ATU BELAH ATU BERTANGKUP ~ Cerita Rakyat Provinsi Aceh | Dongeng Kita

Summary

A poignant folk tale from Aceh, 'Atu Belah Atuh Bertangkup' tells the story of a poor family grappling with hunger and misfortune. When the eldest child forgets to close the barn door, all the grasshoppers escape, leading to a series of tragic events. The father, frustrated by his inability to provide, drives the child away. In an effort to protect him, the mother leaves and encounters a mystical stone, 'Atu Belah,' which swallows her in her grief. The children vow to care for each other, and a strand of hair left behind serves as a bittersweet reminder of their lost mother.

Takeaways

• 😀 A poor family in Aceh consists of a husband, wife, and two young children.
• 😀 The father is a hunter who tries to provide for his family by hunting for game, but often only catches locusts.
• 😀 The father warns his son to close the barn door after catching locusts to prevent them from escaping.
• 😀 The eldest son forgets to close the barn door, and all the locusts fly out, causing a loss of food for the family.
• 😀 The son informs his mother that there are no locusts left in the barn, and the mother scolds him for forgetting his responsibility.
• 😀 In frustration, the husband scolds his wife and children, leading to a heated argument.
• 😀 The wife, in despair, decides to leave the family and walk away aimlessly, trying to cope with her sorrow.
• 😀 The wife rests near a large stone known as *Atuh Belah*, which is believed to swallow anyone who is overcome with sadness.
• 😀 The stone *Atuh Belah* reacts to the wife's sadness by splitting open and swallowing her.
• 😀 The children, following their mother in distress, witness her being consumed by the stone, and the eldest son promises to care for his younger sibling.
• 😀 The folktale teaches the importance of responsibility, the consequences of neglect, and the bond of family, especially the mother's sacrifice.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the story 'Atu Belah Atuh Bertangkup'?

The central theme of the story revolves around family struggles, the consequences of negligence, and the supernatural elements in Acehnese folklore, particularly focusing on loss, regret, and protection.

What mistake did the older son make that led to the tragic events?

The older son forgot to close the barn door after taking locusts from it, causing all the locusts to escape and setting off a chain of unfortunate events.

Why does the father get upset upon his return from hunting?

The father gets upset because he returns empty-handed, having failed to catch any prey, and discovers that all the locusts have escaped from the barn due to his son's mistake.

What does the mother do to protect her son after the father’s scolding?

The mother lies to protect her son, taking the blame for the locusts escaping and not revealing that her son was at fault.

Why does the mother decide to leave the house?

The mother leaves the house due to the father's harsh reaction and to avoid further conflict, as she feels there is no other choice but to protect her child.

What supernatural element is introduced in the story?

The supernatural element is the large rock, which is said to swallow anyone who is grieving or in sorrow. The mother is eventually swallowed by this rock after leaving her home.

What happens to the mother when she reaches the large rock?

When the mother reaches the large rock, it cracks open and swallows her, as it is known to consume those who are sad or in mourning.

How do the children react to the mother’s disappearance?

The children, particularly the older son, are deeply saddened and shocked by their mother’s disappearance, and they follow her, witnessing the tragic event of her being swallowed by the rock.

What does the older son do when he finds strands of hair coming from the rock?

The older son takes the strands of hair emerging from the rock as a keepsake, promising to care for his younger sibling and never forgetting their mother.

What moral lessons can be drawn from the story?

The story teaches lessons about responsibility, the consequences of negligence, the importance of protecting loved ones, and the inevitability of tragic events when mistakes are made. It also highlights the theme of loss and grief in a family.