Folk Tales

1
Folk Tales

• Erika Avila
• Daniel Lara
• Lorraine Leynes
• Per. 3
• April 22, 2005

2
The Story of the Snake

• One day a snake lay in the sun at the foot of a
  mountain. The sun was warm and the snake fell
  asleep. Suddenly, however, a large rock came
  loose and rolled down the mountain, trapping the
  snake so that he could not move. The snake lay
  under the stone for many hours, afraid that no
  one was going to come and help him. He tried to
  get loose, but the stone lay across his back and
  kept him imprisoned.
• Finally a rabbit came around the mountain. He
  was happy as he went through the grass in the
  warm sunshine. Then he saw the snake under the
  stone and stopped to speak to him.
• Good morning, Mr. Snake, said the rabbit. Do
  you enjoy sitting under the stone?
• Dont pull my leg, said the angry snake.
  This stone is hurting me. Move if off me and
  Ill give you a reward.
• The rabbit knew that the snake was unfriendly and
  dangerous, but the rabbit was kind-hearted and
  did not like to see other animals in pain. He
  slowly approached the stone.
• All right, Ill move it, the rabbit said. He
  tried to pick up the stone, but it was too heavy.
  He pushed on one side, then the other. At last
  he was able to move the heavy stone off the
  snake. The snake was free again, and the rabbit
  was very tried.
• Now I will give you your reward, said the
  snake.
• Oh, no thank you, said the rabbit. I dont
  want a reward. I just want to go home now. You
  should move out of the sun, too.
• Its a nice reward, said the snake.
• What is it? asked the rabbit.
• You helped me, said the snake, so now Ill eat
  you for my dinner.
• No, no, cried the rabbit, thats not a reward!
  Please dont eat me, Mr. Snake! Im too tired
  to run away from you.
• Yes, yes, said the snake, I must have my
  dinner.

3
The Story of the Snake (cont)

• Just then a dog came around the mountain.
  Whats happening here? he asked.
• Both the rabbit and the snake began to talk at
  the same time. You can be our judge, they
  said.
• What happened? the dog asked.
• I cam here and found Mr. Snake under the stone,
  the rabbit said. He couldnt move, so I pushed
  the stone off him. He said he would give me
  reward, but now he wants to eat me for his
  dinner. He says thats my reward.
• Thats not true, the snake said. I was under
  the stone, that part is true. But I always sleep
  under a stone. I dont like the hot sun. Mr.
  Rabbit pushed the stone and wanted to kill me.
  Now I want to eat him as his punishment.
• The dog put his chin in his paw and looked at
  both the rabbit and the snake. Then he said
  slowly, My friends, you agree that Mr. Snake was
  under the stone, dont you?
• Yes, both the rabbit and snake said. Thats
  true.
• Well, said the dog, I must see you as you
  were, Mr. Snake. Please lie by the stone again.
  Mr. Rabbit and I will put it on top of you. Then
  Ill understand who is telling the truth.
• The snake agreed. The rabbit and the dog put
  the stone back on top of him.
• Now, said the dog. Is this how you were?
• Yes, said the snake. This is how I was.
• Can you move? asked the dog.
• No, replied the snake.
• Then you must stay under the stone, and Mr.
  Rabbit can go home to his family.

4
Introduction

• We first heard the story as elementary students.
  Till this day, we see the story as a guide for
  morals and values.
• We have yet to find any other variations to the
  folk tale, The Story of the Snake.

5
Conclusion

• - Moral/Lesson of story
• What goes around, comes around.
• - Significance of culture
• It teaches the youth a lesson in story form that
  they can find entertaining as well as
  educational. This story originated in China and
  was taught to little boys and girls.
• - What are children supposed to learn after
  hearing or reading this story, and why is it
  important that they learn it?
• To think before you act. Children will learn how
  to take responsibility for their actions, as well
  as teaching them about consequences. Children
  need to learn these values in order to be a
  responsible and morally correct person in society.