It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and what better way to get into the spirit than by writing some Grinch-inspired prompts? Whether you’re a fan of the movie or the original book, these prompts will help you get in the holiday spirit!
12 Grinch Writing Prompts
- Describe what it feels like to be a Grinch on Christmas Eve as you watch the happy people all around you celebrating the season.
- Write about how it feels to transform from a Grinch into a warm and cuddly Santa Claus-like figure, complete with a huge white beard and twinkling eyes.
- Imagine that you are one of the Whos in Whoville, and describe what it’s like to experience Christmas through their joyful eyes.
- Try to write poetry inspired by the Grinch, focusing on themes of loneliness, bitterness, or heartbreak during the holiday season.
- Think about all the different ways you can celebrate Christmas as a Grinch: perhaps by stealing presents from houses or sabotaging family gatherings with mischievous deeds?
- Create an elaborate scheme for stealing Christmas from Whoville, including all of the details of how you would go about executing such a bold plan.
- Write about your journey towards becoming more cheerful during the holiday season, overcoming feelings of anger and resentment towards others who seem so joyous and carefree at this time of year.
- Reflect on how things might have been different if the Grinch had never tried to steal Christmas in the first place – what if he had instead chosen to embrace its magic and warmth?
- Explore some alternative versions of how events may have unfolded if things had gone differently between the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who – perhaps they could have become friends instead of enemies?
- Write about the Grinch learning the value of Christmas and the importance of community and togetherness.
- Consider what might have happened if Cindy Lou had never discovered the Grinch’s heart and returned it to him – would he have decided to steal Christmas as a way of trying to fill the void in his heart?
- Write about a time when you have encountered someone who seems to have a Grinch-like personality: someone who is cold and aloof towards others and makes you uncomfortable.
The Evolution of the Grinch’s Look
Dr. Seuss gives the Grinch a fairly simple description in his original book: “He was a grinch. He was a mean one. He was a vile one. He was the worst one.” But over the years, as the Grinch has been adapted for TV, film, and stage, his look has become much more detailed and specific. So what’s the story behind the Grinch’s green fur and hairy body? Let’s take a look.
Dr. Seuss drew the earliest incarnations of the Grinch in both his original book and later editions. In these illustrations, the Grinch is mostly just green, with hairy eyebrows and tufts of hair on his head. He doesn’t have any other distinguishing features apart from his pointy ears.
TV adaptations of the Grinch began to crop up in the 1960s, starting with an animated special from Chuck Jones. In this version, the Grinch’s fur is updated to be shaggier and more lifelike, giving him a wilder appearance. His eyebrows are also significantly bushy, making him look even more menacing than before.
The most recent major adaptation of the Grinch came in 2000 when Jim Carrey starred in a live-action movie based on the character. In this version, makeup artists took things even further, adding more hair to the Grinch’s body and making his skin look almost scaly. Combined with Carrey’s wild performance, this made for a Grinch that was truly scary to look at.