Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Reading Diary B: Folktales of Bengal Part 2

This Reading Diary details my thoughts from reading Folk-Tales of Bengal by the Rev. Lal Behari Day, with illustrations by Warwick Goble (1912). The Stories include The Ghost-Brahman, A Ghostly Wife, The Story of a Brahmadaitya, The Origin of Rubies, The Ghost who was Afraid of being Bagged and The Bald Wife.  

  • I'm confused.  I thought brahmans were the rich ones…
  • Talk about getting replaced… A ghost just took the brahman's place with his mother and wife.
  • The neat-herd king was very clever in tricking the ghost!  Very unexpected.  
  • Dang.  Never brush by a ghost… they might stuff you into a tree trunk hole.
  • These stories with ghosts are very superstitious.  I can't believe there are so many tales where ghosts can just simply take the place of humans.
  • The ghost kept the house warm by letting her foot burn in the oven… what…
  • I understand why the son and mother don't want to live with a ghost but it seems like they're much happier with the work the ghost performs than the woman herself. 
  • What is the deal with ghosts and their feet and shoes?  
  • Every happy ending has to include the woman bearing sons. 
  • "For to die of hunger is no better than to be killed by ghosts."  
  • This section should be called "Ghost stories of Bengal."
  • Well the Brahmadaitya is a very powerful and convenient friend.  
  • Well I guess ghosts can be nice too…
  • Wow this is a story where everybody wins.  
  • It's not very often that princes are jealous of the youngest brother.  
  • Well I too take fashion advice from parrots.  
  • Ok well I guess everything worked out for the spoiled prince…
  • Why is the ghost afraid of the bag?  I mean at least he would have company!
  • Wow he lived happy ever after by being rich and having sons and daughters.  
  • The bald woman's story is very karmic.  
  • Typical the man doesn't love her until she is pretty.  

(Image of the story "The Origin of Rubies" from the Untextbook.) 

No comments:

Post a Comment