The Monkey and the Crocodile
The Tricky Wolf and the Rats
(Monkey and Crocodile illustrated by Ellsworth Young 1912)
This week I am going to talk about two bad guys in two different stories. I plan to show how similar and different they are with a couple of examples. So, in the monkey and the crocodile, the crocodile tries to be sneaky and give a ride to the monkey, but then is outsmarted. So, just note right now that the crocodile's plan worked until he was out witted. Similarly in the tricky wolf and the rats, the wolf was sneaky and lied to the rats and killed the last one every time they left. This worked until the king rat out smarted the wolf. So, as far as planning goes, the wolf and crocodile's plan worked up to a certain point. However, they eventually failed. The monkey told the crocodile his heart was back on the island and he believed the monkey. The king rat killed the wolf by anticipating his attack. They both failed extremely.
Now. they are different in two major ways. The wolf is very smart in his story and the crocodile is extremely dumb in his. The wolf got something to eat part of the time at least while the crocodile got nothing. Secondly, the goals for both of the bad guys were different. The crocodile was trying to get the heart of the monkey for his elder and the wolf was just trying to eat. It is curious and funny that since the crocodile had a lot more to lose, that the writer made him dumb. Lastly, they both failed, but had very different endings. The crocodile failed, but still goes on living life. The wolf was bit in the neck by the king rat and died. These are two entirely different endings and I was shocked by the wolf ending. These stories feel like children's stories, so when I read the wolf died it felt a little extreme.
Hey Ben, I really enjoyed your take on Bad guys! This is essay that I did this week as well. Although I only read one story, so I couldn't compare and contrast two different bad guys like you did, which was really interesting to read! I also liked your analysis of how when a bad guy looses, the end can be very, very different!
ReplyDeleteHi Ben! I also wrote a similar essay about the "Bad Guys" in these fables. There are so many tricksters who are trying to do evil to someone else. Many times these bad guys are witty, but not witty enough. I think you realized that too. I did the same unit as you and I had many of the same reactions. I thought it was pretty crazy how the wolf died at the end of that story too! I was a little shocked and disturbed. I guess that is what you get for being a silly bad guy.
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