Plots of the H&T tales

  The primary Source tale:

Opening

exposition

Characterizes H

  The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. 

H’s claim

exposition

Characterizes H

"I have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed.

The challenge

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from h’s pt of vw)

  I challenge any one here to race with me."

T’s response

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from t’s pt of vw)

  The Tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge."

H’s insult

motivation

H instults T (provides T with motivation for T to race)

  "That is a good joke," said the Hare; "I could dance round you all the way."

T’s response

motivation

T reprimands H (provides motivation for H to win the race)

  "Keep your boasting till you've beaten," answered the Tortoise.

challenge

provocation

Initiates the action

"Shall we race?"

Course prepared

Re-setting

Changes setting to race course

So a course was fixed

Race started

complication

Action starts

and a start was made.

H’s first move

complication

complication

The Hare darted almost out of sight at once

H stops

Turning point

Prelude to turning point

, but soon stopped

H naps

Turning point

Turning point of the race

and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap.

T’s move

denoument

T’s move initiates the denoument

The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on,

H wakes up

denoument

H’s move precipitates the denoument

and when the Hare awoke from his nap,

T at finish line

denoument

The denoument ends

he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-post

H realizes he lost

Resolution = Final situation

Resolution of the story

and could not run up in time to save the race.

T’s victory speech

epilogue

Epilogue (char in tales gives the moral)

Then said the Tortoise: "Plodding wins the race."

MORAL

 

The moral

"Plodding wins the race."

 

 

Angela McAllister

 

Opening

exposition

Characterizes H

 

H’s claim

exposition

Characterizes T

One day, Tortoise overheard Hare boasting to some rabbits.

            “I can run so fast, I leave the wind behind,” said Hare.

            The rabbits were amazed.

The challenge

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from h’s pt of vw)

“What nonsense,” said Tortoise, creeping out of the rhubarb, “I’ll give you a race.

T’s response

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from t’s pt of vw)

Hare peered down at Tortoise, “Short, slow people aren’t worth racing,” he said, and he leapt right over the rhubarb.

            The rabbits cheered.

H’s insult

motivation

H instults T (provides T with motivation for T to race)

Same as above

T’s response

motivation

T reprimands H (provides motivation for H to win the race)

Tortoise squinted up at Hare. “Think you can beat me, eh?”

challenge

provocation

Initiates the action

“Right,” said Hare.  “I’ll race you to the hedge and back.”

Course prepared

Re-setting

Changes setting to race course

“That’s not far enough,” said Tortoise.  “We’ll race down the lane, past the mill and across the meadow to the bridge.”

Race started

complication

Action starts

So, it was agreed.

H’s first move

complication

complication

Hare bounded off down the lane.  Tortoise started to creep along, slow but sure.

H stops

Turning point

Prelude to turning point

Hare soon reached the mill. In the miller’s garden he spied a row of carrots. “old wrinkly won’t be coming by for hours,” he said.  “I’ve got plenty of time for elevenses.”

            He helped himself to the juiciest carrot.

            Tortoise plodded down the lane.  He knew very well that Hare liked carrots more than anything …

            Hare enjoyed his meal, then continued on his way.

H naps

Turning point

Turning point of the race

The midday sun was hot.  When he reached the meadow he felt full and sleepy.

            “Old baggy-drawers will be miles behind,” he said, with a yawn.  “There’s plenty of time for a nap.”  He settled down in the shade of a tree and went to sleep.

T’s move

denoument

T’s move initiates the denoument

When he came to the meadow, Tortoise tiptoed silently past Hare.  Hare twitched an ear, then went on sleeping.  Tortoise was tired and hot, but he didn’t stop.  He just crwled along, slow but sure.

            All afternoon Tortoiese trudged on through the grass.

H wakes up

denoument

H’s move precipitates the denoument

Meanwhile, Hare dreamt he was leaping over the moon, while all the rabbits cheered.

            The cheering woke him up.

T at finish line

denoument

The denoument ends

            To his surpise, he saw the rabbits and other animals cheering loudly as Tortoise struggled towards the bridge.

            Hare realized he hadn’t a moment to lose.

            He bounded across the meadow—but was too late.

H realizes he lost

Resolution = Final situation

Resolution of the story

Tortoise lumbered on to the bridge and the race was won!

 

T’s victory speech

epilogue

Epilogue (char in tales gives the moral)

Tortoise was exhausted.  Hare felt a fool.

            “I see I am fast, but not very wise,” said Hare.  “I promise not to boast any more.”

            The rabbits cheered again.

            “Quite right,” said Tortoise, with a yawn.  “And now, how about carrying me home?  One of us champions needs a nap.!

MORAL

 

The moral

NOTE: It’s interesting that the traditional moral is repeated during the text but the ending moral is quite different.

 

Janet Stevens retelling

 

Opening

exposition

Characterizes H

Once upon a time, there was a tortoise and a hare

            Tortoise was friendly and quiet.  He did everything slowly.  Hare was flashy and rude.  He did everything quickly.

H’s claim

exposition

Characterizes T

            “But I could never beat you, Hare,” said Tortoise.

            “Yes, you could,” said Tortoise’s friends.  “All you need is a little help.”

The challenge

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from h’s pt of vw)

            One afternoon, Hare followed Tortoise to the store, the store will be closed,” he said.  “You’re so slow, I could beat you at a race, hopping backwards on one paw.”

T’s response

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from t’s pt of vw)

“But I could never beat you, Hare,” said Tortoise.

Tortoise pulled his head into his shell.

            “I don’t want to,” he said.

            “You’ve got to,” said his friends.  “You’ve put up with that nasty hare long enough.  We think you can win.”

H’s insult

motivation

H instults T (provides T with motivation for T to race)

Hare liked to tease Tortoise about being so slow.

            When Tortoise ate breakfast, Hare said, “By the Time you finish your last bite, it will be dinnertime.

            When Tortoise worked in his garden, Hare said, “By the time you pick those spring flowers, it will be winter.”

T’s response

motivation

T reprimands H (provides motivation for H to win the race)

Tortoise didn’t want to disappoint his friends, so he finally agreed to race against Hare.

challenge

provocation

Initiates the action

“Then you will race me, Tortoise?” asked the Hare.

Course prepared

Re-setting

Changes setting to race course

Tortoise only had two-and-a-half weeks to get in shape before the big race.  Rooster helped him out at the gym.  Racoon cooked him healthy meals. Frog went jogging with him every morning.  By the day of the race, Tortoise was ready.

Race started

complication

Action starts

Animals from all over the county came to watch the tortoise and the hare.

            Rooster read aloud the rules and described the course.

            “Attention, everyone.  The race will begin when I sound this gong.  The six-mile course is marked by red flags.  The first one to reach the finish line wins.  Runners, take you mark, get set. GO!! Raccoon sound the gong.

H’s first move

complication

complication

Hare bolted out of sight before Tortoise had taken his first step.  [The crowd roared and cheered as Tortoise inched forward.]

H stops

Turning point

Prelude to turning point

Hare was so far ahead that he decided to stop at Bear’s house for something cool to drink.

            Hare rested and sipped lemonade.  Bear noticed something moving outside the window.  “Hare, there goes Tortoise.”

            “What?” yelled Hare, running out the door.

            Hare passed Tortoise for the second time.  Then he decided to stop at Mouse’s house for a snack.

            As Hare munched on crackers and cheese, Mouse yelled, “is that Tortoise I see out the window?”

            “I’m not worried about that slowpoke,” said Hare.  “I’ve passed him twice already.”  Then he finished his snack and hopped out the door.

H naps

Turning point

Turning point of the race

Hare passed Tortoise for a third time.  Now, he was far ahead.  He saw a pond and decided to stop and rest.  The snacks had made him sleepy.  He was so sure that he would win, he took a nap in the soft grass.  As he closed his eyes, he dreamed of victory.

T’s move

denoument

T’s move initiates the denoument

Suddenly, Hare woke up because the crowd was cheering. 

H wakes up

denoument

H’s move precipitates the denoument

Yay, Tortoise,” the crowd roared.

            Tortoise was two steps away from the finish line.

 

T at finish line

denoument

The denoument ends

“Slow down, you bowlegged reptile,” screamed Hare as he tried to catch up.

            But it was too late. 

 

H realizes he lost

Resolution = Final situation

Resolution of the story

Tortoise crossed the line just before the tornado of dust and fur that was Hare flew by.  Tortoise had won the race.  Hare couldn’t believe it.  That measly shell on legs had beaten him.

T’s victory speech

epilogue

Epilogue (char in tales gives the moral)

Tortoise smiled as his friends carried him on their shoulders.  He had learned an important lesson: HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE BRING REWARD.

 

MORAL

 

The moral

HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE BRING REWARD.

 

Oliver J. Corwin

 

Opening

exposition

Characterizes H

Although Tortoise and Hare had been best friends since they first met in school

H’s claim

exposition

Characterizes H

The challenge

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from h’s pt of vw)

Hare always teased Tortoise about being a super slowpoke.

T’s response

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from t’s pt of vw)

One day, deciding enough was enough,

H’s insult

motivation

H instults T (provides T with motivation for T to race)

 

T’s response

motivation

T reprimands H (provides motivation for H to win the race)

 

Challenge

provocation

Initiates the action

Tortoise challenged the Hare to race to the moon!

Course prepared

Re-setting

Changes setting to race course

Hare had a lot of money and bought an aerodynamic hyperspaceship of the latest design.

 

Tortoise, on the other hand, had no money.  He made a spaceship all on his own, using whatever parts he could find.

 

Hare’s spaceship was slick, shiny, and super-duper fast.

 

Tortoise’s spaceship was rink-dink and very, very slow.  Even Snail, who’s slower than slow, laughed at Tortoise.

Race started

complication

Action starts

When they were ready, their friend Squirrel, as loud as he could, began the starting countdown . . .

 

“10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-BLAST OFF!”

H’s first move

complication

complication

Hare’s spaceship engines rumbled like thunder.

 

Tortoise’s just rattled and buzzed.

 

Tortoise’s spaceship went putt, putt, putt.

 

VOOOSH!  Hare whizzed right by him.  “Woo-hoo, eat my dust!”  yelled Hare.

 

Hare’s spaceship nearly knocked some birds clear out of the sky!  “I’m fast, fast, fast!” said Hare.

Tortoise’s spaceship went putt, putt, putt.

H stops

Turning point

Prelude to turning point

“I’m so fast, I have all the time in the world!” said Hare to himself.  So he decided to make a few stops before going to the moon.

 

Hare quickly flew to the North Pole and went sledding with a polar bear.  “Woo-hoo!” yelled Hare.

 

Then Hare, even more quickly, flew to the African plains, where the sun is very, very hot, and played cards with a friendly rhinoceros.  “I wonder where that slowpoke Tortoise is right now?” said Hare.

 

Tortoise, super slow, but keeping on track, was already in the clouds.  Putt, putt, putt.

“Keep on going, spaceship, ol’ pal of mine!” said Tortoise.

 

Next, Hare soared to the rain forest, where he had a game of catch with a playful monkey.

 

Tortoise kept on track. Putt, putt, putt. 

 

Hare finally decided to fly up through the clouds.

VOOSH! WOOSH! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

H naps

Turning point

Turning point of the race

But he stopped to take a nap.  “I’m so fast, I have all the time in the world! Said Hare to himself.  And boy, did he really snore.

T’s move

denoument

T’s move initiates the denoument

Night came, and the stars lit the way.

 

Tortoise, super slow but keeping on track, was way past the clouds and had reached outer space.  He looked out at the stars and smiled.

H wakes up

denoument

H’s move precipitates the denoument

Hare finally woke up and set his controls for outer space!

VOOSH! WOOSH! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

 

Tortoise was look back at the tiny earth when he head a noise.  Was that Hare in the distance catching up?  Could it be?

 

Hare’s hyperwarp-drive, deluxe engines rumbled with the speed of one thousand horses.

VOOSH! WOOSH! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

Hare could see the moon.  Hot dog!

 

Tortoise could also see the moon, getting closer and closer, bigger and bigger.  But Hare’s engine’s engines got louder and louder, louder and louder.

 

Then right before Hare pushed the special lever fo a super-speedy space travel langing, he heard …

RATTLE! TATTLE! CLANK! BANG!

T at finish line

denoument

The denoument ends

Tortoise’s landing gear!  Hare watched as Tortoise floated down through the bright light of the twinkling stars toward the surface of the glowing moon.

H realizes he lost

Resolution = Final situation

Resolution of the story

Touchdown!  A perfect landing.  Even though he was super slow, and putt-putted along, Tortoise never gave up.  He kept on track and finally won the race!

T’s victory speech

epilogue

Epilogue (char in tales gives the moral)

“Tortoise, you slowpoke, what are you doing here?” asked Hare after he landed last.

“Never mind that, Hare, you super-duper slowpoke,” said Tortoise.

“Use those hop-hopping feet and jump toward the stars with me.

We can jump six times higher on the moon!”

 

And being best friends, that is exactly what they did.

MORAL

 

The moral

Tortoise never gave up.  He kept on track and finally won the race!

 

Alvin Granowsky

 

Opening

exposition

Characterizes H

Once upon a time, there was a hare who could run very fast.  In fact, the hare ran so fast that he was just a blur as he dashed over the hills and through the trees.

H’s claim

exposition

Characterizes H

The hare like to boast about his speed.  “I am the fastest runner in all the land,” he would often say to the other animals. “Look around as far as you can see.  You won’t find any animal that can run as fast as I can.”

The challenge

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from h’s pt of vw)

The hare like to brag, and he also like to tease the other animals.  He teased the tortoise the most.  you are so slow!” said the hare to the tortoise.  “I don’t know why you bother to go anywhere.  Why don’t you just sit around in your silly shell all day?”

T’s response

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from t’s pt of vw)

The tortoise grew tired of the hare’s talk.  “I may be slow, but I get where I want to go,” said the tortoise.

H’s insult

motivation

H instults T (provides T with motivation for T to race)

The hare teased on.  He said to the other animals, “Wouldn’t it be funny to see the tortoise and me in a race?”

T’s response

motivation

T reprimands H (provides motivation for H to win the race)

 

Challenge

provocation

Initiates the action

The tortoise spoke up.  “Let’s race to the end of the field,” he said.

The hare laughed so hard that he cried.  you want to race me?” he asked the tortoise.  He called to the other animals.  “Tortoise wants a race.  Can you believe that?  You can all watch me win.”

The other animals were tired of the hare’s boasting , too.  They knew that the tortoise was a fine animal who just happened to move slowly.  There was no reason for the hare to be so unkind.

Course prepared

Re-setting

Changes setting to race course

The race was set for early the next morning.  The lion would be the judge.  “Be sure to get a good night’s sleep,” said the lion.  “Then you’ll do your best.”

 

That evening, the tortoise went to bed extra early.  As the sun began to set, the tortoise tucked his head into his shell and went right to sleep.

 

It was almost time for the sun to rise, though, before the hare went to sleep.  He stayed up and played.  “I would much rather have fun than rest,” he said.  “Besides, I can beat the tortoise in a race without even trying.”

 

The next morning, the tortoise was ready for the race.  The hare was ready, too, but he was a bit sleepy.  He could not stop yawning.

 

As the animals gathered around to watch the start of the race, they cheered for the tortoise.

Race started

complication

Action starts

The tortoise and the hare took their places on the starting line.  The lion said, “Get ready, get set, go!”  The race was on!

H’s first move

complication

complication

The hare took off in a flash.  He was far down the field before the tortoise had taken his first full step.

H stops

Turning point

Prelude to turning point

The race went on just as it had started.  The hare zoomed along, and the tortoise took one steady step after another.

 

“I’m so far ahead,” thought the hare, “I have nothing to worry about.  Winning will be easy.”

 

“I’m doing my best,” thought the tortoise.  “I can just keep taking one step at a time.  I’ll get to the end of the field just as I wanted.”

H naps

Turning point

Turning point of the race

At the halfway mark, the hare felt tired.  He turned around to see how far behind the tortoise was.  The hare saw only a speck in the distance.  The hare rubbed his sleepy eyes and yawned.  “I think I’ll take a little rest.  I have plenty of time because that slow poke tortoise will take all day.”

T’s move

denoument

T’s move initiates the denoument

Soon the hare was fast asleep.  But the tortoise was moving quietly toward the end of the field.

H wakes up

denoument

H’s move precipitates the denoument

The hare snoozed for some time.  When he woke up, he could see the tortoise about to cross the finish line!

T at finish line

denoument

The denoument ends

As fast as his powerful legs could go, the hare raced to catch up.  It was too late.  The tortoise had crossed the finish line.

H realizes he lost

Resolution = Final situation

Resolution of the story

“The tortoise wins the race!” shouted the lion.  The animals cheered as they danced around their friend.

T’s victory speech

epilogue

Epilogue (char in tales gives the moral)

Then the lion said, “Here we have learned an important lesson.”

All the animals gathered to listen as the lion said,

“Fast and speedy May be great,

But slow and steady Won this race.”

MORAL

 

The moral

slow and steady Won this race

 

????

 

Opening

exposition

Characterizes H

A hare was continually poking fun at a tortoise because of the slowness of his pace.

H’s claim

exposition

Characterizes H

The tortoise tried not to be annoyed

The challenge

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from h’s pt of vw)

by the jeers of the hare

T’s response

Conflict = initial situation

Dramatic conflict (from t’s pt of vw)

He (T) was goaded into challenging the hare to a foot race.

H’s insult

motivation

H instults T (provides T with motivation for T to race)

“Surely, this is a joke,” said the hare, you know that I can run circles around you.”

T’s response

motivation

T reprimands H (provides motivation for H to win the race)

“Enough of your boasting,” said the tortoise. “Let’s get on with the race.”

 

challenge

provocation

Initiates the action

“Let’s get on with the race.”

Course prepared

Re-setting

Changes setting to race course

So the course was set by the animals and the fox was chosen as judge. 

Race started

complication

Action starts

He gave a sharp bark and the race was on.

H’s first move

complication

complication

Almost before you could say “scat,” the hare was out of sight.  The tortoise plodded along at his usual pace.

H stops

Turning point

Prelude to turning point

After a time the hare stopped to wait for the tortoise to come along.  He waited for a long, long time until he began to get sleepy. 

H naps

Turning point

Turning point of the race

“I’ll just take a quick nap here in this soft grass, and then in the cool of the day, I’ll finish the race.”  He lay down and closed his eyes.

T’s move

denoument

T’s move initiates the denoument

Meanwhile, the tortoise plodded on.  He passed the sleeping hare, and was approaching the finish line

H wakes up

denoument

H’s move precipitates the denoument

when the hare awoke with a start.  It was too late to save the race

T at finish line

denoument

The denoument ends

Much ashamed, he crept away

H realizes he lost

Resolution = Final situation

Resolution of the story

while all the animals at the finish line acclaimed the winner.

T’s victory speech

epilogue

Epilogue (char in tales gives the moral)

 

MORAL

 

The moral

Slow and steady wins the race.