EFolklore Lake Toba and Samosir Island Folklore Indonesia from North Sumatra

Summary

In a valley in Sumatra, Toba, a struggling farmer, catches a golden fish that transforms into a beautiful woman, who becomes his wife under the condition that he never mentions her origins. As they have a son, Samosir, his spoiled behavior leads to tension between Toba and his wife. One day, in anger, Toba breaks his promise, triggering a catastrophic flood that engulfs the valley. Samosir survives on a small island, which becomes Lake Toba, illustrating themes of transformation, the consequences of actions, and the importance of family and promises.

Takeaways

• 🎣 Toba, a diligent farmer in Sumatra, struggles with poor harvests and often goes hungry.
• 🐟 While fishing, Toba catches a large golden fish, which he later discovers transforms into a beautiful woman.
• 💍 The woman, who is the incarnation of the fish, agrees to marry Toba under the condition that he never mentions her origins as a fish.
• 👶 Toba and his wife have a son named Samosir, who grows up to be lazy and spoiled.
• 🍽️ Despite his mother's efforts, Samosir often neglects his responsibilities and eats the food meant for his father.
• 😡 Toba, frustrated with Samosir's behavior, unknowingly breaks the agreement by mentioning his wife's past as a fish.
• 🌊 This breach of promise leads to a devastating flood, causing chaos in the valley.
• 🏞️ Toba's wife, feeling the impact of the broken promise, instructs Samosir to run to safety as the flood approaches.
• 🚤 Toba is caught by the flood and sinks, unable to escape its wrath.
• 🏝️ The flood creates Lake Toba, with Samosir left on an island at its center, symbolizing the consequences of Toba's actions.

Q & A

Who is the main character in the story?

The main character in the story is Toba, a diligent farmer living in a valley in Sumatra.

What predicament does Toba find himself in at the beginning of the story?

Toba often goes hungry due to his not always bountiful harvest, which leads him to go fishing.

What unusual event occurs when Toba goes fishing?

Toba catches a large golden fish, which later transforms into a beautiful woman who reveals she is the incarnation of the fish.

What condition does the woman set before marrying Toba?

The woman, who is actually the incarnation of the fish, asks Toba never to mention her origins as a fish.

How does Toba’s life change after marrying the woman?

After marrying the woman, Toba’s life improves; he works hard in the fields while his wife takes care of the home.

What challenges do Toba and his wife face with their son, Samosir?

Their son, Samosir, grows up to be a lazy and spoiled child, which causes tension between Toba and his wife.

What is the consequence of Toba breaking his promise about his wife's origins?

When Toba angrily refers to Samosir as 'the child of a fish', it leads to a series of events that ultimately result in a flood.

What drastic event occurs as a result of Toba's actions?

A flood occurs, which Toba’s wife foresaw, leading to Toba being swept away and the creation of Lake Toba.

What happens to Samosir during the flood?

Samosir is hidden on a hill by his mother, and he survives as the flood creates an island where he resides.

What significance does the story of Toba and his family have in relation to Lake Toba?

The story explains the origins of Lake Toba and why it is named after Toba, reflecting themes of consequence, transformation, and the interplay of nature and human actions.