Folklore for Kids - Danau Toba ( Lake Toba) - English Version - ( EF - English First Version )

Summary

In Sumatra, a diligent but struggling farmer named Toba catches a magical gold fish that transforms into a beautiful woman, who becomes his wife. She lifts Toba from poverty and bears him a son, Samosir, who grows into a lazy child. When Toba, in anger, reveals his wife's secret origins, she and Samosir flee, leading to a great flood that creates Lake Toba, leaving only the hilltop where Samosir stands as an island.

Takeaways

• 🎣 Toba, a diligent farmer in Sumatra, often struggled with poor harvests and hunger.
• 🐟 One day, Toba went fishing and caught a large, gold-scaled fish.
• 🏠 Toba brought the fish home but had to go out to collect firewood.
• ✨ When he returned, the fish had turned into gold coins and a beautiful woman appeared.
• 💫 The woman revealed she was the incarnation of the fish and her curse was lifted.
• 💍 The woman agreed to marry Toba on the condition that he never mention her origins as a fish.
• 👶 They married and had a son named Samosir, who grew up to be lazy and mischievous.
• 🍽️ One day, Samosir ate the food meant for his father, angering Toba who called him a 'little fish'.
• 🌊 This broke the wife's condition, leading to a flood that created Lake Toba and turned Samosir into an island.
• 🏞️ The story explains the origin of Lake Toba and Samosir Island.

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.

Why did Toba often go hungry?

Toba often went hungry because his harvest was not always bountiful.

What unusual event occurred when Toba was fishing in the river?

An unusual event occurred when Toba felt a tug on his fishing line and reeled in a large gold scaly fish.

What happened to the fish after Toba brought it home?

After Toba brought the fish home, it turned into pieces of gold when he went to retrieve it from the basin.

Who appeared in Toba's home and what was her connection to the fish?

A tall, beautiful woman appeared in Toba's home, who was the incarnation of the fish Toba had caught earlier.

What was the woman's condition to become Toba's wife?

The woman's condition to become Toba's wife was that he should never bring up her origins as a fish.

What was the name of Toba's son and what was his behavior like?

Toba's son was named Samosir, and he grew into a naughty and lazy child who only played around.

Why did Toba's wife deliver food to Toba in the fields?

Toba's wife delivered food to him in the fields because Samosir refused to do so and was being spoiled.

What mistake did Toba make that led to disastrous consequences?

Toba made the mistake of breaking the agreement with his wife by mentioning her origins as a fish, which led to a flood that engulfed the valley.

What became of Toba and Samosir after the flood?

Toba was swept away by the flood and drowned, while Samosir survived on an island in the middle of the newly formed Lake Toba.

What is the significance of the name 'Lake Toba' and the island in its middle?

The name 'Lake Toba' and the island in its middle are significant as they are named after Toba and Samosir, the characters in the story, symbolizing the transformation of their lives and the landscape.