Week 7: Essay - ASSESS THE READING UNIT

This week I read about African stories from Lang’s fairy tale book. I thought that this week’s reading was quite interesting. To be honest it was not my favorite but I enjoyed it more than last week’s reading. I enjoy reading books that have a variety of different story topic incorporated into it making it one. As I believe that it really helps keep the readers focus – well at least mine. The fact that it had a series of short stories allowed me to pick one and retell it in my own words.

A few of my favorite stories were The heart of the monkey as you can tell as I have chosen to retell it in this week’s story telling task. I loved the character of the monkey and how wise he was in preventing himself from giving the sultan his heart.. I also really enjoyed reading about the washermans donkey. One thing that stood out to me the most about this story is the reason why the donkey was tricked by the hare twice. I think it is rather intriguing how they use the heart to be the tool for thought and it being the reason she came back twice believing the hare, when I would assume that it would be your brain that is the deciding tool. I guess different cultures assume that different things are used to help make decisions and I’m guessing in this case because the donkey didn’t have a heart she made the same mistake twice. Finally my third favorite was the story of Makoma, whilst reading this story I felt like I was reading the African version of the story of Hercules. As Makoma too went on a mission conquering different obstacles making him the undefeated one as did Hercules with the twelve obstacles. And in the end Makoma being made a God as was Hercules (half mortal half god).

Collectively this was a really good reading unit, and I would also say it was a an easy read with a good flow to it.

Link: African Stories from Lang's fairy tale book

Week 7- Story Telling: The Monkey With No Heart

Far far away somewhere in the continent of Africa lived there lived a monkey named Monkey. Every day at sun rise he would arise from his resting place and hang from tree to tree picking all the yummiest and most ripest tropical fruits. Until one day whilst eating a guava fruit he heard someone say “Hey, Good morning my friend”. 

“Who is that” said Monkey observing his surroundings. 

“Down here, it’s me” replied the voice, coming from the swishing waves. Monkey looked down and there was a shark peering his head from the ocean, “Care to share some of that fruit with an old friend from the ocean” said the shark. 

“Sure, which kind would you like” said the monkey enthusiastically. 

“I guess I will have whatever it is you have to offer. If only we could have a variety like this from the ocean” Explained the Shark. 

So Monkey picked off plenty of fruits from the trees feeding the shark. Surprisingly there was still many more to last them for days.  The Shark filled up his stomach till he was content “ same time tomorrow” He shouted, swimming off. 

Every morning Monkey and shark would meet up at the same spot to have breakfast together. As time went on they grew a friendship closer than no other. Until one day during breakfast monkey asked “ I wonder what lies in the ocean. Oh how I would love to explore it” 

“ It’s nothing but water, creatures of the sea and large mountains. I can take you on a ride if you like” said the shark. 

“Well no. If ever I got wet I would become ever so sick” said the monkey disappointed. 

“Well no, you may ride on my back and explore the wonders of the sea” said the  shark. 

“Ghee, you are ever so kind” said the monkey.

So the monkey jumped on the Sharks back and they both set off on a what was supposed to be a great adventure. As they went on the shark had told the monkey that there was a sultan from his village that was ill and the only cure would be a monkeys heart. This remained uneasy with the monkey and so he had to conjure up a plan. 

“My dear friend, I would be more than happy to give the sultan my heart. However when monkeys leave their homes it is a must that we hang our hearts above our homes” 

“Oh dear” said the shark “ I was hoping maybe I could be rewarded with all the tropical fruits Africa has to offer if I bring a monkeys heart to the sultan” 

“You must take me back home at once, so we may get you your reward” said Monkey. And so they set off back in the ocean returning Monkey to his home. Days had passed and the shark would return hoping monkey would give him the heart, but instead shark was never to see Monkey again. 

(The Heart of a monkey)

Authors Note: I really enjoyed this story. I kept the plot of the story the same as the original story as it was my favorite in this week’s reading. The original story is also about a shark and monkey who become friends and they end up sharing breakfast every morning. One day the monkey and shark set off in a journey at sea when the shark informs him of a sultan that needs a monkey’s heart. The monkey therefore then tricks the shark into taking him back by saying he left his heart at home. But then he goes on to tell the shark about the story of the donkey that had no heart. I did however make a few changes.

Link: The heart of a monkey

Bibliography: The Lilac Fairy Book by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1910).

Week 7- Reading Diary :African Stories from Lang's Fairy Books

Motikatika - It is funny how the tables have turned in this story. She was very difficult to please. Being picky about everything he brought her. So when he fell thirsty he did the exact same thing. Only that she was confronted with a ogre. As a mother how could she trade in her baby’s life so that she may save her own. But again her child is a magician and knows of her promise to the ogre. I found that quite funny.

   Motikatika (cont.) - I think Motikatia is an evil baby. How could he collect babies. My thoughts right now is – what happens to all these babies now? But it was also a smart strategy in preventing the ogre from eating him and confusing him. It is sad that in the end the father gets eaten based on the fact that he was the one that sent the mother in the first place.

   Jackal and Spring - The jackal in this story is rather clever. He managed to trick both the rabbit and the hare into giving them a treat. However he underestimated the least powerful being the tortoise but in fact he was the only one he could not trick. Goes to show to never underestimate even the smallest among us.

Adventures of a Jackal & Adventures of a Jackal (cont.) - The jackel here is very cunning. Why he would make tight shoes for the panther I don’t know. But the fact that he was not apologetic for it means he done it on purpose. So I could understand why the panther wants revenge. He is very qualified in being deceitful that he is always one step ahead of the Panther. But the old mans advice is very clever in helping him distinguish the traitor jackel from the rest. The way he tied all the jacels tails was a even cleverer move making it impossible for the panther to know whose who.

 Adventures of a Jackal (end) - Finally, there was someone who was more cunning than the jackel. And got revenge for all that he wronged. The hedgehog was much smarter than the jackel in that he recognized the difference between the sheep and the greyhound.

  Adventures of Jackal's Eldest Son - I really enjoyed reading this story. It is another example of how cunning the jackel is. Now that the heyena was killed by the lion because of how he said he would divide the prey. The jackel said that he would divide it in a way that pleased the lion. Which in reality means that if the hayena is taken out of the equation it means that the jackel can wear the clock by day and by night.

 Adventures of Jackal's Eldest Son (cont.) - The jackel is a very ungrateful creature. His fathers friend actually did him a favour by telling him where the butter was. Instead he makes the hedgehog steal and then scares him away so that he may have it all. But again the hedgehog came out on top. By crushing him. 

Adventures of Younger Son of Jackal - I don’t quite understand why the jackel being so kind in his offer would not equally share with the sheep. The youngest jackel was not supposed to be like his father and brother. Its funny how due to the jackels fear of the greyhound he shared evenly. Obviously he would not want to end up like his father.

Hassebu &Hassebu (cont.) - When reading this story I had a feeling that Hassebu’s companions was going to play him and become greedy. But Hassebu was a very smart young man. It reminds me of the quranic story of yusuf being left in the well by his brothers, leaving him for dead. The king of snakes was a very humble man as he still helped Hassebu knowing that it was because of him he was going to die. In return Hassebu became very learnt and great physician like his father was.

The Heart of a Monkey - I thought this story was very hilarious in the way that the monkey convinced the shark to turn back around to get his heart although he had his heart the whole time. What a clever monkey.

 The Heart of a Monkey: The Washerman's Donkey & The Heart of a Monkey: The Washerman's Donkey (cont.) -What a clever donkey. She managed to escape the hare and the lions set up. I thought it was quite weird how a donkey and a lion could be married. Very creative. It is quite sad that the lion still wants the same donkey for dinner, whilst she is still recovering. The donkey was rather stupid in the story thinking that he was trying to kiss you. So she goes to the lion again resulting in her death. I think it was a smart concept as to why she came a second time being that she had no heart.

Makoma & Makoma (cont.) - This story reminds me of Hercules but the African version. As Hercules completed the hardest and darkest of obstacles and always remained successful. As Hercules kept souvenirs of all twelve tasks that he had completed, Makoma did the same by placing them in a bag. I think he was sort of like a bully as he felt the need to prove he was the greatest instead of leaving them to do what they did best. Although he kept them as friends in the end.

Makoma (end) - The giant – sakatrina was so huge that even with Makomas hardest hit he felt very little. This was not like Makomas other challenges. They both were equally as strong therefore they became gods. I thought this was a very Greek myth like story.

Source: African tales