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SUMMARY:
Many years ago, in his old age, a wise, old king took a young
bride, but she did not love him. A mystical hermit offered to help
the king telling him that a potion could be made from three rare
ingredients: an egg of the black tabon bird, 12 ladles of milk from
a pure white buffalo, and a flower from the Tree of Vision. The
hermit mixed the ingredients and told the king to plant it in the
palace garden. From the mixture sprang a glorious durian tree,
whose sweet, delicious fruit changed the queen. The queen says
the king as young and handsome. She now loved him. The king
held a royal feast to celebrate, but he neglected to invite the old
hermit. Angry, the hermit cast a spell to curse the durian. Its
sweet smell became rancid, and its smooth, delicate skin grew
piercing spikes. The princess never ate the fruit again. She
stopped loving the king.
OUTLINE:
Theme: Myth or Allegory
Author: Anonymous
Title: The Legend of Durian
Vocabulary:
hermit
ladle
blemish
nectar
nymph
foul
Unlocking of Difficulties:
Hermit (n) a person who lives in a simple way apart from
others especially for religious reasons
Ladle (n) a deep-bowled long-handled spoon
Blemish (v) to damage the good condition of something
Nectar (n) the thick juice made from a particular fruit
Nymph (n) a spirit in the shape of a young woman who
lives in mountains, forests, meadows, and water
Foul (adj.) very bad or unpleasant
Characters:
Barom-Mai
Madayaw-Bayho
Tageb
Matigam
hermit
Pawikan
Hangin-Bai
Description:
1. Barom-Mai an old, wise king living in a kingdom called
Calinan
2. Madayaw-Bayho - daughter of Tageb
3. Tageb - king of the pirates
4. Matigam wisest adviser
5. Hermit - a mystical person who offered to help the king
telling him that a potion could be made from three rare
ingredients (egg, milk, and flower)
6. Pawikan king of the sea turtles
7. Hangin-Bai the nymph of the air