Reading Notes: Twenty Jataka Tales; Part A

All readings were retrieved from Twenty Jataka Tales, by N. Inayat

The Monkey Bridge

• I've noticed that most of these Jatakas originating from India bear many significant geographical locations. Such as for this story, it doesn't mention some river, but does mention the Ganges, which is a culturally important river in India. Another indication is the Himalayas.
• Diction is simple and easy to understand, no usage of complex words
• Senses, such as taste and smell are heavily emphasized and inclusion of exclamation points to start the emphasis of feeling
• Again, inclusion of some form of leader and/or royalty, which in this case, King of the monkeys.
• The actions and sacrifices of the monkey King was significant in its effect on how he treated his kingdom after he had found the Monkey King, which in way teaches a lesson for both the readers and the character in the story.

The Guilty Dogs

• Just like the story above, there included the aspect of royalty such as the king of the city and the chief of the dogs.
• Stories personified dogs with human characteristics such as talking and understanding the words of humans
• Devised theme of bravery and justice, explored very curiously by how the the dog proved the innocence of the rest of the city dogs as the royal dogs were guilty.

(The Monkey King. Source: Unsplash)