Jersey Devil
The legend of the Jersey Devil is said to be a dragon-like
creature, with the head of a horse, a snake for a body with bat wings. It is alleged
to live in southern New Jersey in the NJ Pine Barrens. This creature has caused
panic but to some think if they see it would be a sign of good luck. The legend
came about because a mother cursed her 13th child before it was
born. The woman, Mother Lees supposedly signed the life of the unborn child to
the devil.
The few illustrations of the book are a few ink drawings
with some black and white old style photographs. Folklore is prevalent in the
book, The Jersey Devil. The preservation of this folklore resulted in the
production of a movie. A woman in Leeds New Jersey in 1735 gave birth and
during labor allegedly says “May the Devil take this one!” Legend has it that
the baby turned into a monster with the head of a collie, the wings of a bat
and feet like a horse. Other stories about this legend describe other
variations of the New Jersey Devil.
Has there been any other siting’s since the last which was
in 1859? Are there any newspaper articles to validate or substantiate any other
Jersey monster myths and legends?
This particular legend doesn’t hold up to the Saint Leo core
value of Respect because of the demonic factor in it.
As I was researching this genre I was quite fascinated with
how a legend so unbelievable can be believable enough to have people pass it
down. This went beyond family to family. This legend seems to have been passed
down from families of the entire state of New Jersey.
Great analysis of what appears to be a great piece of folklore! This literature could be used in the classroom as students recast the story, and alter the ending. Students can either put themselves in the mother's place and make different or similar decisions, or they can write or reenact how it would feel to be in the place of the child, cursed to be a dragon. Recasting stories with a personalized twist "helps students to see that basic stories can be easily retold" (Galda, Cullinan & Sipe, 2010).
ReplyDeleteStudents could also create a picture story. They could use pictures to retell the story, whether in the form of a sequence of drawings, a comic strip, collage, stylized frieze or a story map inset with small pictures" (Galda, Cullinan & Sipe, 2010). This allows students to recognize literary elements, patterns and structures.
Resource:
Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2010). Literature and the child. Belmont: CA.