Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit attend the same university and have the same major, but have a small rivalry. They would often find themselves studying in the Bizzell Library especially during finals week.
Bizzell Memorial Library;
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Brer Bear and Brer Fox were heading to the Bizzell Library to study for their chemistry final. On their way to the library, Brer Bear was giving Brer Fox a hard time because he wasn't friends with Brer Rabbit and they shared mostly all of the same classes.
When they got to the library, Brer Bear broke away from Brer Fox and went to study with some other friends. Brer Fox continued down to the collaborative learning center where he saw Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit told him that he was full of fleas so it was best for Brer Fox to sit away from him. They talked a little bit but kept a fair distance.
Brer Rabbit, a freshman in college, was living in the dorms. He asked Brer Fox if he would like to go eat dinner at the caf the next night. Brer fox accepted and they agreed to meet each other in front of the caf.
That next night, Brer Rabbit saw Brer Fox coming so he started heading into the caf. He waited and waited but never saw Brer Fox come in. When Brer Rabbit walked out to go look for him, he saw his tail poking out of the red telephone booth that is located in front of the caf. Now knowing that Brer Fox was trying to hide from him, Brer Rabbit went back in and enjoyed his dinner.
The next day, they saw each other in the Bizzell Library and Brer Fox apologized. He invited Brer Rabbit over for dinner at his dorm room in Waler Tower. Brer Rabbit agreed to meet him for dinner.
When Brer Rabbit arrived at Brer Fox's dorm room that night, he heard a painful moan coming from his dorm room. When he walked in, Brer Fox appeared to be really sick and was sitting on his bed wrapped up in a blanket. Brer Rabbit looked around and did not see any food prepared for their dinner and the only thing Brer Fox had was some chicken for them to cook.
Picture of the dorms at OU;
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Brer Rabbit asked, "Do you have any calamus root to season that chicken?"
"No, I do not have any of that," replied Brer Fox.
So Brer Rabbit took off into the Walker-Adams Mall to look for some calamus root and kept an eye on the doors to see if Brer Fox would come out. A few minutes later, Brer Fox came out of the building looking for Brer Rabbit. He finally spotted him and started heading closer.
Brer Rabbit yelled, "I am going to leave this calamus root on this swing set for you to come and get."
With that, Brer Rabbit ran home and decided to call it a night. Brer Fox was always looking for a way to trick Brer Rabbit. but he outsmarts him each time.
Bibliography: Brer Rabbit: The Calamus Root from Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings by Joel Chandler Harris (1881)
Author's Note: In the original story Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox are trying to catch each other. At first, they talk but they keep a good distance between them as Brer Rabbit claims that he has fleas. Brer Bear was giving Brer Fox a hard time because he wasn't friends with Brer Rabbit. They made plans to have dinner together and when Brer Fox got there he just hid on the side of the house and Brer Rabbit saw his tail so he knew he was there. The next day when they saw each other, Brer Fox apologized and invited Brer Rabbit over for dinner at his place. When Brer Rabbit showed up Brer Fox was all wrapped up in a blanket as if he was sick and had nothing cooked for dinner. So Brer Rabbit leaves to go find Calamus Root and shortly after he sees Brer Fox go out after him trying to corner him, but he wasn't successful. Brer Fox never caught him and he is not going to. With my story, I followed the same storyline, but just changed the setting of the story. I thought it would be cool to make this story take place on OU's campus since that is the university that I attend.
Hi Gabriela!
ReplyDeleteHow fun that you placed this traditional myth at OU campus. It was fun to see all the classic places of campus featured in your story. It is funny to think of Rabbits and foxes studying at the university, haha. I think this story was a god retelling of the original. The changes you made were fun and really made it your own. I would consider adding some dialogue earlier on in the story as the narration style can get a little repetitive after a while. It could also spark some more interest in the beginning of the story as well as connect the reader more to the characters. Good job!
Hi Gabby!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun idea to make OU the setting of this story, with landmarks we all recognize. I had never heard this fable before, but you gave it an interesting twist by making it between two college frenemies. I like the constant back and forth of Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox trying to trick each other and wiggle out of things. I agree with AshLynn that a little more dialogue at the beginning of the story would be useful, but other than that, it was a great story!
Hello Gabby,
ReplyDeleteI would like to start off by saying that you did an amazing do with this story. I like how you made the characters animals in and traditional university setting. I think it is hilarious that foxes and rabbits are studying at the same university that we study at lol. Overall you did a great job and can not wait to read more.
Hi Gabby! I love the incorporation of OU as a setting in a Brer Rabbit story. That’s so creative. It’s fun to think about Brer Fox and Rabbit attending classes here. This was a fun take on the original! All of the changes that you made kept with the nature of the original but were still your own unique touch. Great work!
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