Essay: Tragedy in the Folktales of Laos

    In the Folktales of Laos, there were a lot of tragedies. For instance in the Lover's Leap, the story ended in the main characters' death. The Lover's Leap is a romantic tragedy. The story begins with a young man who falls in love with a maiden. The maiden loves him as well. Because the maiden's father would never allow this romantic relationship, they kept their love a secret. Believing that he has his daughter under control, the father throws a feast in celebration of this. While feasting, the daughter steps out and runs into the young man. The young man asks for her hand in marriage. She accepts. They decide to run away. Word got out that the two lovers were running away. This infuriated the father. He decided to go after them. With the father nearing them, the two lovers had a decision to make: go back or leap over to the other side of the cliff. They decided to take their chances and make the leap. Sadly, they missed the opposite cliff and fell to their death.
   This story was tragic because of the death of the two lovers. These two characters were innocent and deserved to be happy. They were young and never really got to experience life whereas the father who is old and has experienced life gets to live on. This seems kind of unfair to me.

(Lover's Leap)

    Another story that was tragic was the story of the One Woman. This story was tragic because in this story the bad-guy wins. This story is about a woman who uses her beauty and craftiness to manipulate her suitors to do her bidding. The men are so blinded by love they will do anything for her. This unfortunately leads to their downfall and the prevail of the woman. The story ended with the woman living richly in a beautiful home.
    The One Woman is a tragic story because it just seems unfair to me. These men were characterized as loyal and hard-working who were just blinded by love. In contrast the woman is described as deceitful, manipulative, and selfish. It is tragic that the good people lose and the bad people win.

Storytelling for Week 7: Leap of Love

Leap of Love

Once there lived a poor young farmer who loved a pretty maiden. The maiden was the daughter of a rich merchant. Because of his low social class, the young farmer was aware that a union between him and the maiden was impossible. All he could do was admire her from a far.

While count his riches, the merchant decided that he could afford to throw a rich feasts for his friends and guests. He would need meat and the freshest vegetables and fruits. The merchant’s advisor suggested that he get the foods for the feast from the young farmer for the young farmer is known to grow the best fruits and vegetables and raise the best meats. Hearing this, the merchant demanded the services of this young farmer.

The young farmer was doing his daily chores on the farm when a messenger came and gave him a letter. The letter was a request from the merchant, demanding the presence of the young farmer. The young farmer was elated by this request for this meant that he gets to be closer to the maiden if it was just for a short time.

The young farmer journeyed to the merchant’s home and presented himself. The merchant was instantly pleased with and hired him on the spot.

The preparation for the kind of party the merchant desire took days. The young farmer was fine with this for this means that he will be able to see the maiden even more.

The young farmer indeed get to see the young maiden often for she was always in the kitchen because she loved to cook. One day the farmer gained enough courage to go up to the maiden and talk to her. While conversing, they learned that they had quite a lot in common. For instance, they both love food. The young farmer loves to raise food and the maiden loved to cook food.

For days up until the feast, the young farmer and the maiden spent their time in the kitchen cooking and preparing for the party. They soon fell in love with each other. The maiden knew that her father, the merchant, would never approve of this relationship so the young farmer and the maiden kept their love a secret.

The day of the feast finally arrived. Everything about the feast was what the merchant had hoped for: lots of food and merry people. While everyone was distracted with partying, the maiden decided to use this time to run away.

In the distance the young farmer with a horse was waiting for the maiden. They have decided to run away and elope. Unfortunately one of the servants saw the secret meeting between the maiden and the young farmer and ran back and informed the merchant of it. The merchant outraged ran after them.

The merchant finally caught up with the lovers. The lovers had nowhere to go for they were on the edge of cliff. The only escape they had was to leap over onto the cliff on the other side. Because of the strong love for each other, they decided to take a leap of faith (love) and jump over onto the other cliff. To everyone’s surprise, including the lovers, they made it safely. This was the last time the merchant or anyone else ever saw them. 

(Leap of Love)

Author's note: This story is based on the The Lover's Leap. This story can be found in Folktales of Laos. The story of the The Lover's Leap is about a young man who falls in love with a maiden and the maiden loves him as well. There love was forbidden by the maiden's father though. The father  comanded his daughter to never speak or see the young man ever. Believing that the romantic relationship between the young man and his daughter had ended, he throws a feast to actually find a suitable man to marry. During, the feast the young man approaches her and ask for hand in marriage. She accepts and the two run away on horse back. Unfortunately a horse saw them and informed the father. The father and his men pursue them. The only escape for the young lovers was to leap across to the hill on the other side. They decided go for it but they missed the opposite cliff and fell to their deaths. In my story Leap of Love, I chose a happier ending because I don't really like sad endings. I also chose to go a little more in detail about the courtship between the two lovers.

"The Lover's Leap" from the Folktales of Laos (1899). Web source:Sacred Texts

Folktales of Laos-- Reading Diary B

Folklore of Laos Table of Contents

Although I enjoyed the first half of the Folklore of Laos more, there were some stories in the second half that were pretty interesting. One of them was them was the story of One Woman.

In One Woman, a woman uses her beauty to manipulate her suitors. The story begins with, the woman, Chum Paw, requesting her suitors to build her a home. The suitors are not aware of each other. They do not know that Chum Paw has more than one suitor; each suitor thought himself to be the only one.

They bump into one another while trying to build a home to impress Chum Paw. While talking to each other they soon realize that Chum Paw is manipulating them. This angers them and pushes them to plot against her. They decide to kill her. But once again she manipulates them. And every time the suitors believe her. This happens throughout the story until the suitors finally get themselves killed. Leaving Chum Paw with a beautiful home and wealth.

This ending was a little disappointing for me. I kind of viewed Chum Paw as the bad guy and so I did not want her to win or triumph in the end. But I guess the point of this story was to inform readers to not easily trust people.

Another story that I enjoyed was the story of To Aid a Beast. In this story a hunter helps a blacksmith who has fallen into a pit. The hunter then helps a tiger who is caught in a trap. It doesn't stop there. The hunter then helps a snake who has fallen into a well. By helping all of these creatures the hunter is ensured that when is great need they will come to his rescue just as he had done for them. In the end, the creatures that the hunter had helped kept their word. For in the end with the help of the creatures, the head chow gave the hunter half of his province. I guess you can say that the moral of the story is to treat someone the way you would want to be treated. Help those that are in need and they will help you when are in need just a you did for them.

(Tiger)

Folktales of Laos -- Reading Diary A

Folklore of Laos Table of Contents

I really enjoyed this reading unit. One of my favorite chapters was the The Man in the Moon. This story was about a blacksmith who is not content with what he currently possesses. For instances, he wishes to be a stone on the mountain but as soon as he is a stone he wants to be something else. And then after that, he wants to be something else and so on. Until finally, he realizes that being a blacksmith is actually what he wants so he asks the wise man to change him back. The wise man refuses to change him back. The blacksmith, consequently, has to remain a moon forever. And that is the story of the origin of the Moon.

(Moon)

Another story I enjoyed was the The Faithful Husband. This chapter was about a man who falls in love with a nymph. They marry but rumors of the wife's beauty spread. Men were envious of the husband, especially the head chow. The head chow wanted the wife so much he sent the husband to war. This reminded me of the story of King David and Bathsheba. In this biblical story, King David desires Bathsheba, who is wife, so much he sends her husband to war -- just like head chow. But unlike the biblical, the husband survived the war and returned to his wife. The story of the Faithful Husband has a happier ending. The Husband portrays his love for his wife by defying the head chow. The head chow tests the Husband's love for his Wife and the Husband passes with flying colors.

Essay: Tricksters in nigerian Folk Stories

In the Nigerian Folk Stories, there were quite a few tricksters. For instance in The Pretty Stranger who Killed the King story a witch turned herself into beautiful woman in order to seduce the King. The King of this story was a greedy and selfish man. He gained his riches by enslaving people. This angered the people of Itu. The plotted to get rid of the King with the help of a witch. With magic, the witch turned herself into a beautiful woman and tricked the King into marrying. While the King was asleep the witch cut his head off.

Another trickster that can be found in this reading unit is the skull in The Disobedient Daughter who Married a Skull. In this story a skull falls in love with a beautiful young lady. The Skull knew that the girl would never fall for someone like him for he is scary and ugly looking. So to seduce the girl, the Skull borrowed different human body parts that when put together made him into an attractive man. The Skull was successful in seducing the girl and was able to bring her home into her his world -- the spirit land. As soon as the entered the spirit land the Skull's true form was revealed and the girl realized that she had been tricked.

(Skull)

A third trickster can also be found in the story of Why the Bat flies by Night. In this story a Bat tricks a rat into boiling himself. He does this by telling the rat that if you boil yourself before you cook the actual food, the food will be sweeter. The rat believes him and consequently boils himself to death. Because of this the bat is a wanted animal and therefore can only go out at night when no one can see him.

Storytelling for Week 2: The Dog and his Friend

It happened that a Dog had got a piece of meat and was carrying it home in his mouth to eat it in peace. Now on his way home he had to cross a plank lying across a running brook.

As he crossed, he looked down and saw his own shadow reflected in the water beneath. Thinking it was another dog with another piece of meat, he made up his mind to have that also.

So he made a snap at the shadow in the water, but as he opened his mouth the piece of meat fell out, dropped into the water and was never seen more.

Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.

(The Dog and the Shadow)

The Dog and his Friend

     Once there was a Dog walking home from a day of scouting for spare meat. He was walking alongside a river when he noticed another dog – that was really just his reflection in the water but he did not know this. Now this Dog did not really have any friends or really knew any other dogs so when he saw this reflection he was elated to befriend this dog.

     He introduced himself as Atlas and asked for the reflection’s name in return. The reflection did not respond. Atlas figured he was just a quiet or shy so he decided to just call him Bentley. Atlas was excited for his friendship with Bentley.

     As Atlas walked Bentley walked as well. It looked as if they were walking alongside each other. When Atlas ran, Bentley ran. When Atlas would chase his tail, Bentley would chase his tale. Atlas liked that they shared common interests.

    Atlas would talk for hours about himself, his dreams, and his day and Bentley would attentively listen—never interrupting Atlas. Atlas liked this about Bentley; he was a very good listener. And when Atlas would look at Bentley would look straight back at him. This made Atlas feel like Bentley was actually interested in what Atlas had to say. This made Atlas feel very special.

    Meeting up with Bentley became a daily routine. After Atlas went on his daily hunting for meat, he would go to the river to go meet up with Bentley. And every day Bentley was there waiting for him. Although Bentley was always there, Atlas noticed that when it got dark, Bentley would disappear. Atlas just told himself that Bentley was just probably scared of the dark and so would leave to go home. Therefore Atlas’s time with Bentley was restricted to the day. This saddened Atlas. He wished that he could go out and see Bentley all the time. Despite not being able to hang out with Bentley at night Atlas still treasured the time he was with Bentley.

    It was like any other day – go hunting and go meet up with Bentley. As Atlas went to the river he noticed that the river was dried up. The months of no rain finally dried up the river. He looked for Bentley but could not find him anywhere. He looked in the bushes, walked across the dried river, and looked under bridge but did not find him. Atlas called his name but there was no reply. Atlas did this for another few days – looking for Bentley and calling for him – but never found him. This saddened Atlas for he has lost a friend – his only friend.

    One day while walking home in grief he ran into – an actual – dog. The dog introduced himself as August. Atlas then introduced himself as well. While conversing, they realized that they lived in the same area and enjoy hunting for meat. As the day darkened, Atlas was afraid that August would leave him just like Bentley did but unlike Bentley, August remained and walked alongside Atlas toward their homes. 

 

(Dog and Reflection)

Author’s Note: This story is based on the story of the The Dog and the Shadow. This story, The dog and the Shadow can be found in the Aesop's Fables.  The Dog and the Shadow is about a Dog with a meat in his mouth who sees his own reflection in the water. Thinking that it is another dog with meat, he decides to take the meat from the other dog. While doing so, he accidentally drops his meat into the water and loses it. For my story The Dog and his Friend, I decided that the Dog befriends his reflection in the water. I wanted my story to be a little simpler and happier. He talks and hangs out with his reflection and eventually develops a friendship with it as if the reflection was actually a dog. This “friend” is a creation of the Dog’s imagination. He places human- like characteristics on this “friend” or reflection, such as listening and being responsive. The reader can tell that Bentley is not actually a dog but merely a reflection by the fact that Bentley mysteriously disappears at night. (You cannot really see reflection when it is pitch dark outside.) I wanted the ending to be a happy one thus I included an actual dog, August. In the end Atlas finally has a true friend.   

   

 "The Dog and the Shadow" from the Fables of Aesop (1902). Web source: Sacred Texts