Week 7 Reading Diary, Continued: Lang's Fairy Books

Today I am finishing up African Stories from Lang's Fairy Books! These stories are from The Violet Fairy Book, The Lilac Fairy Book, and The Orange Fairy Book by Andrew Lang.

Hassebu:
This begins as another mother and son. Hassebu does not learn any kind of work, but reads his father's one remaining medicine book. One day, he goes along with wood cutters and finds honey. The workers agree to share the profits with him, but they betray him. Oh no! His mother thought Hassebu was dead. His betrayers even brought her food every day. Luckily, the boy survived on the honey he gathered and explored the hole. Thanks for a scorpion, he finds a wiggle hole out. The boy came to a palace and slept until being gently awoken by a snake king. Is the snake a symbol for good in this mythology? The snake is afraid that the boy will later do him harm. This seems to be a theme.Sadly, it ends badly for the snake and without justice for the mean workers! How could that be different?

The Heart of a Monkey:
Sharks near the town, oh no! I am already wary of where this story will go.  However, there are now also moneys, so I am content. The monkey is kind and shares fruit with one of the sharks, but I am suspicious that the shark intends to eat more than fruit! The shark convinces the monkey to come see the ocean and acts like he knows where they are going. uh oh! Apparently the shark king needs a monkey heart. Luckily, the monkey is cunning...although still in the middle of the ocean! After getting back, the monkey says he is not a Washerman's Donkey. That reminds me of the washerman in the Ramayana! Also, Scheherazade with the story in a story!

Makoma:
An incredibly skilled child challenges the strong men in town to jump into crocodile infested waters. When no one else did, he jumped in himself! In herculean montage speed, he kills the crocodiles and turns into a grown man. This is crazy! Everyone must have been shocked! Then, he goes on to challenge every great thing he meets, hit them with his hammer, and shrinks them to keep in his satchel. But why? Ultimately, he lets them all free after being declared a hero, but his ability is challenged by a swamp monster once. What if he hadn't freed all of them before this? Or what if he had a tool different than a hammer?

The clever monkey on the shark
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