Reading Notes: Jewish Fairy Tales (Reading A and B)
Reading A
These fairy tales combine mythological creatures such as unicorns and giants with well known biblical figures.
The Giant of the Flood tale also offers explanations for the existence and extinction of different mythological creatures. The dialogue uses the language of the King James version of the Bible with "thee" and "thy" pronouns. This story has an underlying message/explanation for why wine makes men act "silly".
The Beggar King houses a lesson: Don't be prideful or vain and disrespect the Holy Book. The downfall of riches is a common motif in biblical stories.
The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog explains why cats and dogs do not get along and also explains their natures.
The cat (Pussie) is selfish, ill-tempered, and vengeful.
The dog (Doggie) is even-tempered with a forgiving heart
The Water Babe. This story tells of baby Moses' birthday party. He asks the pharaoh to wear his crown, symbolizing that he will one day take the crown.
From Sheppard Boy to King
This story combines mythical creatures with a popular biblical story.
The Magic Palace
This story also combines a lesson with biblical figures.
Reading B
The Sleep of 100 Years
A rabbi falls into a sleep of 100 years and wakes up with a long beard lying in a pile of his camel's bones. He is confused by the new customs of the new world and decides to return back to his state of deep sleep.
King for Three Days
A general asks for a rabbi's blessing in his desire to exterminate jews. This is a pretty good example of irony. "Enriched" and "innocent" are some of the words used to describe the jewish people while "evil" and "cruel" are used to describe the general.
The Higgledy-Piggledy Place
Abraham tries to conceal Sarah's beauty, but his keenest to hide her is what draw attention to her. (Irony again). Sarah calls out to the spirit of God to rescue her from the pharaoh. The spirit beats the pharaoh and torments him through the night.
The Rabbi's Bogey Man
The name of God gives a rabbi's machine-woman life. He then makes a man the same way. Both machine-people are disobedient and mischievous and the rabbi must destroy the man.
The Fairy Frog
A man buys a frog at the request of his dying father. The frog eats ravenously and grows to an enormous size. The man and his wife graciously take care of the frog and in turn the frog grant them their greatest desires.
Bibliography: Jewish Fairy Tales
These fairy tales combine mythological creatures such as unicorns and giants with well known biblical figures.
The Giant of the Flood tale also offers explanations for the existence and extinction of different mythological creatures. The dialogue uses the language of the King James version of the Bible with "thee" and "thy" pronouns. This story has an underlying message/explanation for why wine makes men act "silly".
The Beggar King houses a lesson: Don't be prideful or vain and disrespect the Holy Book. The downfall of riches is a common motif in biblical stories.
The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog explains why cats and dogs do not get along and also explains their natures.
The cat (Pussie) is selfish, ill-tempered, and vengeful.
The dog (Doggie) is even-tempered with a forgiving heart
The Water Babe. This story tells of baby Moses' birthday party. He asks the pharaoh to wear his crown, symbolizing that he will one day take the crown.
From Sheppard Boy to King
This story combines mythical creatures with a popular biblical story.
The Magic Palace
This story also combines a lesson with biblical figures.
Reading B
The Sleep of 100 Years
A rabbi falls into a sleep of 100 years and wakes up with a long beard lying in a pile of his camel's bones. He is confused by the new customs of the new world and decides to return back to his state of deep sleep.
King for Three Days
A general asks for a rabbi's blessing in his desire to exterminate jews. This is a pretty good example of irony. "Enriched" and "innocent" are some of the words used to describe the jewish people while "evil" and "cruel" are used to describe the general.
The Higgledy-Piggledy Place
Abraham tries to conceal Sarah's beauty, but his keenest to hide her is what draw attention to her. (Irony again). Sarah calls out to the spirit of God to rescue her from the pharaoh. The spirit beats the pharaoh and torments him through the night.
The Rabbi's Bogey Man
The name of God gives a rabbi's machine-woman life. He then makes a man the same way. Both machine-people are disobedient and mischievous and the rabbi must destroy the man.
The Fairy Frog
A man buys a frog at the request of his dying father. The frog eats ravenously and grows to an enormous size. The man and his wife graciously take care of the frog and in turn the frog grant them their greatest desires.
Bibliography: Jewish Fairy Tales
The Giant of the Flood and the Unicorn. Web Source: Jewish Fairy Tales
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