Legenda Batu Gantung | Dongeng Anak Bahasa Indonesia | Cerita Rakyat dan Dongeng Nusantara

Summary

The Legend of Batu Gantung tells the story of Seruni, a beautiful and hardworking girl from a village near Lake Toba, North Sumatra. Her love for Sidoli, who leaves to earn money for their future, is tested when her father falls into debt and decides to offer her hand in marriage to settle the bills. Torn between loyalty to Sidoli and family duty, Seruni seeks solace at the cliffs of Lake Toba, where tragedy strikes. After falling into a dark cave, her body is squeezed by stones, transforming her into a rock figure. The legend explains how Parapat, a city near Lake Toba, got its name from Seruni's last words, and imparts the moral of not giving up in the face of despair.

Takeaways

• 😀 The story is set in the village near Lake Toba, North Sumatera, and follows a young girl named Seruni.
• 😀 Seruni is a hardworking, beautiful girl who is in love with a boy named Sidoli, who plans to leave the village to find work.
• 😀 Sidoli asks Seruni's permission to leave the village and promises to return with enough money for their marriage.
• 😀 Seruni agrees to Sidoli’s decision and wishes him well, relying on him to return soon.
• 😀 Time passes, and nearly a year goes by without Sidoli returning, leaving Seruni to live her life, waiting faithfully.
• 😀 Seruni's father falls into debt due to gambling, and he is forced to make a difficult decision to marry off Seruni to settle the debts.
• 😀 Seruni is shocked and saddened by her father's decision, as she had promised Sidoli she would wait for him.
• 😀 Seruni confides in her dog, Sitoki, and feels torn between her loyalty to Sidoli and her father's demands.
• 😀 In a state of despair, Seruni runs to the cliffs of Lake Toba, hoping that Sidoli will hear her cries.
• 😀 Tragically, Seruni falls off the cliff and lands in a dark, narrow gap, where she calls out for help, but no one hears her.
• 😀 Seruni's dog, Toki, rushes back home to alert her parents, leading them to the cliff, where they attempt to rescue her.
• 😀 The ground shakes violently, and the walls of the cave where Seruni is trapped close in on her, leading to her demise.
• 😀 A stone resembling a woman's figure emerges from the crushing rocks, symbolizing Seruni's fate. This stone can now be seen on the cliffs of Toba Lake, in Parapat City.
• 😀 The city of Parapat is named after the last word Seruni uttered, 'parapat.'
• 😀 The moral of the story emphasizes the dangers of despair and the importance of perseverance in difficult situations.

Q & A

Who is Seruni in the story?

Seruni is a hardworking and beautiful girl from a small village near Lake Toba. She is the main character who faces difficult decisions regarding her love and her father's debts.

What was Sidoli's reason for leaving the village?

Sidoli left the village to work and earn money so that he could marry Seruni, as he believed their financial situation would not allow them to marry without him earning more.

How did Seruni react to Sidoli's departure?

Seruni was initially supportive of Sidoli's decision, trusting that his efforts would lead to their future together. She faithfully waited for him to return, although he did not come back as expected.

What dilemma did Seruni face due to her father's debts?

Seruni's father, who had accumulated significant debts due to gambling, was forced to offer Seruni's hand in marriage to another man in order to settle those debts, despite her love for Sidoli.

Why was Seruni's father forced to make such a difficult decision?

Seruni's father was threatened with the loss of his possessions and livelihood due to his gambling debts. He chose to offer Seruni’s marriage to another man as a way to pay off those debts and protect the family.

How did Seruni feel about her father's decision?

Seruni was devastated by her father's decision. She felt conflicted between obeying her father to protect the family and keeping the promise she made to Sidoli.

What was the role of Seruni's dog, Toki, in the story?

Toki, Seruni’s dog, played a crucial role in alerting her parents to Seruni's disappearance. Toki led them to the cliff where Seruni had fallen, helping to guide them to her location.

What happened to Seruni after she fell off the cliff?

After falling from the cliff, Seruni found herself trapped in a dark cave, with the walls closing in on her. She called out for help, but no one could hear her clearly except for Toki.

What is the significance of the word 'parapat' in the story?

'Parapat' is the last word Seruni uttered before she was trapped in the cave. It means 'the edge' in the local language and is the source of the name of the city of Parapat, which is located near Lake Toba.

What happened to Seruni's body after the cave incident?

As the stones around the cliff began to shift, they formed into a stone figure resembling a woman. This formation is known as Batu Gantung (the Hanging Rock), symbolizing Seruni’s fate.

What moral lesson does 'The Legend of Batu Gantung' teach?

The story teaches that despair and giving up only worsen a situation. It emphasizes the importance of resilience and hope, showing that persistence can lead to lasting change even in difficult circumstances.