Reading Notes: Uraschimataro and the Turtle, Part B

For Part B this week I stuck with the Japanese Fairy Tales (Lang) Unit. My favorite story from this unit was Uraschimataro and the Turtle. It was one of the longer stories, but I enjoyed all of it. I didn't see any of it coming, and it kept me interested the whole time I read it. 

First, I like how his good deed of saving the small, young turtle paid off for him later in life. He was warned by the elders to be careful of the sea swallowing him, but he paid no attention. When that very thing happened, he was rescued by the same, now older turtle. The turtle does not take him home, like I thought he would do. Instead, he takes him deep, down into the sea where he meets the princess and stays there forever.

When I retell this story, there is one key thing I want to change. The princess told him not to open the box, or he would never see her again. When he goes back to visit his parents and 300 years have passed, I thought that was very sad. So, when he opens the box, it will reverse time back to when he left. He will not be able to see the princess again, but he made that decision because he knew that this is the life he is meant to live. He will reunite with his family, and he never sees the turtle or princess again. 

Story Source: Uraschimataro and the Turtle from The Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang 

Sea Turtle

Source: Wikimedia Commons