Part A of More Jataka Tales revealed many interesting stories, but this week in particular I read The Woodpecker, Turtle, and Deer. I was initially interested in this story because of the title. Normally woodpeckers, turtles, and deers are not animals that I associated with South Asia, so I wanted to see how they were portrayed in the story. However, after reading the story, there really was special South Asian twist and this story could fit in with any culture really. I did enjoy reading the short story as it was heart-warming and had a happy ending. I appreciated the teamwork of the animals as well as the self-less desire to help one another even if it put themselves in danger. The hunter antagonist is interesting and I feel that this often the villain in short stories I have read. Perhaps this alludes to the significance animals have within South Asia. For a potential retelling of the story, I would, as I probably would for most of these short stories, add more detail to the plot line and perhaps humanize the hunter to make him even more menacing. I did appreciate the first-person point of view from the animals and would enjoy a backstory on how these animals met and became friends. Finally, it was interesting to see that the hunter was going to use a knife to hunt down the deer. Bows and arrows seem to be so prominent in Indian stories, so perhaps this may be a detail I add to make the plot line more compelling and attuned to South Asian culture.
Source: More Jataka Tales, Ellen C. Babbitt, Ellsworth Young, 1922
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