Extra Credit Reading Notes

The Foolish Timid Rabbit:
 I really enjoyed two specific elements of this story. I thought it touched on something very real in its metaphor about how easy it is to get swept away by what the majority believes. In contrast, I thought it showcased the importance of wise leaders standing up against majority opinion and asking intelligent questions.

The Turtle and the King/The Turtle and the Geese:
I thought the juxtaposition between the two turtles in these stories was really fascinating. It pointed to the fact that when storytelling, you can have two characters of a similar background take very different paths.


The Cunning Crane and the Crab:
I really liked this story. At first it reminded me of the old story of The Scorpion and the Turtle, except with a surprise twist at the end. I thought it was interesting that the author of the story clearly felt that the crab had been just in his dealing with the crane.


The Crocodile and the Monkey's Heart:
A common theme is emerging amongst the last few stories; Intelligence and cleverness seem to be the most admirable traits as opposed to brawn. I thought it was interesting that the monkey's immediate trusting nature was not as fatal in this story as in the previous ones.


The Crocodile in the River:
What I found most interesting in this story is the respect that the crocodile gives the monkey at the end of the story. Unlike the previous version when the crocodile was miserable because he lost his meal, this version has the crocodile possessing enough wisdom to appreciate being outmaneuvered.

Wise Monkey
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The Monkey who Gathered Lotuses:
This story certainly had the most unexpected ending for me. Most of these stories have followed a logical path to the end, but I was not expecting the father to basically have a heart attack and die before a final confrontation with the son. I did notice that similar to The Crocodile in the River, a potential adversary praises the monkey's intelligence.


The Self Willed Deer/Noisy Out of Season:
I liked both of these stories. They, strangely, reminded me of biblical parables found throughout the Gospels. I am curious how familiar the author was with the Christian affinity for parables when he wrote these.


Goblin City:
This was probably the story I liked least out of this bunch, not because it was not a great story, but rather it felt out of place compared to the previous animal themed stories.