The Tale of Kancil and Giraffe | Indonesian Children's Fable | A Nusantara Folk Story

Summary

In this heartwarming story, a giraffe named Jirafu causes trouble in the Flora forest, treating other animals disrespectfully due to his arrogance. When a clever deer named Kancil learns of his behavior, he challenges Jirafu to a race, knowing that the giraffe's pride will lead him into difficulties. Throughout the race, Jirafu faces several obstacles, while Kancil navigates them easily. In the end, Jirafu learns the value of humility, as his friends help him realize the importance of respecting others. The story highlights that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and should never belittle others.

Takeaways

• 😀 The story features a giraffe and a deer who live in the Fauna Forest.
• 😀 The giraffe behaves arrogantly, thinking it is superior to other animals, especially a sheep.
• 😀 The giraffe refuses to share water with the sheep at the river and mocks it for being dirty.
• 😀 The sheep is upset but decides to stand up for itself and seek help from the deer.
• 😀 The deer hears the giraffe's behavior and plans to teach it a lesson through a race.
• 😀 The deer challenges the giraffe to a race with the promise that if the deer wins, the giraffe will stop bothering the other animals.
• 😀 The giraffe, confident due to its long legs, accepts the challenge and believes it will win easily.
• 😀 During the race, the giraffe struggles with obstacles like muddy terrain and thick trees, which it cannot navigate easily.
• 😀 Meanwhile, the deer, with its small size, easily navigates the obstacles and reaches the finish line first.
• 😀 After the race, the giraffe realizes the importance of not looking down on others and apologizes for its behavior, promising to change.
• 😀 The story teaches that all creatures have their strengths and weaknesses, and we should not belittle others or act arrogantly.

Q & A

What is the main conflict introduced in the story?

The main conflict is between the giraffe and the other animals in the forest, as the giraffe behaves arrogantly and believes it has the right to dominate the resources, such as the water in the river, which causes tension among the animals.

Why does the giraffe think it is superior to other animals?

The giraffe believes it is superior due to its tall stature, attractive appearance, and clean body, which it uses to belittle smaller animals, like the sheep, whom it insults and tries to chase away from the river.

How does the giraffe's behavior affect the other animals in the forest?

The giraffe's behavior upsets the other animals, especially the sheep, who feel bullied. This eventually leads to the other animals, including the deer, discussing how to teach the giraffe a lesson and make it change its ways.

What role does the deer (Kancil) play in the story?

The deer (Kancil) plays the role of the wise and strategic character who comes up with a plan to teach the giraffe a lesson. Kancil challenges the giraffe to a race to show that arrogance doesn't guarantee success.

How does the race between the giraffe and the deer unfold?

The race reveals the giraffe's weaknesses. Despite its long legs, the giraffe struggles with obstacles like muddy terrain and dense trees. Meanwhile, the deer uses its small size and agility to navigate these challenges easily and wins the race.

What lesson does the giraffe learn after losing the race?

After losing the race, the giraffe realizes that physical size and beauty don't make it superior to others. It understands the importance of humility and the need to respect other animals, promising to change its behavior.

How does the giraffe begin to change after the race?

The giraffe starts to change by helping other animals, such as assisting its friends in picking fruit from tall trees. This marks the beginning of its transformation into a more considerate and helpful member of the forest.

What is the moral of the story?

The moral of the story is that every creature has its strengths and weaknesses, and no one should belittle others. It encourages gratitude for one's own qualities and emphasizes the importance of helping and respecting others.

How does the sheep (Debby) respond to the giraffe's actions?

The sheep (Debby) initially feels insulted by the giraffe's arrogance but later helps the giraffe recover after it is exhausted from the race. Debby, along with the other animals, seeks to teach the giraffe a lesson in kindness and humility.

What does the giraffe promise after the other animals confront it?

The giraffe promises to change its ways and stop bullying and insulting other animals. It vows to be more considerate and helpful to others in the future, realizing that no one should act superior.