Have you ever regretted reading a story (or watching a film) because you wish the ending were different? You then complained about why the main character died or why the couple could not live happily in the end. Or perhaps, on the other hand, you wish the ending could be darker with a few characters dead and a cliffhanger of the villain winning the battle and continuing the evil mission.
This week's assignment on my Extensive Reading class asks students to think of and create a new, different ending to a story they have read. They can either narrate the new ending or write a summary of that.
I have read Jaws, written by Peter Benchley. It's a 29-page, A2-level horror story, with a total of 10,888 words. Jaws is actually a popular thriller film, released in 1975, and I can remember how scared I was as I watched the film on TV in the 90s.
The book narrates the terror caused by a giant shark, preying on visitors on Old Mill Beach. It killed more and more people, and that forced the local police chief, Brody, to close the beach area. He also sought help from Hooper, a shark scientist, and Quint, a shark hunter, to capture and kill the creature. The three made a few attempts and always failed.
Hooper decided to dive in a shark cage, trying to get a closer look at the beast and kill it. However, the shark managed to ruin the cage and killed Hooper. Quint was furious, no longer interested in hunting the shark to get any money, and he vowed to kill the giant fish. In the end, Quint harpooned the shark several times, badly wounding the shark, but he was dragged deep into the dark sea as the shark tried to escape. The shark eventually died, and it was only Brody who survived.
I had to write my new ending too. So, here's the ending,
To be added soon.
What about my students? Are you interested in reading their original endings to the stories they have read? Here's the list of my students' blog updates on this project. I mention the book titles, so perhaps you are also interested in reading some familiar titles.
- Yohanna Amanda Putri, The Snow Goose by Gallico Paul
- Johanna Jerusha Prasodjo, The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe
- Vinsensius Brahmantya Adityawan, Amazon Rally by Amos Eduardo
- Sony Chrissetiyaki, The lovely Lady by D. H. Lawrence
- Theresia Ratna Shela Puspita Sari, The Prince and the Servants by Jane Rollason
- Gracia Marchelly, Rapacini's Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Diki Setyawan Kristiananda, The Night Train at Deoli by Ruskin Bond
- Yeremia Edo Surya Noegraha, Joey's Luck by John Escott
- Melkisedek Osibas Tauho, Halloween Horror by Clemen D. B. Gina
- Emmanuela Kurnianti, The Knowledge by Sue Leather
- Nevel Petroza Andrew, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
- Tri Widhiastuti, The Golden Stone Saga I by Jenny Dooley
- Nola Leticia Luntungan, The Prince and the Servants by Jane Rollason