The Origin of Lake Toba | Folklore of North Sumatra | Archipelago story

Summary

The Legend of Lake Toba tells the story of a young farmer, Toba, who catches a magical fish that turns into a beautiful woman, revealing herself as a cursed princess. Toba marries her on the condition that he never speak of her origins. They have a son, Samosir, who grows lazy and spoiled. One day, Toba breaks his promise by calling his son a 'lazy fish,' triggering a curse. A flood engulfs the valley, and Toba drowns, while his wife returns to her fish form. The flood creates Lake Toba, and the island that remains is named Samosir Island.

Takeaways

• 😀 Toba, a hardworking farmer in North Sumatra, faces a poor harvest and resorts to fishing for extra income.
• 😀 Toba catches a magical fish with golden scales, which transforms into a beautiful woman after being put in a container.
• 😀 The woman reveals that she was once a princess cursed by the gods and thanks Toba for breaking the curse.
• 😀 Toba marries the woman, who sets a condition: he must never speak of her origins or her past as a fish.
• 😀 The couple has a son, Samosir, who grows lazy and spoiled, much to the concern of his parents.
• 😀 Samosir is asked to deliver his father's lunch, but he eats most of it on the way, leaving only a little for Toba.
• 😀 Toba, disappointed and angry, calls Samosir a 'lazy fish,' unknowingly breaking the promise he made to his wife.
• 😀 The wife, upon hearing Toba's words, is struck by the curse and transforms back into a fish as a flood begins to rise.
• 😀 The flood devastates the land, drowning Toba, while Samosir finds safety on a hill.
• 😀 The lake that forms from the flood is called Lake Toba, and the island in the middle becomes known as Samosir Island, named after their son.

Q & A

What is the significance of the fish with golden scales in the story?

The fish with golden scales is a magical creature, originally a princess cursed by the gods. It represents transformation and the beginning of Toba's life-changing encounter. The fish’s transformation into a woman and later back into a fish reflects the story's theme of consequences tied to promises and actions.

Why did Toba initially go fishing in the river?

Toba went fishing to supplement his poor harvest. Since his farm’s yield was low that year, fishing became an additional source of food or income for him.

What was the main reason for Toba’s anger towards his son, Samosir?

Toba was angry because Samosir, after being asked to deliver lunch to his father, ate most of it on the way instead of saving it for Toba. Toba’s anger was intensified when he called his son a 'lazy fish,' unknowingly breaking his promise to his wife never to speak of her origins.

What promise did Toba break, and what were the consequences of breaking it?

Toba promised his wife that he would never speak of her true origins as a fish. However, he broke this promise when he called his son a 'lazy fish' in anger. The consequences of breaking this promise were disastrous, leading to a flood that destroyed their home and Toba’s death.

What was the curse placed on the fish-woman, and how was it broken?

The fish-woman was once a princess cursed by the gods to become a fish. The curse was broken when Toba caught the fish, and through his actions and care, the spell was lifted, turning the fish into a woman.

How did Samosir react when he was called a 'lazy fish' by his father?

Samosir was deeply upset and confused by his father's words. He ran home and cried to his mother, protesting that he was not a fish child and expressing his hurt over his father's cruel words.

What advice did the fish-woman give to Samosir after Toba's outburst?

The fish-woman advised Samosir to be patient, independent, and always do good to others. She also warned him that a disaster was imminent and urged him to climb the hill for safety.

What is the significance of the flood in the story?

The flood symbolizes the wrath of nature and the consequences of broken promises. It is a direct result of Toba’s failure to keep his promise to his wife. The flood also leads to the formation of Lake Toba and Samosir Island, which are tied to the tragic end of the story.

How did Toba react when he saw the flood coming?

Toba was caught by surprise and was unable to escape in time. The flood was too sudden and overwhelming, and he was swept away, ultimately drowning as a result of the disaster caused by breaking his promise.

Why does Samosir end up on a hill, and what becomes of the hill?

Samosir fled to the hill as instructed by his mother, seeking safety from the flood. The hill became the only dry land left after the floodwaters receded, and it eventually became known as Samosir Island, a geographical marker for the tragic events that unfolded.