After reading these stories told by Urmilaji, I was very impressed with fine details and the sentimental moralities behind all these folktales. The ways in which all these stories are structured can give a reader a more intellectual ways of thinking on how the culture can play a huge influence on these folktales.
It occurs to me that these stories are somewhat focused on the women’s role in the society. In story two, I find it a little bit disturbing that women are so less valued (by the king) , he did not care whether the queen is alive or dead, all he cared about was to seek out the truth regardless of what happens to the queen.
In story one, marriage seemed to be a very prominent issue in the society in which these folktales are originated. One thing I find very interesting to me is the interpretation of the geese pair by Urmilaji. She pointed that out that “ they always come in pairs”. As a married pair, the bond between husband and wife. This kind of reminded me one of Khmer folklore. Back then, when there is a wedding ceremony displace, Khmer elders would bring a pair of geese to display as a symbol to represent the everlasting love between the newly wed -couple. I’m guessing the traditions in India are somewhat very similar to those followed in South East Asia.
Over all I really enjoyed reading all these stories. They are not only provided me with entertainment but also helped set as an example of how to collect folklore and how to analyze them precisely. The way in which the author interpret every folklore mentioned, provides us with new tools and a new outlook in approaching the topic of analyzing folklore. For example, she always asks about the significance of objects or people that Urmilaji mentioned in the stories. She also went around to other people in the village so to ask for further explanation than what she got from her consultant. Different people from different places gave the author and us different variants of each story that...