Reading Notes: Week 2 Anthology

Notes: The Tiger, The Brahman, and the Jackal

(The Tiger, The Brahman, and the Jackal: by by John Batten)

THE PLOT:

• Surprise: When the Jackal tricked the Tiger into the cage by acting ditsy and confused. The Tiger became frustrated that the Jackal could not understand how he was in the cage. After explaining it several times, the Tiger went back in the cage to show the Jackal what he meant. Once in the cage the Jackal shut the door and trapped the Tiger, saving the Brahman.

• Setting: There was not much information on setting. If I was to rewrite the story I would add details of location and the mood of those locations. Perhaps making the environmentof the buffalo, road, and pipal tree dark and ominous, but that of the Jackal bright and a maze filled with twist and turns.

CHARACTERS:

• Brahman: The character who's heart softened and let the Tiger initially out of the cage. Due to this, and the Tiger not keeping his promise, the Brahman must go out a seek advise from things. The Brahman in Hinduism is higher than God in personal form. Brahman is described as bliss, absolute truth, and good. It is a supreme power.

• Tiger: The Tiger is the liar in the story. We first meet him in a cage. He told the Brahman that he would be a slave for the Brahman and would not eat him. Once he sobs, the Brahman lets him out and he proceeds to plan to eat the Brahman for dinner. The Tiger lets Brahman go ask several things about how just the Tiger's actions are. In the end, the Tiger is tricked back into the cage by a Jackal.

• Jackal: The Jackal plays dumb in this story until the very last sentence. In the end, the Jackal is wise and filled with whit.

• Things: This things that are questioned about the Tiger's actions by the Brahman. They include a road, a pipal tree, and a buffalo. All believe the Brahman should be eaten because their life is cruel and filled with suffering.

STYLE:

• Beginning: "Once upon a time" intro that went immediately into the story.

• End: Abrupt ending, but it was a statement ending. It fit very well with the story and I thought it was a great contribution to the story. I would like the utilize statement ending sentences in my own writings that have lessons attached to them.

• Repetition: The Things that the Brahman asked all repeated the same judgment, emphasizing the Tiger's point.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

The Tiger, The Brahman, and the Jackal by Joseph Jacobs. Website: Indian Fairy Tales