In this week's reading, I read through more of Babbitt's Jataka Tales and have taken notes on ones that I think would be options for me to write stories about for my project portfolio. All of the stories in part B show some kind of karmic action, but I wanted to chose my favorites and the ones that would inspire me to write an original story using the plots and/or characters.
The Foolhardy Wolf
This story shows karmic action in a negative way for the wolf. A wolf who is desperate for life and food finds himself a servant to the lion. The lion instructed the wolf to go each morning to look what food there is for the lion to kill and return. Over many days, the lion has killed animals and given some food to the wolf. The wolf, feeling strong enough, decided he wanted to kill an elephant. The lion accepted his request eventually and let the wolf try and kill. The wolf sprang towards the elephant but missed and feel under the elephant's foot and was killed. This story could be one that is useful if I want to show why or how not to get too confident or cocky in one's own abilities.
The Lion in Bad Company
In this story, it teaches to be careful who you befriend and trust. The wolf begged the lion to shelter him in his den and so the lion did even against his parents wishes. Soon the wolf convinced the lion that they needed horse meat to eat so the lion killed one the the king's ponies. The lion's father warned him that those who killed the king's horses did not live long, but the lion did not listen. The lion continued to kill the king's ponies. The king had built and wall and tank to keep the lion out and even hired an archer to shoot him. One day, the lion jumped the wall and killed a pony, but was struck by the archer and killed. The wolf stayed on the other side of the wall and upon learning of the lion's death, he went back home to the woods. This story would be useful in coming up with a friendship story where one of the characters trusts too easily and it ends up being bad for them in the end.
In part B, these two stories stood out to me the most as it would be easy for me to come up with a story where I think the karmic action is important to tell.
Bibliography: Ellen C. Babbitt, More Jataka Tales, More Jataka Tales
The Foolhardy Wolf
This story shows karmic action in a negative way for the wolf. A wolf who is desperate for life and food finds himself a servant to the lion. The lion instructed the wolf to go each morning to look what food there is for the lion to kill and return. Over many days, the lion has killed animals and given some food to the wolf. The wolf, feeling strong enough, decided he wanted to kill an elephant. The lion accepted his request eventually and let the wolf try and kill. The wolf sprang towards the elephant but missed and feel under the elephant's foot and was killed. This story could be one that is useful if I want to show why or how not to get too confident or cocky in one's own abilities.
The Lion in Bad Company
In this story, it teaches to be careful who you befriend and trust. The wolf begged the lion to shelter him in his den and so the lion did even against his parents wishes. Soon the wolf convinced the lion that they needed horse meat to eat so the lion killed one the the king's ponies. The lion's father warned him that those who killed the king's horses did not live long, but the lion did not listen. The lion continued to kill the king's ponies. The king had built and wall and tank to keep the lion out and even hired an archer to shoot him. One day, the lion jumped the wall and killed a pony, but was struck by the archer and killed. The wolf stayed on the other side of the wall and upon learning of the lion's death, he went back home to the woods. This story would be useful in coming up with a friendship story where one of the characters trusts too easily and it ends up being bad for them in the end.
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| (Lion attacking one of the King's ponies; Source: Wikimedia) |
In part B, these two stories stood out to me the most as it would be easy for me to come up with a story where I think the karmic action is important to tell.
Bibliography: Ellen C. Babbitt, More Jataka Tales, More Jataka Tales
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