Adventures of Mouse Deer These tales are by Aaron Shepard. Lesson: Objective 2 (5.12) (I) recognize and analyze story plot, setting and problem resolution Grade: 5

Introduction You all know about Brer Rabbit from the United States. He is called a “trickster,” because he tricks other animals all the time. There are also other trickster animals around the world. Mouse Deer is the favorite trickster of Indonesia and Malaysia, two countries of Southeast Asia. What is a mouse deer? It is an animal about the size of a cat, and it lives in the jungles of Africa, Asia, and many Pacific islands. It has the legs and the tail of a deer, and the face and the body of a mouse – but it is not really a mouse or a deer. The mouse deer eats only plants, but lots of animals eat the mouse deer. To stay alive, it must be quick and smart. That is why the Indonesians and Malaysians have made Mouse Deer their favorite trickster. Click to add notes 2

Introduction The lesson will teach you to recognize and analyze story plot, setting, and problem resolution. 3

Feature # 1 - Mouse Deer & Tiger 1. Mouse Deer sang a song as he walked through the forest. He was looking for tasty fruits, and roots and shoots. Though he was small, he was not afraid. He knew that many big animals wanted to eat him. But first they had to catch him! Then he heard something that meant trouble. Roar! That was Tiger! “Hello, Mouse Deer. I was just getting hungry. Now you can be my lunch.” Mouse Deer didn’t want to be lunch. He looked around and thought fast. He saw a mud puddle. 3. “I’m sorry, Tiger. I can’t be your lunch. The King has ordered me to guard his pudding.” “His pudding?” said Tiger. “Yes. There it is.” Mouse Deer pointed to the mud puddle. “It has the best taste in the world. The King doesn’t want anyone else to eat it.” Click to add notes 4

Feature # 1 - Mouse Deer & Tiger Tiger looked longingly at the puddle. “I would like to taste the King’s pudding.” “Oh, no, Tiger! The King would be very angry.” “Just one little taste, Mouse Deer! The King will never know.” “Well, all right, Tiger. But first let me run far away, so no one will blame me.” “All right, Mouse Deer, you can go now.” 5. Mouse Deer ran quickly out of sight. “Imagine!” said Tiger. “The King’s pudding!” He took a big mouthful. Phooey! He spit it out. “Yuck! Ugh! Bleck! That’s no pudding. That’s mud!” 6. Tiger ran through the forest. Roar! He caught up with Mouse Deer. “Mouse Deer, you tricked me once. But now you will be my lunch!” Mouse Deer looked around and thought fast. He saw a wasp nest in a tree. Click to add notes 5

Feature # 1 - Mouse Deer & Tiger 7. “I’m sorry, Tiger. I can’t be your lunch. The King has ordered me to guard his drum.” “His drum?” said Tiger. “Yes. There it is.” Mouse Deer pointed to the wasp nest. “It has the best sound in the world. The King doesn’t want anyone else to hit it.” Tiger said, “I would like to hit the King’s drum.” “Oh, no, Tiger! The King would be very angry.” “Just one little hit, Mouse Deer! The King will never know.” “Well, all right, Tiger. But first let me run far away, so no one will blame me.” “All right, Mouse Deer, you can go now.” Mouse Deer ran quickly out of sight. “Imagine!” said Tiger. “The King’s drum!” He reached up and hit it with his foot. Click to add notes 6

Feature # 1 - Mouse Deer & Tiger 10. The wasps all flew out. They started to sting Tiger. “Ouch! Ooch! Eech! That’s no drum. That’s a wasp nest!” Tiger ran away. But the wasps followed him! Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz. “Ouch! Ooch! Eech!” Tiger came to a stream. He jumped in and stayed underwater as long as he could. At last the wasps went away. 11. Then Tiger jumped out. Roar! He ran through the forest till he found Mouse Deer. “Mouse Deer, you tricked me once. You tricked me twice. But now you will be my lunch!” 12. Mouse Deer looked around and thought fast. He saw a cobra! The giant snake was coiled asleep on the ground. “I’m sorry, Tiger. I can’t be your lunch. The King has ordered me to guard his belt.” “His belt?” said Tiger. “Yes. There it is.” Mouse Deer pointed to the cobra. “It’s the best belt in the world. The King doesn’t want anyone else to wear it.” Click to add notes 7

Feature # 1 - Mouse Deer & Tiger 13. Tiger said, “I would like to wear the King’s belt.” “Oh, no Tiger! The King would be very angry.” “Just for one moment, Mouse Deer! The King will never know.” 14. “Well, all right, Tiger. But first let me run far away, so no one will blame me.” “All right, Mouse Deer, you can go now.” Mouse Deer ran quickly out of sight. “Imagine!” said Tiger. “The King’s belt!” He started to wrap it around himself. 15. The cobra woke up. It didn’t wait for Tiger to finish wrapping. It wrapped itself around Tiger. Then it squeezed him and bit him. “Ooh! Ow! Yow! That’s no belt. That’s a cobra! Help! Mouse Deer! Help!” But Mouse Deer was far away, singing his song. This time Tiger couldn’t catch him any more, because of the pain caused by the snake bite. Click to add notes 8

Check Your Understanding What was the sound that Mouse Deer heard which meant there was a problem? a. he heard a crunching sound of dry twigs b. he heard the monkeys’ chatter and birds’ cry of alarm c. he heard a swishing sound d. he heard a roar Ans: d 9

Check Your Understanding The first problem that Mouse Deer came face-to-face with, was: a. a sleeping cobra b. a wily fox c. hungry Tiger d. an angry alligator Ans: c 10

Check Your Understanding When Tiger said he would like him for lunch (the first time), what did Mouse Deer say to save himself? a. he said he had to guard the King’s pudding b. he said he had to guard the King’s belt c. he said the King had called him to ask where Tiger was hiding d. he said he had to guard the King’s drum Ans: a 11

Check Your Understanding Fill in the blanks. i. the pudding was actually ………………………………………………. (a) a mud puddle / (b) a rotten pile of burned wood and leaves. ii. while Tiger went to taste the pudding, Mouse Deer ……………. ………………………………………………………………………….. (a) hid himself behind some thick bushes / (b) ran away as fast and far as he could. Ans: i=a; ii=b. 12

Check Your Understanding When Mouse Deer saw Tiger for the second time that day, which of these gave him a solution to escape? a. a beehive b. a crow’s nest c. a wasp nest d. sleeping bats, hanging upside down Ans: c 13

Check Your Understanding 6. What did Mouse Deer say to Tiger about the wasp nest? a. he said it was the King’s trumpet b. he said it was the King’s drum c. he said it was the King’s new hat and cloak d. he said it was a hiding place for the King’s treasures Ans: b 14

Check Your Understanding How did Tiger try to escape the wasps’ stings? a. he applied some large cooling banana leaves on himself b. he licked himself all over c. he went to a water fall to wash the wounds d. he went to a stream and stayed underwater till the wasps went away Ans: d 15

Check Your Understanding When Mouse Deer met Tiger for the third time that day, what gave him the idea to save himself? a. a coiled sleeping cobra b. a crocodile sunning himself c. an octopus d. a huge ugly toad Ans: a 16

Check Your Understanding Fill in the blanks. i. Mouse Deer pointed to the sleeping cobra and said he had to guard ………………………………………………………………… (a) the King’s stockings and garter / (b) the King’s belt. ii. Tiger went to wrap it round himself and was ………………… ……………………………………………………………………… (a) chased by the cobra / (b) squeezed tight and bitten by the cobra. Ans: i=b; ii=b. 17

Feature # 2 - Mouse Deer & Farmer Mouse Deer loved to eat the fruits, and roots and shoots of the forest. But he loved something else even more. He loved the vegetables in Farmer’s garden. One day, Mouse Deer went to the edge of the forest. He looked out at row after row of vegetables. “Mmmm,” said Mouse Deer. “Juicy cucumbers! Yummy yams!” He started into the garden when something went Snap! “Oh no!” His leg was caught in a snare! Mouse Deer pulled and pulled. But he could not get away. 3. “Oh, no!” he said. “Farmer will have me for dinner!” Then he saw Farmer coming. Mouse Deer thought fast. He lay on the ground and made his body stiff. “Well, well,” said Farmer. “Look what I caught. A mouse deer! But he looks dead.” 18

Feature # 2 - Mouse Deer & Farmer Farmer pushed him with his foot. Mouse Deer didn’t move. “Maybe he’s been dead a long time,” said Farmer. “Too bad! I guess we can’t eat him.” He pulled Mouse Deer’s leg out of the snare. Then he tossed Mouse Deer back into the forest. Mouse Deer landed with a soft plop. Then he jumped up and ran. Behind him, he heard Farmer yell. “Hey! You tricked me!” Mouse Deer laughed. “Farmer is smart. But Mouse Deer is smarter!” * * * 19

Check Your Understanding 10. When Mouse Deer went into Farmer’s garden to steal vegetables, what problem did he face? a. Farmer’s dog chased him away b. his leg got caught in a snare c. Farmer’s son tried to shoot him with his air rifle d. he fell down a deep pit and could not get out Ans: b 20

Check Your Understanding 11. When he saw Farmer coming what did he do? a. he lay still, made his body stiff, and pretended he was dead b. he pleaded with Farmer to let him go c. he told Farmer he will visit his Mom and promised to come back d. he told Farmer he wanted a drink of water Ans: a 21

Check Your Understanding 12. Fill in the blanks. i. Farmer thought he was …………………………..(a) ill and thirsty / (b) dead for a long time. ii. Farmer ……………………………………………………………….. (a) opened the trap and tossed him back into the forest / (b) went inside to get him a drink of water. Ans: i=b; ii=a. 22

Feature # 3 - Mouse Deer & Farmer (contd.) A few days passed. Mouse Deer kept thinking about all those vegetables. One day, he went back to the edge of the forest. “Mmmm,” said Mouse Deer. “Tasty gourds! Scrumptious sweet potatoes!” Then he saw something new. It looked like a man. But its head was a coconut, and its body was rubber. “A scarecrow!” said Mouse Deer. “Does the silly farmer think he can scare me with that? I’ll show him how scared I am!” Mouse Deer marched up to the scarecrow. “Take this!” He gave it a big kick. But his leg stuck to the scarecrow. The scarecrow was covered with sticky sap from a rubber tree! “Let me go!” said Mouse Deer. He pulled and he pulled. Then he pushed with his other front leg. That leg stuck too. “Turn me loose!” He pulled and he pulled. Then he pushed with his two back legs. They stuck too. Click to add notes 23

Feature # 3 - Mouse Deer & Farmer (contd.) 5. “Put me down!” He pulled and he pushed and he pulled and he pushed. But Mouse Deer was trapped. Then he saw Farmer. Mouse Deer thought fast. But he didn’t have any ideas! “Well, well,” said Farmer. “How nice of you to come back.” He pulled Mouse Deer off the scarecrow and carried him to the house. He put him outside in an empty chicken coop. “I’ll keep you here tonight,” said Farmer. “And tomorrow you’ll be our dinner.” All that night, Mouse Deer couldn’t sleep. He didn’t want to be dinner! When the sun rose, Mouse Deer just lay there sadly. 7. Then he heard something. “Mouse Deer! So Farmer caught you at last.” It was Farmer’s dog. Mouse Deer thought fast. “What do you mean, Dog? Farmer didn’t catch me.” 8. “Then why are you in the coop?” said Dog. “Because there aren’t enough beds in the house. You see, Farmer is holding a feast tomorrow. And I’m the guest of honor.” 24

Feature # 3 - Mouse Deer & Farmer (contd.) 9. “Guest of honor?” said Dog. “That’s not fair! I’ve been his loyal friend for years, and you’re just a thief. The guest of honor should be me!” “You know, Dog, you’re right. Why don’t you take my place? When Farmer sees you in here, he’ll make you the guest of honor instead,” said Mouse Deer generously. 10. “Really?” said Dog. “You don’t mind?” “Not at all,” said Mouse Deer. “You deserve it.” “Mouse Deer, you’re not so bad after all. Thank you!” Dog lifted the latch and opened the door. “You’re welcome, Dog. Enjoy the feast.” 11. Mouse Deer ran for the forest. Then he watched from the forest edge. He saw Farmer come out and stare at Dog. Then he heard Farmer yell. “You stupid Dog! You let Mouse Deer get away!” Mouse Deer just laughed and sang his song. 25

Check Your Understanding 13. What two problems did Mouse Deer face when he returned to Farmer’s garden? (choose two) a. he got stuck to a scarecrow because of a sticky sap b. Farmer’s wife locked him up in her kitchen c. he got stuck inside the dog house because of a trap door d. Farmer locked him up in an empty chicken coop Ans: a and d 26

Check Your Understanding 14. How did Mouse Deer free himself atlast? a. he talked Farmer’s wife into trusting him and letting him out for a while b. he offered to play with Farmer’s baby and take the kid out for some fresh air c. he talked Farmer into letting him help clean up the cow shed and ran away d. he talked Dog into exchanging places with him, so Dog entered the chicken coop and set him free Ans: d 27

Check Your Understanding 15. Fill in the blanks. a. In Feature # 1, Mouse Deer and ……………………………… play important roles. b. Feature # 1 takes place in ………………………………… c. In Feature # 2, Mouse Deer and ……………………………… d. In Feature # 3, Mouse Deer meets ………………………………. (suggestion: this could be total recall by learners) If options are necesary, request please incorporate this above. a. (Tiger / Cobra) b. (Farmer’s garden / a jungle) c.(scarecrow / Farmer) d. (Dog / Cow) Ans: a=Tiger; b=a jungle; c=Farmer; d=Dog. 28

Check Your Understanding 16. Discuss what scarecrows are used for. How are they usually dressed? Open discussion 29

Summary And till now you thought Brer Rabbit was the only trickster. Answering the questions at the end, will help you to learn to recognize and analyze story plot, setting, and problem resolution. 30

Great job today!