Reading Notes: Week 6 Khasi Folktales part A

Portrayal of animals/symbols

Tiger

• King, "great strength by which he would be able to subdue the turbulent beasts"
• strong but dumb, self absorbed and didn't pay attention to the other animals
• kind of creepy wanting to marry someone so young
• alone, does not have family or friends
• licks a tree

monkeys

• tricky, wanting to mess with the king tiger and don't approve of him
• "audacious" "mischief" "cunning"
• they all band together to protect each other, very much a family

  

  Cute bird, Source

tree

• not an animal, but sort of a character 
• old, malevolent, stoic, "serious menace to the world"
• thick branches, dark leaves, largest in the forest
• everyone is afraid of it, hard tough wood

bird

• small, chirpy, encourages the wood choppers
• loud, positive, good vibes only
• "thus ka phreit, the smallest of all birds, helped mankind to bring back sunshine and prosperity to this world'

deer

• noble, "pride of his mother's heart," 
• "he was swift, he was young, he was strong"
• honorable, very strong species, determined,
• mother lamented her son, cried out and everyone respected her
• stag kicked the dogs food, they all made fun of him

dog

• was an animal of the forest, but left to become an attendant of humans
• other animals "were thrifty and industrious...but the dog, being of an indolent nature did not like to work"
• wants to get goods at the fair, but not work for them
• other animals mocked him, he was angry and humiliated

pig

• hardworking, ploughs the field when the master asks him to

humans

• "man was excluded from these fairs as he was looked upon as an enemy"
• tries to chop down a giant tree
• kills the beautiful deer, hunts other animals
• "cordial and hospitable" nice to the dogs, give them food
• overall humans are not looked upon as super great in these stories

Bibliography

Folktales from the Khasi people, Source