Story telling Week 13
Panic on the Maginot Line
The French leaders all sat around the table. The German army was on the move. Quickly progressing through eastern Europe and rapidly making a move for the eastern French border. The leaders sitting at the table were discussing defense strategies to keep the Germany army from advancing into their territory. Some generals were saying "we need to go on the attack and push them back". Other generals were saying "The Maginot Line will hold off the Germans, we have nothing to fear". One general quietly sat on one end of the table and a said: "The Maginot Line is poorly fortified the Germans will simply go around it, we should be considering some alternate strategies to defend our great land". Positioned throughout this unruly crowd of "demon kings" all pushing for their ideas to be heard was the Field Marshal of the French Army. "We are on the eve of losing our great nation to Germany if we can not put faith in our current defenses" the Field Marshal shouted at his council. Every man in this council, with the exception of a few, were rank seekers. Men who wanted to improve their careers to better themselves would say what higher-ups wanted to hear. The council agreed to put their faith in the Maginot Line. The French Army funneled supplies into the line and waited for the German attack. But it never came on the Maginot Line's strongest fortifications. Just as Hanuman snuck into Lanka the Germans did as well. The Germans went around the Maginot line by going through Belgium and attacking the French Maginot Line from behind and at their weakest fortifications. The great nation of France would soon fall to the powers of the German Army. The Maginot Line was a "gold lined" flop, filled with hope of its great defenses would fall along with France.
Author Notes:
I read Panic in Lanka and the story greatly reminded me of the Maginot Line and the hope that the French Army put into its defenses. These defenses were ultimately useless. But just like the story there were generals who were saying exactly what was wanted to be heard "they lack intelligence".
Bibliography:
Hi David! What a neat comparison! I wouldn't have thought to compare the two. Why didn't the one general try to speak up? If he knew it was a bad idea you would think he would want to do what he could to help. I would love to read more about the one. Did he try to speak up? Did he try to sneak anything to protect France? Did he not want to protect France? It was wonderfully written though! Good job!
ReplyDeleteHello David,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your story. I think making some spacing in your story would be great especially to separate the dialogue and make it easier to read. I really enjoyed how you incorporate history into your stories, it makes it very memorable and thought-provoking. Overall keep up the great work and I can't wait to read more.
Hey David,
ReplyDeleteI do not know much or anything about the Manigot Line, but how you told the story through an epic was a great choice. Even though someone might not know a specific reference, because we all are reading Indian Epics, it gives common ground to understand. This story made me want learn more about the source material. Overall, great story.
Hi David!
ReplyDeleteI love this realistic retelling of a story from the Ramayana! I didn’t read this version of the Ramayana so I don’t know the exact details of the story you are referring to, so a quick recap in the author’s note of the original story could be helpful. I like that in your story you compared this situation of the Germans sneaking in to Hanuman sneaking into Lanka.
Hey David,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your rendition of the original epic. I have to be honest, I had no clue what the Maginot Line was before reading your story. However, I was still able to appreciate your perception and the paralleling of a historical time period and the original Indian epic. One suggestion you may consider is breaking up the large paragraph into multiple paragraphs. Spacing out your story might help reader better follow the topic at hand.