Japanese Village Story Analysis

What did the cruel young lord in the village declare about the elderly?

How did the elderly mother help her son during the climb?

What was the first impossible task that the young lord had to solve?

What did the farmer do with his mother instead of leaving her in the mountains?

Who sent the warriors to warn the village of the impending danger?

What was the response of the clever badger when asked for help with the tasks?

How did the young farmer's mother create the rope of ash?

What did the old woman use to encourage the ant to move through the log?

What happened when the bumblebee was sealed inside the drum?

What was the young lord's reaction when the farmer presented the completed tasks?

Japanese Village Story - Summary

Cruel young lord rules village, declaring those over 70 useless and destined for death.
Farmer's mother reaches this age, but farmer refuses to abandon her.
Mother guides farmer back home by marking path.
The farmer and his mother work together to restore the village's fate.

Impossible Tasks for the Young Lord

Three warriors from Lord Higa threaten to conquer the village unless the young lord completes three impossible tasks.
Tasks include: create rope from ashes, thread a crooked log, create a drum that plays without being beaten.
Six wisest village members fail to solve the tasks.
Clever badger also fails to provide solutions.
Young lord threatens to imprison those who fail.

Farmer's Mother's Solution

The farmer's mother helps solve the tasks.
To solve the rope task, she soaks rope in salt water and let it burn without crumbling, this created rope out of ashes).
To solve the thread task, she uses a thread,honey, and an ant. The ant is attracted to honey and pulls the thread through the log.
To solve the drum task, she places a bee inside the drum. The bee's fluttering while trying to escape makes sound.
The young lord is astonished that the farmer solved the tasks.

Revelation and Resolution

The young farmer reveals his mother's role in solving the tasks.
The farmer's mother remains hidden for two years, helping the farmer.
The young lord is saved from being conquered, and the community is spared.

Explore the themes of sacrifice and ingenuity in the 'Japanese Village Story.' This quiz delves into the narrative surrounding the cruel young lord, his impossible tasks, and the resilience of a farmer and his mother in restoring their village's fate. Test your understanding of the characters and their unique solutions to overcome adversity.