Reading Notes: The Forest Fire, Part B

Reading Notes: The Forest Fire, Part B

The Forest Fire
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Plot:
Mother Quail told the seven little quails to stay while the mother and father brought them worms. The weird thing was that Mother and Father Quail noticed that the seventh only ate grass-seeds, rather than like the others that ate the worms and insects. The little one who only ate the grass-seeds did not grow wings like the others. One night the family was awaken by sad cries and the mother and father and seven little quails and they were fearful. They were sure it was a fire. The flames burned and glowed across the forest. The little quail said he is small with no wings, but he can speak to the flames. One by one the little heads came out of hiding and saw that the forest fire was gone! The family went and walked in peace and the little quail smiled as he saw the forest waking up again. They lived happily ever after!

Characters:
Mother Quail
The little quails
Father Quail

Setting:
The Forest

Bibliography: The Forest Fire, Twenty Jataka Tales, Noor Inayat, The Forest Fire

Reading Notes: The Swan Kingdom, Part A

Reading Notes: The Swan Kingdom, Part A

The Swan Kingdom
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Plot: There were about 60,000 swans who lived in the kingdom. The swans were beautiful and everyone praised them, yet Brahmadatta, the king of Benares, was obsessed with the swans and wanted them more than anyone else. So he went to meet the king and then he let the king know there is only one way to go about this. He recommended the lake was relocated across near the gates of Benares. The lake was cleaned and finished and the birds and butterflies came souring around the lake. The call was heard daily and the many creatures came from far and wide to feast and dwell here. Two of the swans came and looked over and said "We wish this was our kingdom!" and they flew all over scanning the surface of the waters and of the land around them. They asked the king to take them to the lake at Benares and the king was advised not to allow such a thing. So the king let the swans go for a day. They went and swam and had the time of their lives. A trap was set and the foot of the king was caught. The 60,000 swans were alarmed by this and fled to the air, as if the king had passed and was killed. The king asked Sumukha to have the swans return to Manasa, for they could not be content alone. Sumukha however stayed by the king's side.

Characters:
King Dhritarashtra
Sumukha, the commander of the army
The Swans
Brahmadatta, the King of Benares

Setting:
The Kingdom

Bibliography: The Swan Kingdom, Twenty Jataka Tales, Noor Inayat, The Swan Kingdom