One of the most prolific examples is that of the fairy tale "Childe Rowland". Shakespeare used this reference in his work "King Lear" although it has no direct reference to the fairy tale. Although not the main story for "King Lear", it still added dimension to his writing and inspired still others to create great works. The poet Robert Browning may have used the line "Childe Rowland to the dark tower came" from "King Lear" or from an 11th century French chanson de geste titled "The Song of Roland" as inspiration for his poem "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came".
This poem by Robert Browning is directly responsible for Stephen King's Dark Tower series in which he retains his main character, Roland, who searches out the mysterious Dark Tower. It may never be know exactly how many books, poems, songs, paintings, or plays have been derived from this one fairy tale, but the fact remains that great works have been born from just one sentence or only one character.
Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came by Thomas Moran
Most, if not all, of these pieces have nothing to do with one another or even the original fairy tale. The story lines and plots are different, the characters demeanor and attitudes, the settings and place in history even to the extent of taking place on a different world shows us that we should also be thinking multidimensional.
Perhaps you are stuck. You need need new material for a new story. Or you've just come across a truly inspirational piece of work. Maybe you just want to take the creating side of your brain out for a jog. Occasionally I will take a one liner from the era that I am writing my current story in and immerse myself in the language, absorbing myself into the style and rhythm of the words. I'll write a few paragraphs incorporating some of the words, not the setting or the characters, just the language, before continuing with my own story.
For example:
"She was a maiden of rarest beauty, and not more lovely than full of glee. And evil was the hour when she saw, and loved, and wedded the painter. He, passionate, studious, austere, and having already a bride in his Art; she a maiden of rarest beauty, and not more lovely then full of glee; all light and smiles, and frolicsome as the young fawn; loving and cherishing all things; hating only the Art which was her rival;"
Now, before I tell you who wrote this and from where it came, I want you to open your mind and reread the words. Yes, you know it. Here come the questions.
*Who was she?
*Who is he?
*What makes her beauty so rare?
*What type of Art did he create?
*What made the hour she and he were wed "evil"?
Take only one of those answers. For now let's choose "what makes her beauty so rare?" Is it her fiery red locks? Green eyes the color of the ocean? High cheekbones set under her pale, flawless skin? Long, delicate eyelashes? Let your mind wander. Set her in a different setting...let's do 1920s New Orleans. How would this affect your character. She is beautiful, but is she out of place in this setting? Why?
Oh, I almost forgot. This is a quote from "The Oval Portrait" by Edgar Allan Poe. Does this change how you view your newly developed character, setting, or perhaps even story line? Maybe. Maybe not.
Perhaps your next work will be forged from something you never considered giving a second thought to.
Happy daydreaming. :)
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