Written Report

In Afro-Asian
Literature

Submitted to: Mr. Erwin

Cipriano

Submitted by: Hans Cristian

Galendez
BSEDEn II-1N
MOMOTARO or LITTLE PEACH
Japanese Fairy Tale
CHARACTERS:
Major (protagonist):
Momotaro A courageous and patriotic boy who came from a big peach floating on a
river. He along with his friends defeated the Ogres.
Minor (supporting):
Dog who bit one of the Chief Ogres followers. He is one of Momotaros friends and
travelling companion.
Monkey one of Momotaros friends and travelling companion. He clawed one of the
Ogres.
Pheasant Momotaros friend and travelling companion who pecked the heads and
faces of the Ogres.

Old Woman Momotaros foster mother. It was she who found the giant peach on the
river.
Old Man A woodcutter, Momotaros foster father.
(Antagonist):
Ogres greed giants who rule over the country of Japan.
\
SETTINGS:
A long, long time ago in the country of Japan.
PLOT:
A long. Long time ago there lived an old man and an old woman in the country of
Japan. The old couples were very sad and lonely because they had no children. One
day while the old man went to the mountains to cut woods, the old woman saw a giant
peach floating on a river while washing clothes. She immediately get the giant fruit and
head back home.
When the time came for their supper, the old woman took a big knife to cut the
peach on half when a voice inside the fruit said Wait, Dont cut me! Immediately the
peach split open and out jumped a beautiful boy. After that they took him for their own
son and named him Momotaro which means Little Peach. Momotaro grew up strong
and brave and in time wanted to do something to help his country.

One day Momotaro said to the old couples that he want to go to the Island of
Ogres and bring back the treasures they take from their land. Upon his journey he met
the dog, the monkey and the pheasant. At first, the three animals only want Momotaros
Japanese millet dumpling but as for return they accompany Momotaro on his journey.
Momotaro became the leader and the three animals became good friends.
In no time, they arrive at the Island of Ogres. Immediately, the pheasant pecked
at the heads and faces of the wicked ogres, the monkey clawed at them, the dog bit
them and Momotaro shook his sword threateningly at them. At last they met the Chief,
and then came the real battle. Momotaro defeated the Chief Ogre. The ogres promised
never to do wicked things again, and the chief said he would give up his treasure. Little
Peach and his three helpers carried all these riches onto their boat and set sail for
home.
The old man and old woman were very glad and thankful too when Little Peach
was safely home. As for Momotaro, he gave great feasts to which all the people, rich
and poor, were invited. He told them many stories of his adventures and never forgot to
praise the dog and the monkey and the pheasant for their help. Without them, he said,
he never could have won over the bad ogres so soon and so easily.
Momotaro became very rich and a very honorable man. He shared his riches
with the old couples, and so they all lived happily ever after.
MORAL:
Dark will never ever win against light, as so as badness to goodness.

CONNECTION TO REAL LIFE:

In life, there is always good and bad, light and dark, twi and la, yin and yang. It is
our own choice if we want to go to the pit of dark or ray of light. Whatever road we take,
we must always remember that there are consequences at the end of the road. But as
much as possible we must not fall onto darkness. Darkness can only lead us to
greediness, jealous, pride, sorrow. Etc. Darkness will only ruin our life and the life of
others.

MARUSHKA and THE TWELVE MONTHS

Russian Folk Tale
CHARACTERS:
Major (protagonist):
Marushka a gentle, good, sweet and pretty girl who follows her step mother
and sisters command to get some fresh fruit and flowers which are impossible to find
the mountain in the mid of cold winter day.
Supporting:
Twelve Men/Months January, February, March, April, May, June, July, august,
September, October, November and December. Three of the twelve men were very old,
three were not quite so old, three were middle-aged man and three were young, tall and

handsome boys. They are all seated on a stone around the great fire on the mountain.
The one who seated the highest position means it is his season.
(Antagonist):
Holena self proclaimed prettier the Marushka. She drove away Marushka to
the mountain to pick impossible items in the middle of the cold heavy winter.
Step Mother Marushkas foster mother. She drove away Marushka to the
mountain for the young men to come courting Holena instead of Marushka.

SETTINGS:
Once upon a time in a little house beside a steep mountain.
PLOT:
Once upon a time a woman and her two daughters lived in a little house beside
the steep mountain. The woman loved the older girl dearly, for Holena was her own
daughter. The younger girl, Marushka, was gentle and good, but her stepmother never
had a kind word for her. Holena did nothing all day long but to dress up and look in the
mirror while Marushka worked all day long, she cooked and bake, she washed and
scrubbed, she fed the pigs and the milk the cows. But the harder she worked the more
her stepmother scolded her and often Marushka was sent to bed hungry.
Yet she was so sweet and good that she never complained, as the older she
grew, the sweeter and prettier she bloom. Her stepmother and sister became more and

more jealous. One day the stepmother taught that soon it will be the time for the young
men to come courting but who will look at Holena when Marushka is near? So the
stepmother and Holena drove Marushka away. On a cold winter day Holena ordered
Marushka to go to the mountain and get some fresh violets, but Marushka said that it is
impossible to get some violets because it does not bloom in winter. Holena and her
mother got angry and told the girl not to come back without the flowers then pushed
Marushka out of the house and slammed the door.
Weeping, Marushka began to climb up the mountain. There were no sign of
living human or animal only a thick white snow. Shivering with cold in her thin dress,
she almost gave up when she saw a glowing light. So she struggled up and clearly saw
a great fire and 12 men in white robes sitting on a flat stone. An old man sat on the
stone that was higher than the others. This was great January, and the twelve men
were the twelve months.
Kindly she goes near the 12 men and asks permission if she can warm herself
near the fire. January asked why she is here. Marushka said that she is looking for
some violets because her sister told that she will not come back unless she gets the
flowers. January pick up a long staff and walked over to the one of the youngest
months and put the staff in his hands. He said Brother March, take the high seat.
March went to the high seat and waves the staff suddenly the snow stop and began to
melt. Green grass sprang up, trees began to bud. As Marushka watch, violets began to
peep out until the ground was blue with them. It was spring!

Joyfully Marushka gathered quickly the fragrant blue flower until she had filled
her arms. Before she hastened down the mountain she gladly thank the 12 men.
How surprised Holena and the mother when they saw marushka filled with violets
in her arms. The fragrance filled all over the house. In no time, Holena get the violets
and filled her hair and dress with it but they do not let Marushka even come close to the
flowers.
Next day, Holena called Marushka to get some red sweet strawberries in the
mountain but Marushka declined because the strawberries are impossible to survive in
the thick hard snow. And again the two women pushed Marushka out of the house and
slammed the door. How cold the wind blew, Marushka go climb again. At last just when
she thought she could not take another step, she saw the fire, far ahead, again.
Eagerly, she climbed toward it. Marushka stepped toward the fire. Kind Sirs,
may I warm myself at your fire? I am so cold! Marushka said. January asked the girl
why she comes back again. Marushka said that her sister want some red sweet
starwberries. For the second time the Great January get the long staff and give it to the
man that sat opposite to him, June. When June waves the long staff, green leaves
peep out and red starwberries began to sprout. Marushka filled her apron with berries.
Marushka head back home and never neglect to thank the 12 men before leaving.
The two ladies were astonished when Maruskha went home with strawberries, so
immediately they ate the entire berry and never give Marushka even one.
In a day or two, the two women commanded Marushka to get some sweet aplle
on the mountain, but just like what happened before they pushed the girl away and

slammed the door. Like what happened when she reach the topof the mountain, the
Great January get the staff and give his seat to one of the older months, September.
September waved the staff and red apples sprout out. September said Marushka
Gather your apple quickly. When Marushka get her 2 nd apple, September said that it is
enough and after that Marushka thank the 12 men and head back home.
When she arrived in the house, the two ladies stare at her hands and get the
apple. See sister, there were many hanging there in the apple tree! Marushka said.
Many? You bought only two. Did you stop and eat all the rest yourself wicked girl?
Holena said. But Marushka denied,
Due to greediness and gluttony, Holena get her warm cloak and go ahead in to
the mountain to pick some red apples. Holena saw the great fore and the 12 men. She
pushed herself near the 12 men withoust saying Please. Then January asked Who
are you? and disrespectfully she replied Why should I tell you? It is no business of
yours old man! The Great January frowned and suddenly the sky is filled with storm
clouds and strong ice howled. Holena was lost in the blowing white wilderness.
Meanwhile in the house, her mother waited and waited and so decided to go to
the mountain to see why Holena did not come back while thinking maybe Holena eat
the entire apple. Marushka was left in the house keeping the fire burning sa the two will
be warm when they came home. But the two did not come back again.
Marushka lived on the small house beside the mountain. Now the house and the
cow and the pigs belonged to her. And after a time, a handsome, good and young

farmer comes to court her. They were married and lived together happily in the little
house all their lives long.
MORAL:
Being greedy and glutton can only lead us to danger.
CONNECTION TO REAL LIFE:
Greediness and Gluttony is two of the the seven deadly sins. They are twin
sisters that look alike on the surface, but have different personalities. Where Greed is
the inordinate concern with acquisition of things, Gluttony is the over-indulgence in
things.
If we apply these two sins in our lives, it will only make ourselves miserable; it will
only give us sufferings and pains. And most of all it will only create a gap between us
and to our Almighty God. So as early as now, we must get rid the blindfold of sins for us
not to fall on these two pits of evil.