week 7 reading notes: laos folktales - part a

 "The Spirit-Guarded Cave" link to story

  • The story begins with people fleeing their homes to escape from their enemies who constantly mistreat and torment them. They travel to the south, where they believe their lives will be better even if that means they have to be slaves. As they travel, they worry about their money and jewels that they have on them; so, they decide to shelter their possessions in a cave in the woods and have the spirits guard them. The people promise they will return for their possessions once they could secure a better life. However, many generations pass, but they couldn't escape from their life of slavery to claim their possessions. Many other people hear about this and go to the cave to claim it, but it ends badly for those who falsely try to claim the jewels and money. 
  • The story could be retold where an outsider attempts to go into the cave, but with more elaboration and details. 
  • Plot change: a family member of the refugees finds the cave, but he doesn't know about the story and what the treasures the cave holds. 
"Why the Lip of the Elephant Droops" link to story
  • This story kept me interested the whole time! It's terrible that the parents abandoned their daughters like that. 
  • Who is this cannibal woman? Maybe a retelling could provide more backstory on her. 
    • Tell the story from her perspective
  • I was not expecting this woman to be a cannibal once the daughters found what was in the garden.
  • Did the cannibal woman end up eating the daughters or was the elephant enough to protect them? If so, I could write a story where the daughters die and haunt their parents. 

Pile of human bones. Web Source


"The Lovers' Leap" link to story
  • Plot: a story about a young maiden who is forced by her father to end any romantic relationship she had with her lover. However, she cannot forget about him even though her father has chosen another man for his daughter. They end up running off together, but not long before they are tracked down by her father and his crew. The maiden and her lover end up dying together as they attempt to leap across a rushing river. 
  • Possibly add more dialogue to the story
  • Maybe write a story with a happier ending
  • Give the characters names 

Bibliography: These stories are from Laos Folk-Lore by Katherine Neville Fleeson. 

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