Completing an Incomplete Story:
To develop a story from the given incomplete outlines or to complete an unfinished story requires greater attention and care on the part of young writers. They have to bring into play their best inventive and imaginative faculties. The following points should be borne in mind while completing an unfinished story.
(I) Study the given portion of the story thoroughly and bear in mind the instructions, if any, given about it.
(II) Form a suitable outline for your story and fill in the details without missing to see the wood for the trees, i.e., without allowing the details to hinder the general view.
(III) See that all the incidents are arranged in proper order.
(IV) Lay greater emphasis on the main points.
(V) Supply a suitable heading and conclusion.
Some Illustrative Examples:
(1) Incomplete Outline: A king hiding from his enemies in a cave—saw a spider trying to climb up to the roof of the cave—each time it neared the roof, it fell back…….
Complete Story: King Robert Bruce and the Spider
Robert Bruce was the king of Scotland. His motherland was under the English. He had a burning desire to free his country. He fought many battles but was defeated every time. He felt disappointed and fled away into jungles.
There he hid in a cave. All of a sudden a spider fell down from the ceiling and hung by a fine thread. It tried to climb up to its web but was not successful. It tried again and again but failed. In this way, it made nine brave attempts but slipped down every time.
“It would not try anymore,” said the king to himself, into, the same moment the spider was climbing again! It went up and up and at last reached its goal.
King Bruce learnt a lesson- try, try again. “If the spider can try again and again and be successful, why not, I ?” But though he. So he took heart, came out of the cave gathered his men and gave the English a battle. This time he defeated them and made his country free from their yoke.
Moral: (I) Try, Try, Again. (II) Perseverance succeeds in the end.
(2) An Unfinished Story: One upon a time two men started on a long journey. They had known each other for a long time. One of them was very happy to have a companion. He was a true and loyal friend; he thought of others before he thought of himself. But the other was selfish, he thought of his own safety first.
One evening, as they were passing through a jungle……..
Complete Story: Two Friendship and the Bear
Once upon a time, two men started on a long journey. They had known each other for a long time. One of them was very happy to have a companion. He was a true and loyal friend. He thought of others before he thought of himself. But the other was selfish; he thought of his own safety first.
One evening as they were passing through a jungle, they saw a bear coming towards them. Both of them were frightened. The selfish friend at once climbed up a tree. The other did not know how to climb. He at once threw himself at full length on the ground and held his breath to look like a dead man. He had heard people say that a bear would never touch a dead body.
The bear came up to him, sniffed him from all sides and went away thinking him to be dead.
When the bear had gone out of sight, the selfish friend came down the tree. He went to his friend and asked him what the bear had whispered in his ear.
“Oh!” replied his friend, “the bear whispered in my ear that we should not rely on friends who leave us in danger”.
Moral: (I) Adversity is the true test of friendship. (II) Don’t trust a false friend. (III) A friend in need is a friend indeed.
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