Heroism, Humanism & Hijinks: Literature in Action - Week 15, Period 5 (Final)

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

The class was in the Danger Shop today for their final piece of assessment.

"Good afternoon. Inside you'll find Dickensian London. Namely, the London of A Christmas Carol. Something, however, had gone wrong. Despite being visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, Ebenezer Scrooge has not discovered the true meaning of Christmas and thus has not gone to Christmas dinner with the Cratchett family. Fix it."

[OOC: Thank you all for a wonderful semester and for hanging on with me while I tested the waters with Lit. You've been a great class. Hope to see you back next semester for a more organised Lit class!]

Comments

Re: Fix It!

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

The first thing that Hamlet did upon entering the novel was make his way to Fred's Christmas party. After talking to Scrooge's nephew (and having a slice or two of the delicious roast goose, and maybe a round of 20 Questions), he got detailed directions on how to find Ebeneezer's place. He wasn't sure that he'd be able to talk the old man into finding the Christmas spirit, but he did, however bring a secret weapon with him from the outside world: a detailed TV guide of the animated Christmas specials that were going to be airing on the weekend.

And if network TV had taught him anything, it was that the best way to save a story gone bad was to bring in a special guest star.

He made his way to Scrooge's house, and used doorknocker to sound loudly on the door.

Re: Fix It!

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"What? What? What is it?" Scrooge yelled.

Re: Fix It!

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Taking that as an invitation, Hamlet pushed the door open and stepped into Scrooge's office.

"Mr Scrooge? I'm from Jurisfiction, and I'm here to give you back the joy of Christmas and fix this story. We can either do this the easy way, or the hard way. Or just read you passages from Our Mutual Friend until you crack."

Re: Fix It!

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

Scrooge paled a little at the 'J' word. "It can't be done, lad! It won't! I won't go through with it!"

Re: Fix It!

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"Why not?" he asked, a bit of genuine curiosity in his voice.

Re: Fix It!

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"I'm tired of changing back and forth! Enough is enough! If I have to be a grinch, then I'll be a grinch!"

Re: Fix It!

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"Well," said Hamlet, taking a seat, "I'm sure that you must be tired of changing yourself almost as much as Pip does, but your reading audience enjoys your redemptive transformation. You're an archetype of classic literature. A good 40% of Christmas specials are based on your story! They need you to keep going."

Re: Fix It!

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"Everyone hates me, then after a night of no sleep and seeing my own grave, they expect me to wise up and be happy the next day!"

Re: Fix It!

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"Ah, and then everyone loves you after all that, because you have been scared into being a better person. And afternoon on Christmas Day, after presents have been opened and food eaten, is an excellent time to take a long nap."

Re: Fix It!

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"That's only a few pages of my existence, lad! The rest of the time I have to be a grump and it's not easy having to be nice and then change back."

Re: Fix It!

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"Can't you stretch those few pages into a epilogue of a few years?" Hamlet asked.

Re: Fix It!

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"Hmm." Scrooge frowned. "I suppose I could."

Re: Fix It!

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"And doesn't that thought just make you want to go over to Bob Cratchett's home and celebrate with him?"

Re: Fix It!

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"It rather does!" He grabbed his hat. "I'm off!"

Re: Fix It!

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Hamlet smiled to himself in relief as he watched Scrooge storm off. Guess he didn't have to unleash the murderous Santabot of the 31st century on A Christmas Carol after all.