Different For A Reason
By: Colton Glover
"They never asked Rudolph to play." You guessed
it—Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Rudolph
is a typical fantasy genre that contains specific elements such as living at
the North Pole, talking reindeer, and Santa Clause. There was no better time of
the year during my childhood than Christmas. It meant family, friends, food,
and best of all, presents. We would all wait up on Christmas Eve to try to
catch a glimpse of Santa or Rudolph leading the way through the night sky. Children
really connect with this type of story because they truly believe in the magic
and excitement. This would be a great read to children not only because it is a
well-known Christmas tale, but because it teaches a valuable life lesson as
well.
Even
though the story of Rudolph can seem very cliché, it actually conveys a great
moral lesson. Rudolph displays a common conflict of person versus person, which
is probably the most common type. The other Reindeer mocked him, "Ha-ha!
Look at that Red Nose!" They wouldn't even try to include Rudolph in any of
their games because he did not fit the stereotypic image of a normal reindeer.
However, Rudolph's unique nose became very popular when Santa was having trouble
seeing his list of children. Santa immediately noticed Rudolph's "bright,
shiny nose" and insisted, "you will show us the way." Being able
to help Santa made Rudolph feel accepted, which is what most children strive
for with their peers.
We go throughout life trying to fit in even though we were
created to stand out. Rudolph wanted to fit in with the other reindeer until he
realized that he was unique for a specific purpose. This story is great for
children because they are able to read about a time of year that they love
while gaining a life lesson. It is important for children to understand that
everyone is their own person for a reason. Children need to be taught to use
their talents and differences to serve others and change the world.
I love how you pulled out the conflict in the story and showed that students can relate to it. It is important for the students to not only enjoy the story, but also put themselves into the shoes of the character and learn something that way. Esther
ReplyDeleteRudolph is my favorite Christmas story! This would be be perfect to read to the students right before Christmas break. Children will be able to relate to ruldoph, because we all struggle at some point with that same conflict.- Kayla
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have ever put so much thought into this story. I have heard it a million times but never thought of the lessons being taught in it. I have only thought of it as a cute Christmas story. Great choice for fantasy fiction.
ReplyDeleteAshley
I love that this is that you picked. To me, any story with a person versus person conflict can teach people lessons, especially young children. It teaches them how to deal with personal issues and that is something that everybody has during their life. -CJ
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite Christmas time stories. It is a perfect example of a fantasy fiction. There are a variety of different elements that make it a fantasy. This is because reindeer can not fly, nor do they have red noses. Also, it has santa and his sleigh in the story too. This is a fun story that will get every student in the holiday spirit.
ReplyDelete-Olivia