PRELUDE
by William Makepeace Thackeray · from The Rose and the Ring
Adapted Version
It was Christmas time. Mr. William was in a new city. This city was far away. He saw many children there. English children lived there too. They missed their own home. Christmas felt a little not the same. It was not like home.
The children wanted a fun game. They wanted special pictures for it. These pictures were for a party game. But the new city had no such pictures. No one sold these funny pictures. Mr. William felt a little sad. They could not play the game.
Miss Bunch was a kind lady. She cared for the children. She came to Mr. William. "Please draw some pictures," she asked him. "We need them for a party game." Mr. William liked this kind idea. He wanted to help.
Mr. William was very happy to help. He took his best pen. He took some clean paper. He drew many new pictures. The pictures were very funny. They were also very fun. He drew them for the game.
Mr. William and Miss Bunch looked. They saw all the new pictures. They began to talk about them. They made up a fun story. Each picture got a new story. They thought of many funny things. They laughed and smiled. They had much fun.
The children came to the party. Mr. William told the story. Miss Bunch helped him tell it. It was a very special show. It was a Cozy Story Game. It was just for the children. They listened with big smiles. They loved the show.
The children loved the story very much. They giggled and clapped their hands. They liked all the funny people. The people had many stories. Some stories were very funny. Some were very fun. The children were very happy with the story.
Mr. William saw the children's happy faces. He thought, "This story is good." He wanted more. More children should hear this story. So, he decided to write it. He wanted to make a book. He wanted to share the joy.
Mr. William hopes you will like it. Children and grown-ups can enjoy it. It is a very happy story. It is for the Christmas time. It makes all smile. It brings much joy to all. It is a fun game. It makes hearts warm.
Original Story
PRELUDE
It happened that the undersigned spent the last Christmas season in a foreign city where there were many English children.
In that city, if you wanted to give a child’s party, you could not even get a magic-lantern or buy Twelfth-Night characters—those funny painted pictures of the King, the Queen, the Lover, the Lady, the Dandy, the Captain, and so on—with which our young ones are wont to recreate themselves at this festive time.
My friend Miss Bunch, who was governess of a large family that lived in the Piano Nobile of the house inhabited by myself and my young charges (it was the Palazzo Poniatowski at Rome, and Messrs. Spillmann, two of the best pastrycooks in Christendom, have their shop on the ground floor): Miss Bunch, I say, begged me to draw a set of Twelfth-Night characters for the amusement of our young people.
She is a lady of great fancy and droll imagination, and having looked at the characters, she and I composed a history about them, which was recited to the little folks at night, and served as our FIRESIDE PANTOMIME.
Our juvenile audience was amused by the adventures of Giglio and Bulbo, Rosalba and Angelica. I am bound to say the fate of the Hall Porter created a considerable sensation; and the wrath of Countess Gruffanuff was received with extreme pleasure.
If these children are pleased, thought I, why should not others be amused also? In a few days Dr. Birch’s young friends will be expected to reassemble at Rodwell Regis, where they will learn everything that is useful, and under the eyes of careful ushers continue the business of their little lives.
But, in the meanwhile, and for a brief holiday, let us laugh and be as pleasant as we can. And you elder folk—a little joking, and dancing, and fooling will do even you no harm. The author wishes you a merry Christmas, and welcomes you to the Fireside Pantomime.
W. M. THACKERAY. December 1854.
CONTENTS
I. SHOWS HOW THE ROYAL FAMILY SATE DOWN TO BREAKFAST
II. HOW KING VALOROSO GOT THE CROWN, AND PRINCE GIGLIO WENT WITHOUT
III. TELLS WHO THE FAIRY BLACKSTICK WAS
IV. HOW BLACKSTICK WAS NOT ASKED TO THE PRINCESS ANGELICA’S CHRISTENING
V. HOW PRINCESS ANGELICA TOOK A LITTLE MAID
VI. HOW PRINCE GIGLIO BEHAVED HIMSELF
VII. HOW GIGLIO AND ANGELICA HAD A QUARREL
VIII. HOW GRUFFANUFF PICKED THE FAIRY RING UP
IX. HOW BETSINDA GOT THE WARMING PAN
X. HOW KING VALOROSO WAS IN A DREADFUL PASSION
XI. WHAT GRUFFANUFF DID TO GIGLIO AND BETSINDA
XII. HOW BETSINDA FLED, AND WHAT BECAME OF HER
XIII. HOW QUEEN ROSALBA CAME TO THE CASTLE OF THE BOLD COUNT HOGGINARMO
XIV. WHAT BECAME OF GIGLIO
XV. WE RETURN TO ROSALBA
XVI. HOW HEDZOFF RODE BACK AGAIN TO KING GIGLIO
XVII. HOW A TREMENDOUS BATTLE TOOK PLACE, AND WHO WON IT
XVIII. HOW THEY ALL JOURNEYED BACK TO THE CAPITAL
XIX. AND NOW WE COME TO THE LAST SCENE IN THE PANTOMIME
Story DNA
Moral
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Plot Summary
During Christmas in a foreign city, the narrator notes the absence of traditional English Twelfth-Night party supplies. A governess, Miss Bunch, asks the narrator to draw characters, which leads to them collaboratively inventing a story. This 'Fireside Pantomime' greatly amuses the local English children. Inspired by their delight, the narrator decides to publish the tale, inviting a wider audience to enjoy the lighthearted story as a holiday diversion.
Themes
Emotional Arc
anticipation to delight
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Twelfth Night was a significant winter festival in England, often celebrated with games, plays, and specific characters. The mention of 'Dr. Birch's young friends' refers to Thackeray's own earlier work, 'Dr. Birch and His Young Friends', indicating a connection to his established literary world and audience.
Plot Beats (9)
- The narrator spends Christmas in a foreign city (Rome) where English children reside.
- It's noted that traditional English Twelfth-Night party supplies are unavailable in this city.
- Miss Bunch, a governess, requests the narrator to draw a set of Twelfth-Night characters for a children's party.
- The narrator complies and draws the characters.
- Miss Bunch and the narrator collaboratively create a story based on these characters.
- The story is presented to the children as a 'Fireside Pantomime'.
- The children are highly entertained by the story, particularly the adventures of Giglio, Bulbo, Rosalba, Angelica, the Hall Porter, and Countess Gruffanuff.
- Inspired by the children's enjoyment, the narrator decides to publish the story for a broader audience.
- The narrator extends a welcome to both children and adults to enjoy the 'Fireside Pantomime' as a lighthearted holiday diversion.
Characters
Miss Bunch ◆ supporting
Of indeterminate height and build, likely with a practical, unadorned appearance befitting a governess in the mid-19th century.
Attire: A modest, dark-colored dress, likely made of wool or a sturdy cotton blend, with a high collar and long sleeves, typical of a Victorian governess. Practical, unadorned, and designed for functionality rather than fashion.
Wants: To provide amusement and education for her young charges, particularly during a holiday season in a foreign city where traditional entertainment is scarce.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but perhaps a tendency to be overly focused on propriety or the needs of her charges.
Does not have a significant arc within this prelude, serving primarily as the catalyst for the story's creation.
Imaginative, droll, practical (in her request for the drawings), and resourceful.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult English woman standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a neat bun of dark brown hair, a sensible, kind face with intelligent eyes. She wears a dark grey wool dress with a high white collar and long sleeves, a plain white apron, and practical dark leather shoes. She holds a small, closed book in her hands. Thoughtful, slightly amused expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
W. M. Thackeray ★ protagonist
A man of mature years, likely of average height and build for a mid-19th century English gentleman, perhaps with a slight scholarly stoop.
Attire: A formal, dark Victorian suit, possibly a frock coat with trousers, a waistcoat, and a cravat, made of wool or a similar heavy fabric. Respectable and appropriate for a gentleman and author of the era.
Wants: To entertain children and adults alike with a story, inspired by the lack of traditional entertainment in a foreign city and the success of his initial drawings.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but perhaps a tendency towards sentimentality or a desire to please his audience.
In this prelude, he acts as the creator and narrator, setting the stage for the larger story to come, without a personal arc.
Observant, imaginative, generous (in creating the characters), reflective, and kind-hearted (wishing a merry Christmas).
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult English gentleman standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has short, neatly combed dark brown hair, a well-trimmed mustache, and intelligent, kind brown eyes. He wears a dark grey wool frock coat, a white shirt with a high collar, a dark cravat, and dark trousers. He holds a quill pen in his right hand. Thoughtful, slightly smiling expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Palazzo Poniatowski
A grand Roman palazzo, specifically the Piano Nobile, where the governess Miss Bunch and the narrator reside with their young charges. Messrs. Spillmann, renowned pastrycooks, have their shop on the ground floor.
Mood: Warm, festive, imaginative, cozy, reminiscent of a family gathering.
The setting where the narrator and Miss Bunch create and recite the 'Fireside Pantomime' for the children, sparking the entire story.
Image Prompt & Upload
A warm, inviting interior of a Roman Palazzo's Piano Nobile during Christmas night. A large, ornate fireplace dominates one wall, casting flickering light on a group of children seated on plush rugs and small chairs. Hand-drawn, colorful Twelfth-Night characters are propped up on a mantelpiece or small table. The room features high ceilings, possibly frescoed, and tall windows looking out onto a dark, implied Roman street. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
