Saturday, April 21, 2012

En Français (II)

Another exercise this week was to write a little fairy tale in class, to practice the passe simple (Andre just loves the passe simple). Here is my effort. It's a cautionary tale.

Le roi kidnappeur

Il était une fois un roi qui vivait seul dans son royaume au bout de l'arc-en-ciel. Comme il était tout seul, il enleva une fille, jeune et belle, pour l'épouser. La nouvelle reine etait très contente dans leur magnifique chateau au bord du lac. Cependant, sa mère, une sorcière méchante et maligne, n'était pas du tout contente. Elle brodait dans sa grotte magique et planifiait sa vengeance.

Au bout de six mois (!), la nouvelle reine accoucha d'un fils, beau et fort. Des célebrations eclatèrent de toute part dans le royaume. Soudain, un grand oiseau noir, laid et méchant, apparut et enleva le jeune prince. Evidemment, c'était sa grandmère maternelle, qui s'était transformée en corbeau. Elle garda son petit-fils dans la grotte enchantée jusqu'a sa mort.

Moralité: Il ne faut pas enlever des jeunes filles. Cela va terminer mal !

Or, a slightly funnier version, brought to you by Google translate:

King kidnapper

There was once a king who lived alone in his kingdom at the end of the rainbow. As he was alone, he took a girl, young and beautiful, to marry her. The new queen was very happy in their lovely castle by the lake. However, her mother, a wicked witch and malignant*, was not happy at all. She embroidered** in his magical grotto and was planning his revenge.

After six months (!), the new queen gave birth to a son, handsome and strong. Celebrations broke out on all sides in the kingdom. Suddenly a large black bird, ugly and nasty, appeared and took the young prince. Obviously, it was his maternal grandmother, who was transformed into a raven. She kept her little son*** in the enchanted cave until his death.

Moral: Do not remove girls. This will end badly!

*: should be "cunning"
**: should be "sulked" or "brooded"
***: should be "grandson"

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