Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales, Part B

For today's reading based on, The Japanese Fairy Tale, Part B, the story that stood out to me was The Crab and the Monkey. Considering the plot outline I put together yesterday from part A of my reading notes I found that the story, The Crab and the Monkey, could be incorporated based on the teamwork and loyalty portrayed in it's ending. Just so you know what I am referring to I will give a quick overview of this short story which will show the audience a better understanding of what I am incorporating in my story. The monkey passes this crab who obtains some rice in which he is interested in. After asking for some, they decided to do a trade--the crab gave some rice to the monkey in return for half of a kaki fruit (and the seeds within it). After some time, the crab grows a luxurious tree full of the kaki fruit. Once the monkey finds his way to pass through he notices the full tree and bothers to ask the crab for some fruit. He begins to take advantage of the crab and her kaki fruit tree and then injures the crab close to death. This upcoming part is what will be incorporated into my story. The crab is then found by her animal friends in the forest and nurtured back to health while they devise a plan to punish the monkey next time he comes around. To see what happens in the end for that story you will have to read it yourself!
Furthermore, for the outline of my story, I plan to continue with my idea of the two cats eloping to start a new life full of happiness together and that they are only left realizing that their happiness has always been with them all along. Now, since I am incorporating the story with the crab and the monkey I will design an obstacle that the cats will face at some point during their journey where they seem to have a hard time overcoming the challenge. With the help of their feline friends back home and the new animals that they have befriended along the way, they will be able to work together to defeat the obstacle and fulfill their goal.

Japanese Fairy Tale image with a cat

Link to picture

Bibliography: This story is part of The Japanese Fairy Tale unit. Story source: The Violet Fairy Book by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H.J. Ford (1901).