Stories by the Campfire

[FeralSheryl]

Do excuse my romanticism but I have a question. Does anyone here continue the tradition of telling stories by the campfire or is it something largely extinct in these islands now?

I don't mean reading from a book, but relating tales traditional or otherwise from memory and passed on from one person to another.

I imagine it's something few would be particularly inclined to do these days but I'd be interested to know if anyone still does and what kinds of stories they still bring to light besides flickering flames in the dark night.

 

[Spacemonkey]

Oh yes. Creapy stories are the best, usually 'true' stories in the best Inept Fielding manner, usually followed by a "Ssh! Did you hear that?" Works everytime...

 

[Ogri the trog]

"It was a dark and stormy night,"
the wind howled and the waves lashed the sides of the old ship
the first mate turned to the catain and said
"Cap'n, tell us one o' your'n stories to while away the hours"
So the captain filled his pipe with a fresh charge of his best tobacco,
poured himself another mug of rum and huddled down to get the mens attention.
When all was silence around him, he started off
"It was a dark and stormy night".....

Repeat as many times as you can get away with it!

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[FeralSheryl]

Arf! Very silly Ogri. Like it

 

[FeralSheryl]

Oh yes. Creapy stories are the best, usually 'true' stories in the best Inept Fielding manner, usually followed by a "Ssh! Did you hear that?" Works everytime...

Yeah, I do like those.

 

[tomtom]

Sheryl.. storytelling is one of my favorites campfire things to do..

Jumping mouse is probably my favorite.. anyone heard it?

We started a story thread sometime ago.. not sure where it is now but some storys went in to it!

if your interested Chris who runs Wild Wise is a really wonderful story tell.. he makes an occupation out of it.. and also organises The West Country Story Telling Festivle which is a great event!

 

[tomtom]

here it is.. it died a while ago but if yu have any to go for it!

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=2396&highlight=storytelling

 

[Eric_Methven]

I like telling campfire stories when we're away at living history events. I usually base them on ficticious characters from the period we're portraying. I always add an element of spooky, a pinch of scarey, a whole sprinkling of funny and I always bring in elements that make it seem it's now. I take my audience back through time with the story until they are totaly imersed. It helps pass the time.

On other camps I tell tales of future events. I especially like post apocalyptic speculation. I started a story once and had it running over three camp outs. The story started as a global disaster caused by a coronal mass ejection where billion of tons of plasma from the sun, hit the earth and caused such an EMP (electro magnetic pulse) that it knocked every semi conductor out everywhere at the same time. The world ground to a halt because technology failed completely and the main sources of civilisation - finance, transportation and communication all pulled each other down. The story revolved around a family and how they cope by relying on the bushcraft skills and sense of preparedness they had practiced over the years. It's based on the west coast of Scotland and it allowed me to introduce bushcraft subjects to my audience as part of the story.

It became so popular a campfire story that I eventually wrote it all down as a novel. It's on line if anyone wants to download it. Let me know.

Eric

 

[FeralSheryl]

Thanks TomTom. I did the obligatory site search first but I must have used the wrong key words or more likely my sleepy spelling wasn't great and it came back with no results. I'll check the links you've provided tomorrow.

I do like story telling but it seems to be becoming a lost art. I'm encouraged to see it's still alive here and would like to know more. I wonder if anyone recites Beowulf by the campfire? Not word for word, naturally

 

[FeralSheryl]

... It became so popular a campfire story that I eventually wrote it all down as a novel. It's on line if anyone wants to download it. Let me know.

Eric

Yes please Eric.
Off to bed now but I'll check back in the morning.

 

[tomtom]

I wonder if anyone recites Beowulf by the campfire? Not word for word, naturally

Thats something i would really like to hear!

 

[morch]

It's on line if anyone wants to download it. Let me know.

Eric

Me too Eric

 

[Graham_S]

i'll have it as well if you don't mind. sounds good.

 

[Moonraker]

Thats something i would really like to hear!

Are you sitting comfortably tomtom, then I shall begin:

Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum,
þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum,

monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah,
egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð
feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad,
weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah,
oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra......................

Me too...

 

[FeralSheryl]

You've gone and done it now Simon, I had to do some online digging.
You'll need RealPlayer V3 or above for this.
Click on the iluminated capitals of each verse to hear it.
Beowulf - The Funeral of Scyld Scefing
The modern English Translation

Fade to a crackling campfire on a chilly Autumn night. Sparks from the fire float up towards the sky and the stars hang low. The Story teller takes his seat by the fire and recites for thoses gathered near, The Battle of Brunanburh
Translation in Modern English

Warning West Saxons trounce eryone else in this little bit of history. Please don't take offence if you're not a Wessex Man/Woman
Wikipedia on the Batle of Brunanburh

 

[FeralSheryl]

tomtom, the West Country Story Telling Festival looks brilliant. I'm wondering now if there's any chance I can arrange to go. I think it might difficult this year but I'll make a point of it in 2006. Thanks for that.

 

[Wayland]

Oh yes, a fires too dry without one......

I have heard Hugh Lupton telling Beowulf at Beyond the Border . Hugh is one of this countries best professional storytellers and well worth hearing.

I have been known to tell a tall tale or two myself when the mood is right.

 

[Eric_Methven]

Here's the book chapters as promised. There are nine chapters written so far and I'm working on the second half of the book as and when I get a minute although it really is a winter project.

Right click on the links and select 'Save target as' to save the chapter to your hard drive. They are in Word2000 format.

http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/novelchapters/EMP-chapter-1.doc
http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/novelchapters/EMP-chapter-2.doc
http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/novelchapters/EMP-chapter-3.doc
http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/novelchapters/EMP-chapter-4.doc
http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/novelchapters/EMP-chapter-5.doc
http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/novelchapters/EMP-chapter-6.doc
http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/novelchapters/EMP-chapter-7.doc
http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/novelchapters/EMP-chapter-8.doc
http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/novelchapters/EMP-chapter-9.doc

Enjoy. Any feedback and creative critisism regarding technical accuracy/ feasability or any glaring errors gratefully recieved.

Eric

 

[FeralSheryl]

Thanks Eric
All safely downloaded.
Will read, the first chance I get.

And thanks Wayland for the Beyond the Border link.

Sheryl

 

[Moonraker]

You've gone and done it now Simon, I had to do some online digging.

Thanks for the links FS