Trick or Treat! This post is a blast from the past---three years ago---with some new additions.
Treat yourself to writing a parody. A parody is a humorous imitation of an
original classic--a song, poem, or story.
1. Song:

By Kim Norman
The fabulous Kim Norman wrote this treat of a story from the old camp song, "The Ants Go Marching".
Check out Kim's interview with the spectacular Tammi Sauer.
2. Poem

"I must go down to the beach again, where there's water, sand, and sky,
And all I ask is my red toy boat with a string to pull it by…,"
John Masefield's Sea-Fever
"I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;"
3. Story

"If you run away," said his mother, "I will run after you. For you are my little bunny."
"If you run after me," said the little bunny, "I will become a fish in a trout stream and I will swim away from you."
"If you become a fish in a trout stream," said his mother, "I will become a fisherman and I will fish for you."
Change one word in the title and run with it. Change the first line just enough to make
it recognizable. Check out this petrifying parody.

"If you try to get me," said the little mummy, "I will turn into a serpent that lurks at the bottom of the sea."
"If you turn into a serpent," said Mother Mummy, "I will become a sea monster that will wrap around you and never let go."

There was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of--
The cow jumping over the moon
And there were three little bears sitting on chairs"
There was a gravestone
And a black lagoon
And a picture of --
Martians taking over the moon
And there were three little mummies rubbing their tummies"
That was covered in vines
Lived twelve little girls
in two straight lines.
In two straight lines
They broke their bread
And brushed their teeth
And went to bed."
all covered with spines
lived twelve ugly monsters
in two crooked lines
In two crooked lines,
they bonked their heads
pulled out their teeth
and wet their beds."
1. Select a song, poem, or story.
This is such a great post, Janie! Thanks for all the great examples, and the challenge!!!
ReplyDeleteI now have an ant earworm, LOL. Thank you, I think! I had not seen the parody book covers. They are brilliant! And to think that she's a lawyer with no previous art experience! Amazing! Maybe I'll do something like this for Susanna's Halloweensie contest.....
ReplyDeleteJanie--terrific challenge :) Thank you for the mentor texts to help find that perfect parody! Certainly feeling the Halloween spirit!
ReplyDeleteThese are great parodies! Thanks for sharing these mentor texts! They certainly make the creative juices start to flow!
ReplyDeleteClever and cunning, such parody funning. Yay, Janie.
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love all these ideas and examples!!
ReplyDelete