A Study of Fairy Tales.djvu/100

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76
A STUDY OF FAIRY TALES

Having observed the general characteristics of the narrative contained in the plot, let us examine the structure of a few tales to see: What is the main theme of the plot and how it works itself out; what are the large, leading episodes, and how they culminate in the climax; and what is the conclusion, and how closely it follows the climax.

The Story of Three Pigs
I. Introduction. Time. Place. Characters: Mother and Three Pigs. Mother gone.
II. Rise.
1. First Pig's venture with a man with a load of straw.
  Builds a straw house. (Wolf enters.)
  Wolf comes and destroys him.
2. Second Pig's venture with a man with a load of furze.
  Builds a furze house.
  Wolf comes and destroys him.
3. Third Pig's venture with a man with a load of bricks.
  Builds a brick house.
  Wolf comes. (Climax.)
III. Conclusion. Third Pig outwits the Wolf.
  At the turnip-field in Mr. Smith's home-field.
  At the apple tree in Merry-Garden.
  At the fair at Shanklin.
  At his own brick house.

Evidently the climax here is when the Wolf comes to the third Pig's brick house. After that things take a turn; and the final test of strength and cleverness comes at the very end of the tale, at Little Pig's brick house.