Reading Notes: Twenty Jataka Tales; Part B

All stories retrieved from Twenty Jataka Tales by N. Inayat

The Two Pigs

  • Usage of onomatopoeia as the introductory sentence to create curiosity within the readers. This can be a great way to get the readers' attention by using simple sound-like descriptions, such as "tick-a-tack" in this story
  • Also included traditional fairy tale-like ending "... lived happily ever after" to create sense of comfortability and sense of happy ending in a story meant to be read to children
  • Again, inclusion of something mystical that influenced the behavior and thought processes of humans and their faults, which in this case is the power of love to conquer all
  • Also included the instance of royalty, such as a king
    • What is the effect of inclusion of a king and why is it effective?
    • What feelings does this inclusion create?
    • How does it essential to the plot of the story?
  • Ways to rewrite this
    • From the perspective of the drunken men
    • From the perspective of the king
    • Told from story where one of the brother did die, and the other still had the effects of his words
(Mischievous Monkeys. Source: Unsplash) 
The Patient Buffalo
  • There are several inclusions of monkeys within these jatakas
    • What is their role?
    • Why is it always monkeys?
    • Is it a representation of humans in their most primal ways? Such instincts as mischievousness and faulty curiosity? Blind morals?
    • But there are also intelligent characters as well
  • I liked the theme on the buffalo never cared for the monkeys messing with him because he believed that they were already dealt a bad hand to begin with

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introduction to... A Chicken-Loving Master of Procrastination

Image
Hello! My name is Long, I'm currently a junior studying Microbiology Pre-Med route, and might I say, time has been going by way too fast for me right now. I remember just yesterday that I was a freshman entering the campus in Fall 2017 without a clue as to where my classes were. But, here we are, 5 semesters later, and I guess there's nothing you can do about it but try your best to catch up! Am I right? In the past two semesters, something that I was proud about was the matter that I achieved a 4.0 GPA in both of my busiest semesters of college so far. I know I'm giving myself a pat on the back right now, but seriously at some points during those semesters, I contemplated ripping off all my hair. I can say that, for me, 2019 has been a year of work after work after work, I couldn't find any time for myself. Spring 2019 I was pledging a fraternity. In summer, I was taking biochemistry every weekday for 2 months. And Fall 2019, I busied myself with 5 science-related clas...
Read more

Week 6 Story: The Problems of the Rabbit

Image
Author's Note: This story was written in the similar style and parts inspired by " The Foolish, Timid Rabbit " in Jakata Tales by E. C. Babbitt. I've reorganized the story to fit another moralistic notion that was told in a story heard by Dan Western, called " The Wise Man ." Once upon a time, there was a happy Rabbit, living under a log in the forest. The Rabbit spends his days scurrying around the forest, looking at rocks, flowers, the skies. The Rabbit was ever so enjoying his life. Wherever he went, his smile and ecstatic attitude spread to whoever he talks to! His neighbors, the fox, the squirrels, never quite knew why the Rabbit was so happy all the time. But they can't help but to be happy whenever he comes along. The Rabbit has a special place inside his log where he kept his supply of food. He wasn't a hoarder, but it was his happy supply, and he was willing to share with those who needed it. One day, after a tiring day of frolicki...
Read more