This is an easy exercise most people probably learn in their English class. But I still enjoy the game.
Just pick one of Aesop's Fables and an author. Then rewrite the Fable in that author's style.
I chose Charles Dickens. His narration is far more conversational. His work is well decorated with adverbs and adjectives--sometimes three in a row. His style was a little easier to emulate since mine is similar.
The Fox and the Grapes
Charles Dickens Style
It was a pleasant day. One in which someone might have a picnic or wander about enjoying the fresh air. I'm not sure which one the fox was doing but it hardly matters. Whatever the case, the birds were singing, the sun was shining, and a clump of grapes were hanging from a vine—content in it's state of being. It was on this wonderful day that the fox caught a glimpse of the juicy grapes hanging high over his head. Oh! How he wanted those grapes. The fox stared longingly at them, licking his lips, scheming the best plan that might reward him with what he most desired. The branch that held the grapes was to weak to hold his weight and he did not wish to request help for fear of the obligation to share.
That left him with only one option. With all his might he leaped up to the grapes and snapped his jaw shut when he reached maximum height. But the determined fox was rewarded with nothing but a mouthful of air. The fox eyed the grapes with suspicion and tried again with the same result. Up and down the fox went putting all his energy into a goal that was so close he could barely touch with his nose and yet so far away. With each jump the fox convinced himself he was getting closer and could picture himself in triumph with the cluster of grapes in his jaw.
All day the fox leaped and bounded and reached for the taunting grapes until the sun was low. The fox, depleted of all energy and incentive, fell on his face in exhaustion and surrendered.
He sourly groaned, “What a waste. I should never had tried to jump so high; I'm sure those grapes were sour anyway.”
Have you ever done this exercise before? What was the result? Did a little bit of your own style creep in anyway?
