Indonesian Folk Tale: The Legend of Timun Mas | English Story

Summary

In this heartwarming Indonesian tale, an elderly woman named Grandar Rondo wishes for the companionship of a child. A Green Giant grants her wish by giving her a magical cucumber seed, which grows into a golden girl named Golden Cucumber. However, when she turns six, the Green Giant returns to claim her as promised. To protect her daughter, Grandar Rondo sends Golden Cucumber on a journey to seek help from a wise hermit. Armed with magical items, Golden Cucumber outwits the giant, ensuring their freedom and a future filled with love and joy.

Takeaways

• 😀 A kind old woman named Grandar Rondo longs for the company of a child after losing her husband.
• 😀 Grandar Rondo prays for a child, and a Green Giant appears, offering to grant her wish under one condition: when the child turns 6, the Giant will take her away.
• 😀 The Green Giant gives Grandar Rondo a magical cucumber seed to plant, which quickly grows into a glowing baby girl.
• 😀 Grandar Rondo names the child Golden Cucumber and raises her with joy, filling her once-lonely home with laughter and energy.
• 😀 As Golden Cucumber turns 6, the Green Giant returns to take her as promised, but Grandar Rondo begs for more time, convincing the Giant to delay.
• 😀 In a dream, Grandar Rondo is guided to a wise hermit living in the mountains, who provides magical items to protect Golden Cucumber from the Giant.
• 😀 Golden Cucumber embarks on a journey to find the hermit and returns with magical items to protect herself from the Green Giant.
• 😀 The Green Giant chases Golden Cucumber through the forest, but she uses the magical items to outwit him, trapping him with cucumber vines, bamboo, salt, and shrimp paste.
• 😀 After a fierce struggle, the Green Giant is finally trapped in a mud pool, unable to continue his pursuit, leaving Golden Cucumber safe.
• 😀 Golden Cucumber returns home, and she and Grandar Rondo are reunited, free from fear and able to continue their lives together, filled with joy and gratitude.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Green Giant in the story?

The Green Giant plays a pivotal role as the being who grants Grandar Rondo's wish for a child. However, he sets a condition: when the child turns six, he will take her away. He represents both a source of hope and a looming threat in the story.

Why does Grandar Rondo want a child?

Grandar Rondo longs for the company of a child because she has been living alone since her husband's death. The silence of her home is painful, and she desires the joy and laughter that a child would bring.

How does Grandar Rondo receive the magical cucumber seed?

The Green Giant gives Grandar Rondo a magical cucumber seed after she agrees to his condition. He instructs her to plant it in her garden, which leads to the birth of the child, Golden Cucumber.

What is the role of Golden Cucumber in the story?

Golden Cucumber is the magical child born from the cucumber seed. She grows into a cheerful and spirited child, bringing joy to Grandar Rondo’s life. Her role is central to the story as she must eventually face the Green Giant's return and outsmart him to avoid being taken away.

How does Golden Cucumber outsmart the Green Giant?

Golden Cucumber uses four magical items given to her by a wise hermit. These items help her create obstacles for the Green Giant, such as cucumber vines, bamboo trees, salt to form an ocean, and shrimp paste that transforms into a mud pit, ultimately trapping the Giant.

Why does Grandar Rondo agree to the Green Giant's condition?

Grandar Rondo agrees to the Green Giant's condition out of desperation for companionship and the joy of having a child. Despite the risk, she cannot resist the chance to fulfill her deep longing for a child's presence in her life.

What is the significance of the magical items given by the hermit?

The magical items represent hope and protection. They are essential for Golden Cucumber's escape from the Green Giant, allowing her to use her wit and the items' power to delay or stop the Giant's pursuit.

What theme does the story of Golden Cucumber primarily explore?

The story primarily explores themes of love, family, and the power of perseverance. Golden Cucumber’s determination to protect herself and her grandmother, along with the bond they share, illustrates the strength of familial love and resourcefulness.

How does the Green Giant react when Golden Cucumber uses the magical items?

The Green Giant grows increasingly angry and frustrated as Golden Cucumber uses the magical items to thwart his pursuit. Despite the obstacles, he continues to chase after her until he is finally defeated by the shrimp paste mud trap.

What is the outcome of the story for Golden Cucumber and Grandar Rondo?

The outcome is a happy and liberating one. After the Green Giant is defeated, Golden Cucumber and Grandar Rondo are finally free from his threat. They reunite and continue their life together, safe from fear and filled with happiness.