Reading Notes: Week 2 Anthology

 Notes on: The Foolish, Timid Rabbit

Characters:

The main characters in this story would be the Rabbit and the Lion. There are various other animals for plot development, but they are used to show how information can spread quickly. The rabbit does not think deeply about situations or examine them in any way. The rabbit experiences something and immediately assumes it is exactly what they assumed it was. 

The lion is already feared by all as the "king" and approached the situation with a level head and investigated rather than believing the first thing he heard. He went back to the source of the rumor to see what actually happened because he was brave. 

Plot:

The plot was very enlightening in the way people can interact and follow other's words like sheep. The rabbit would not turn around and see what actually happened behind him. I drew connections to the ways people can be afraid of experiences in their past and how they can overlook the truth by blindly following their assumptions. Finding the root of fear is the first step in conquering troublesome thoughts. The rabbit avoided this confrontation, and instead informed everyone that the world was falling apart.

Another key connection I found in this story is the power of communication. The rabbit took one experience which scared all animals half to death. This shows how people can tend to believe someone else rather than wanting to investigate the problem itself. The "sheep" aspect of this story is visible in this part of the plot.

Lastly, the lion was the only animal that wanted to investigate this rumor and return to the source of the rumor. When the lion forced the rabbit to re-visit the tree, they both saw that the world was not falling apart and that it was merely a coconut. The lion is a symbolism of bravery, showing that brave people will investigate what is frightening to find the truth. 

Setting:

This story had a minimal setting based around a coconut tree, which with the help of the monkeys was the source for the entire story. 

Story Source: 

Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt

"The Foolish, Timid Rabbit"

http://thejatakas.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-foolish-timid-rabbit.html

The Lion Guiding the Rabbit


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