Storybook Plan

The Valkyrie Storybook

Cover of The Rhinegold and The Valkyrie by Wagner

Source

I am going to be basing my storybook off of Richard Wagner's "The Valkyrie," a three-act opera in a four-part series. My storybook will have an introduction, and three parts, based on each act. Here is a summary of each part:

The first act consists of Siegmund running from enemies during a storm and finding shelter in Sieglinde and Hunding's home. It turns out Hunding is one of his pursuers and he says he can stay but they must fight in the morning. Siegmund is unarmed but Sieglinde reveals a sword that was left in the tree trunk for the man that would save her, and Siegmund is able to remove it. She then reveals that she is his sister but they also declare their passionate love for each other as the act ends.

In the second act, the twins father Wotan tells his Valkyrie daughter Brunnhilde to protect Siegmund during his fight, but the goddess Fricka demands that they be punished for their adultery and incest. After arguing over it, he agrees and tells Brunnhilde to let Hunding win. Brunnhilde tries to tell Siegmund that he will not win the fight and he refuses to go to Valhalla with her because Sieglinde can't come. So, Brunnhilde defies her father's wishes and tries to help him win but Wotan shows up and lets Hunding win. Brunnhilde rides away with Sieglinde and Wotan kills Hunding, swearing that Brunnhilde will be punished for her defiance.

In the third act, Brunnhilde tells Sieglinde she is pregnant with Siegmund's child and urges her not to take her life for the child's sake. She then sends her away with the shattered sword, and Wotan shows up to punish her. She convinces him to put her into a deep sleep and lay her atop a mountain, surrounded by fire and she will only awake when the bravest of heroes goes through the fire and saves her.

Because of the way this story is structured, in three parts, my storybook will be an overarching story in three parts. There will also be an introduction to explain what comes before The Valkyrie so readers have a good idea of what the previous action/storyline has been.

When I first submitted my storybook ideas, I was thinking that I would do a modern retelling. However, I have been trying to get inspired in a way to do this and haven't been successful. So, I think in my retelling I will just change a few things. I am a big sucker for happier endings, so I've been thinking I will let Siegmund live, while still keeping Brunnhilde's punishment in the story. I also am thinking about removing the incest part of the story. But I have to think of what would constitute Wotan letting Siegmund die.

As far as the message or experience I want to get across to the readers, I'm not entirely sure yet. I feel like I need to do more research to understand Wagner's source material and to understand what the message Wagner was intending for the viewers/readers of his opera.

Sources:  The Valkyrie on Freebookapalooza , the Wikipedia page

Topic Research: The Valkyrie

“Siegmund, Sieglinde and Hunding”

Painting, c. 1895, by Ferdinand Leeke

Source

For this storybook I would do my retellings to go along with the acts of the opera, which there are three of.

The first act consists of Siegmund running from enemies during a storm and finding shelter in Sieglinde and Hunding's home. It turns out Hunding is one of his pursuers and he says he can stay but they must fight in the morning. Siegmund is unarmed but Sieglinde reveals a sword that was left in the tree trunk for the man that would save her, and Siegmund is able to remove it. She then reveals that she is his sister but they also declare their passionate love for each other as the act ends.

In the second act, the twins father Wotan tells his Valkyrie daughter Brunnhilde to protect Siegmund during his fight, but the goddess Fricka demands that they be punished for their adultery and incest. After arguing over it, he agrees and tells Brunnhilde to let Hunding win. Brunnhilde tries to tell Siegmund that he will not win the fight and he refuses to go to Valhalla with her because Sieglinde can't come. So, Brunnhilde defies her father's wishes and tries to help him win but Wotan shows up and lets Hunding win. Brunnhilde rides away with Sieglinde and Wotan kills Hunding, swearing that Brunnhilde will be punished for her defiance.

In the third act, Brunnhilde tells Sieglinde she is pregnant with Siegmund's child and urges her not to take her life for the child's sake. She then sends her away with the shattered sword, and Wotan shows up to punish her. She convinces him to put her into a deep sleep and lay her atop a mountain, surrounded by fire and she will only awake when the bravest of heroes goes through the fire and saves her.

Sources: The Valkyrie on Freebookapalooza , the Wikipedia page

Topic Brainstorm

Arthur Rackham "WAGNER'S RING CYCLE: The Valkyrie" (1910)

From https://www.flickr.com/photos/eoskins/14912417547

Idea 1: Storybook on The Valkyrie by Wagner

I'm interested in this topic because I honestly find it to be a really interesting storyline. Freshman year I took Understanding Music and we watched the opera for the class and so I have a decent prior knowledge of the story, though it has been two years. I know that the basic story here is of the two twins falling in love and the goddess Fricka believes they must be punished for their incest, so she convinces their father to remove his protection. His daughter then defies this and tries to save the boy twin, but the father shows up and lets him die and then punishes his daughter by putting her in a sleep on a mountain. I would love to learn more about what inspired Wagner to write this story. I'm not quite sure how my retelling would go, but because I really enjoy modern retellings I would try to do that.

Idea 2: Hans Christian Andersen stories

I'm interested in this topic because I've always loved The Little Mermaid, and know of other stories by Andersen such as The Princess and the Pea and The Emperor's New Clothes. Most of my knowledge comes from TLM Disney movie, and from other adaptations of the other stories. I would love to learn more about why Andersen wrote the stories he did, especially the most famous ones and how they were received at the time. I think I would either retell these stories with different endings, or do a modern retelling of three stories that fit into one overall story.

Idea 3: Greek Mythology

I'm interested in this topic because I have always been interested in Greek mythology and reading/watching different adaptations of the stories. I think the Greek gods and goddesses are some of the most interesting. As far as prior knowledge goes, I've definitely been exposed to these stories a lot already, but I know I have a lot to learn as well. I would love to learn when these myths began and what spurred them, and what real people did to try and appease the gods. If I did a storybook with retellings of Greek myths, I would definitely focus on the drama of it all. I saw a lot of storybooks that gave it a high school setting, which I think is a good idea but I do want to see if I can come up with something more original.

Idea 4: Alice in Wonderland gender-swap

My last idea is to retell some of the most pivotal moments of "Alice in Wonderland" but to do a gender-swap of Alice, and perhaps some of the other main characters. I'm interested in this because I've always loved Alice in Wonderland, though I admittedly have never actually read the book. I would love to use this opportunity to read the classic novel and learn how different it is from the movies I've seen.