Reading Notes: Week 7 Brer Rabbit Part A

(Image Information: Image by Pixabay)

Brer Rabbit: The Calamus Root

While Brer Fox tried his hardest to catch Brer Rabbit, the rabbit managed to stay out of the fox's way. Brer Fox says he spoke with Brer Bear who is disappointed Brer Rabbit and Fox are friendly toward one another. Brer Rabbit comes up with an idea for himself and Brer Fox to have dinner tomorrow. Brer Fox agreed.

The next day, Brer Rabbit and Miss Rabbit waited for Brer Fox for a while, but the fox didn't appear. Brer Rabbit looked out the window and saw Brer Fox's tail from behind the corner.

The next day, Brer Fox sent word he was too sick, but offered Brer Rabbit to come for dinner at his house. Brer Rabbit agreed. Brer Rabbit went and heard Brer Fox groaning while in a rocking chair. He also noticed a carving knife out and thinks Brer Fox was going to have chicken for dinner. 

Brer Rabbit asks if Brer Fox has calamus root because he can't eat chicken without it seasoned with calamus root. Brer Rabbit leaped out the door to "fetch the root." Brer Fox left the house to catch the rabbit, but Brer Rabbit had used the excuse to run away.

The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story

After Brer Rabbit fooled him, Brer Fox found tar and mix it with turpentine to make Tar-Baby, Then he set it in the bushes and waited to see what would happen. No long after because Brer Rabbit appeared and spoke to the tar-baby. However, the tar-baby won't answer back. He thinks tar-baby is deaf and tries to teach it how to speak. Brer Rabbit lost his temper, hit the tar, and was stuck. He used his other fist, both feet, and head, but he was stuck.

Brer Fox reveals himself and laughed saying he'd take dinner with him this time.

How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox

 Brer Fox laughed as Brer Rabbit was stuck on the tar-baby. He thinks he has the upperhand. He wants to barbecue Brer Rabbit.

Brer Rabbit didn't care, but he doesn't want to be kill him in the brier-patch. However, Brer Fox did just this. Brer Fox slung Brer Rabbit into some bushes and stuck around to see what happened. He hear somebody call him and saw Brer Rabbit sitting on a log combing the pitch out of his hair. The Breb Fix knew he messed up. Brer Rabbit was pleased and said he was bred and born in the brier-patch. Then he left.

I like how cute this tale was. Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox remind me of the characters, like Peter Rabbit, and Jemima Puddle-Duck, and the Fox written by Beatrix Potter. While I liked the language, I found it difficult to understand what the character had been saying. The story has three different parts, which were set up nicely, but lack character arc. A lesson is somewhat taught as Brer Fox is outsmarted by Brer Rabbit.

Bibliography: 

The Calamus Root by Joel Chandler Harris (1881).
The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story by Joel Chandler Harris (1881).

How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox by Joel Chandler Harris (1881).