Issumboshi

Issumboshi

A WARMER

STORY TELLING

Your teacher will read you a familiar story.

Use the following headings to discuss the story.

• When did the story happen?

• Who are the characters?

• Where did the story take place?

• What is the problem (complication)?

• What is the ending (resolution)?

B VOCABULARY BUILDER

Match the words with their Indonesian equivalents. Compare your work to your classmates’.

couple (noun) terhormat

gift (noun) bersembahyang; beribadah

raise (verb) jin

bully (verb) menikam

respectable (adjective) membesarkan

anchor (verb) hadiah

retainer (noun) berlabuh

stab (verb) pelayan

worship (verb) pasangan

demon (noun) mengolok-olok

C PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE

Listen to your teacher reading these words. Repeat after him/her.

couple : / ˈkʌp ə l /

gift : / ɡɪft /

raise : / reɪz /

bully : / ˈbʊli /

respectable : / rɪˈspektəb ə l /

anchor : / ˈæŋkər /

retainer : / rɪˈteɪnər /

stab : / stæb /

worship : / ˈwɜːʃɪp /

demon : / ˈdiːmən /

D READING

Task 1:

Read the text carefully.

Once upon a time there was an old couple who didn’t have a child. They lived in a small house near the village forest. “Please give us a child,” they asked God everyday.

One day, from the household Shinto altar, they heard a cute cry, “Waa! Waa!”

They looked and saw a crying baby who looked just like a little finger. “This child must be a gift from God. Thanks to God!”

“We will call this child ‘Issumboshi’,” they said.

They raised Issumboshi with much care, but Issumboshi never grew bigger.

“Hey, Issumboshi, do you want to be eaten by a frog?” Issumboshi was always being bullied by the children of the village and often went home feeling unhappy.

Grandmother would make some big rice balls and encourage him. “Eat a lot, and grow up quickly,” Grandmother said.

One day, Issumboshi said, “I will go to the capital to study and become a respectable person. Then I will come back.” Grandfather and Grandmother were worried about him, but Issumboshi’s mind would not be changed. At once they began to prepare for his trip.

Issumboshi sheathed a needle sword in a straw case, put on a cup for a sedge hat, and started out with a chopstick staff, in high spirits.

“I’m going now,” Issumboshi said.

“Is he safe? With such a small body?” Grandfather and Grandmother asked as they saw him off.

Issumboshi went on the trip with a big wish in a small body.

… … …

At last Issumboshi reached the capital city and anchored under the bridge. Then he climbed up to the railing and viewed the town.

“There is a fine palace over there. I shall ask them at once.”

At long last Issumboshi arrived at the palace.

“Excuse me, but I want to meet the feudal lord.”

The lord came to the door, “What? Who’s there?”

“Here I am, at your feet.”

“Oh. How small! Why do you want to meet me?”

“Please let me be your retainer.”

“I wonder if your very small body can do anything.”

“I’ll stay in your pocket and guard you from all harm.” When Issumboshi said so, a bee came buzzing by. “Yhaa!” Issumboshi yelled, stabbing the bee.

“Bravo! I employ you. It would be good if you became the Princess’s man.”

“Oh! What a cute fellow he is!” said the Princess, putting Issumboshi on her palm.

 “I will defend you upon my life,” said Issumboshi.

The Princess liked Issumboshi, and she taught him reading, writing, and various studies. Further, Issumboshi practiced fencing very hard in order to be strong.

One day the Princess went out to worship at the Kiyomizu Temple. Suddenly there was a strong wind, and some demons appeared. The leader of the demons tried to grab the Princess. “Help me!” she screamed. Issumboshi tried to help her, but the demon caught him and threw him into his mouth. Issumboshi, who was swallowed, jabbed and jabbed the demon’s stomach. The demon rolled over and spat out Issumboshi.

Issumboshi jumped at the demon and stabbed his eyes. The remaining demons were frightened. They ran away in great haste, but one demon, who was left behind, trembled while holding the magic hammer.

“Do you want me to stab your eyes, too?” Issumboshi asked.

“Please, don’t. This is the magic hammer that will grant you a wish. I give it to you, so please spare me.” And saying this, he ran off in a hurry.

“Thank you, Issumboshi. You have saved my life,” the Princess said.

“Princess, please wave this magic hammer and make a wish that I may become big,” said Issumboshi. The Princess waved it and asked, “May Issumboshi become big!”

And then, strangely, before her eyes, Issumboshi began to grow. He grew into a nice young man. They went back to the palace, and the Princess asked the King to let her marry Issumboshi.

The Princess and Issumboshi then got married, and they invited Grandfather and Grandmother to live with them in the palace. They lived happily ever after.

Task 2:

In the story ‘Issumboshi’ there are words that describe the characters and the setting. Find them in the story and list them below.

G GRAMMAR REVIEW

REPORTED SPEECH (INDIRECT SPEECH)

Task 1:

Study the following pairs of sentences carefully.

1. a.“We will call this child ‘Issumboshi’,” the old couple said.

(direct speech)

b. The old couple said that they would call that child ‘Issumboshi’.

(reported speech)

2. a. Issumboshi told the grandparents, “I will go to the capital to study.” (direct speech)

b. Issumboshi told the grandparents that he would go to the capital to study. (reported speech)

3. a. “I’m going now,” Issumboshi said. (direct speech)

b. Issumboshi said that he was going then. (reported speech)

4. a. “There is a fine palace over there,” Issumboshi said. (direct speech)

b. Issumboshi said that there was a fine palace over there. (reported speech)

5. a. Issumboshi said, “I want to meet the feudal lord.” (direct speech)

b. Issumboshi said that he wanted to meet the feudal lord. (reported speech)

I .WRITING

Task 1:

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

At once Grandfather and Grandmother began to __________ for Issumboshi’s trip. Issumboshi was __________.

Issumboshi went on the trip with a big wish in a __________ body. At last Issumboshi reached the __________ city and anchored under the __________. Then he climbed up to the railing and viewed the town.

There was a fine __________ over there. At long last Issumboshi arrived at the __________. He wanted to meet the feudal __________. He wanted to become __________. The king wondered whether Issumboshi’s small body could do __________.

 Jawaban : 

B VOCABULARY BUILDER

couple (noun) pasangan

gift (noun) hadiah

raise (verb) membesarkan

bully (verb) mengolok-olok

respectable (adjective) terhormat

anchor (verb) berlabuh

retainer (noun) pelayan

stab (verb) menikam

worship (verb) bersembahyang; beribadah

demon (noun) jin

C VOCABULARY Exercise

1. couple

2. raised

3. bullying

4. demon

5. gift

6. anchor

7. worship

8. holy

9. stabbed

10. respectable

G GRAMMAR REVIEW

1. Issumboshi said to the princess that he would stay in her pocket and guard

her from all harm.

2. The lord said that he would employ him.

3. Issumboshi told the princess that he would defend her upon his life.

4. The demon said that that magic hammer would grant him a wish.

5. The demon said to Issumboshi that he would give that magic hammer to

him.

6. John said that he was feeling ill.

7. Bob told me that Dan worked very hard.

8. Riana said that she didn’t have any brothers or sisters.

9. Fadhil told me that Sarah had a very well-paid job.

10. Tika said that she didn’t like fish.

11. The manager said to Santi that he (she) would employ her.

12. The teacher told the students that they had to collect the assignment on

November 10.

13. Rudi said that his mother was leaving for Jakarta soon.

14. Sasha told Iman that he needed to plan the program carefully.”

15. Narti said that the school was organizing a trip for the students of Year 10

only.

 I .WRITING

Task 1.

At once Grandfather and Grandmother began to prepare for Issumboshi’s

trip. Issumboshi was ready.

Issumboshi went on the trip with a big wish in a small body. At last

Issumboshi reached the capital city and anchored under the bridge. Then he

climbed up to the railing and viewed the town.

There was a fine palace over there. At long last Issumboshi arrived at the

palace. He wanted to meet the feudal lord. He wanted to become a retainer.

The king wondered whether Issumboshi’s small body could do anything.

Task 2.

Kanchil, the small and clever mousedeer, had many enemies in the forest.

Fortunately, he was quick-witted, so that every time his life was threatened, he

managed to escape.

One of his greatest enemies was Crocodile, who lived in the river that

bordered the forest. Many times Crocodile had tried to capture Kanchil.

Crocodile was big, but he was not very clever. Kanchil was able to trick him

every time.

One day it was very hot. There was no wind at all to refresh the thirsty plants

and trees of the forest. It was in the middle of the dry season. For many weeks

no rain had fallen, so the little creeks where the small animals used to drink

had dried up. Kanchil was walking alone in the forest. He was very thirsty. He

had walked a long way, looking for a brook where he could quench his thirst.