SHORT STORY ANALYSIS

GOLDEN SNAIL (KEONG EMAS)

A.   The Background of the Story

                 The story is from East Java, exactly from Daha Kingdom. It is about two princesses who have opposite characteristics, Galuh Candra Kirana and Galuh Ajeng. The story happened because of the jealousy of Galuh Ajeng toward Galuh Candra who is engaged with Raden Inu Kertapati and thus, wants to make her to not live happily. The society who enjoys the folktale is mostly from Java Island, especially those who live in East Java. They believe that golden snail is an incarnation of Galuh Candra Kirana.

B.   Synopsis

                 In Daha Kingdom, there lived two beautiful princesses named Galuh Candra Kirana and Galuh Ajeng. However, they had different characteristics in which Galuh Candra was very kind, while Galuh Ajeng was bad. When the Daha’s King engaged Galuh Candra with Raden Inu Kertapati, the crown prince of Kahuripan Kingdom, Galuh Ajeng was jealous because she loved him too. Then she went to an evil witch to jeopardize their engagement by cursing Galuh Candra. Galuh Ajeng was very determined to make Galuh Candra lived unhappily. Immediately, Galuh Candra felt ill and her body smelled so bad which made the King ashamed and later asked her to go away from the palace. Sadly, Galuh Candra went into a forest. But, the spell did not stop there. She then changed into a golden snail and stranded in Dadapan Forest. She was found by an old poor woman who was looking for a food. The old woman took the golden snail and put it in the earthen jar in her house. The next day, the old woman found nothing to eat in the forest and went home sadly. But to her surprise, there were delicious meal in her dining table where there was no one except her and the golden snail. It happened for several days which made her so curious about it. She then pretended to go to the forest and went back home to find out who was the one who had helped her. There she saw the golden snail changed into a beautiful princess who later prepared for the meal. The old woman went out from her hiding place and it made Galuh Candra surprised. The thing done by the old woman had made Galuh Candra to be a golden snail forever. Knowing this, the old woman felt sorry for her and prayed to the God to help her. Because of her sincerity, Galuh Candra’s spell was disappeared and she could be a beautiful princess again. The news of Galuh Candra be spread and heard by Raden Inu who immediately picked her up. He told the story of Galuh Candra to the Daha’s King who later felt angry toward Galuh Ajeng. The King wanted to give punishment to Galuh Ajeng by sending her away from the palace, but was stopped by Galuh Candra who still wanted her to stay. With this, Galuh Ajeng apologized to Galuh Candra and promised her to be a good sister. Finally, Galuh Candra was married with Raden Inu and lived happily in Kahuripan Kingdom ever after.

C.   The character whom we like in this folktale is Galuh Candra Kirana because she has a very good heart. She helped the old poor woman who had found her by preparing her delicious meal, and she also forgave Galuh Ajeng even though she had done something bad to her.

D.   From the folktale, we can learn that something that we do is also something that we get. If we are good toward other people, they will also be good to us, and so the otherwise. 

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