James Thurber’s tale, The 13 Clocks, is the perfect mix of fantasy, fiction, and the fairy tale genre. The evil Duke keeps Princess Saralinda under his grasp, while giving seemingly impossible tasks for her suitors. When Xingu (Zorn of Zorna) arrives, everything changes.
Teaching students how to sequence is an essential skill in education. The focus on learning how to do it is typically taught in lower grades and in many special education classrooms throughout all grades. Storyboard That makes sequencing easy!
The 13 Clocks Sequence of Events activity Thirteen Clocks
timeline graphic
chronological graphic organizer
Storyboard Text
Slide: 1
"...the Duke decided he had murdered time, slain it with his sword, and wiped his bloody blade upon its beard and left it lying there, bleeding hours and minutes."
The Duke 'murders' time. He keeps Princess Saralinda locked in his castle and gives impossible tasks for her suitors.
Slide: 2
"I make mistakes, but I am on the side of Good."
Xingu (Zorn of Zorna) comes to town in search of a fair maiden. He decides he wants to try for Saralinda's hand in marriage. He and Golux form a plan.
Slide: 3
"I give you nine and ninety hours, not nine and ninety days, to find a thousand jewels and bring them here. When you return the clocks must all be striking five."
The Duke knows Xingu is Zorn of Zorna and he gives him a seeming impossible task for Saralinda's hand.
Slide: 4
Zorn and Golux search for the 1,000 jewels. They go to Hagga's house and make her laugh so she cries jewels. Long ago King Gwain granted her the power to cry jewels.
Slide: 5
"If you can touch the clocks and never start them, then you can start the clocks and never touch them."
When they get back to the castle, Princess Saralinda, helps them unfreeze the clocks.
Slide: 6
"She's not my niece. I stole her from a king."
Zorn completes the impossible task. The Duke tells them that Saralinda was not his niece and that he stole her long ago. Hark reveals that he is King Gwain's servant.
Slide: 7
"Princess Saralinda thought she saw, as people often think they see, on clear and windless days, the distant shining shores of Ever After."
Zorn and Saralinda ride off, happily. The Duke is eaten by the Todal.