Why the Hare's Nose is Slit

Summary

In this enchanting tale, Little Jan and his friends gather around Outa, who narrates a story about the moon's message to mankind. The moon enlists the crocodile to deliver a message about life and death, but the lazy creature is outsmarted by the quick-witted hare, who alters the message. The moon's anger at the hare's deceit results in a chase and a fight, leaving the hare with a slit nose and the moon's face forever scarred. The story serves as a lesson on the consequences of deceit and the futility of violence.

Takeaways

• 🌕 The story revolves around Little Jan's curiosity about the moon and a traditional tale told by Outa.
• 🌙 The moon is personified as a lady who is both beautiful and sometimes cruel, reflecting its waxing and waning phases.
• 🐊 The moon sends a message to humans via the crocodile, illustrating the moon's cycles of life and death.
• 🦝 The hare, NE HOSA, tricks the crocodile into giving him the message to deliver, showcasing cunning and deceit.
• 💬 The message 'as I die and dying live, so also shall you die and dying live' is a profound statement about life's cyclical nature.
• 😱 The humans react with fear to the message, experiencing goosebumps and hair standing on end, symbolizing their mortality.
• 😜 Outa teases the children with the story, hinting at the deeper meaning behind the tale.
• 🤕 The moon attempts to punish the hare for his trickery, leading to a fight that results in the hare's slit nose.
• 🌗 The moon's scars represent the lasting impact of conflict, emphasizing the story's moral about the consequences of fighting.
• 📖 The story concludes with a moral lesson about the futility of fighting and the importance of peace.

Q & A

Why does the story mention the moon being 'slit'?

The story uses the term 'slit' to describe the nose of the hare, which is a result of a fight with the Moon. This is a metaphorical way to explain the hare's physical feature.

What is the significance of the moon's phases in the story?

The moon's phases symbolize the cycle of life and death in the story. The moon grows and shrinks, representing its 'life' and 'death', which is a message it sends to mankind through the crocodile.

Why does the Moon choose the crocodile to deliver her message?

The Moon chooses the crocodile because she believes pinching his tail will make him move quickly. However, the crocodile is depicted as slow and not very efficient, which leads to the message being delivered incorrectly.

What message does the Moon want to send to mankind according to the story?

The message the Moon wants to send is 'As I die and dying live, so also shall you die and dying live.' It is a metaphor for the cycle of life and rebirth.

How does the hare alter the Moon's message?

The hare changes the message to 'As I die and dying perish, so shall you also die and come wholly to an end,' which is a much more ominous and frightening message.

What happens when the hare delivers the altered message to mankind?

When the altered message is delivered, mankind becomes frightened and their hair stands on end, symbolizing their fear of death and the end of life.

Why does the Moon become angry with the hare?

The Moon becomes angry with the hare because he has altered her message and caused fear among mankind, which was not her intention.

What is the consequence for the hare after the Moon's anger?

As a consequence, the Moon tries to punish the hare by hitting him with a big stick, which results in the hare having a slit nose.

What moral does the story convey about fighting?

The story conveys that fighting is a miserable thing that leaves lasting marks and pain, even after the fight is over, and that it's best to avoid conflict when possible.

How does the story end, and what is the message to the listeners?

The story ends with a moral lesson about the consequences of fighting and the Moon's scars as a reminder. The message to the listeners is to avoid conflict and seek peace.