The Dogs and the Flute Akutagawa Ryunosuke
1. A girlish-looking man, Kaminagahiko, was playing his flute, which he was very good at, one day, when 3 gods who overheard him (one with 1 leg, one with 1 arm, one with 1 eye) and each decided to give him a dog (Sniff-Black, Fly-White, Bite-Spotted), and told him as long as he played his flute, they (the dogs) would be sure to help him. One day, Kaminagahiko came across 2 samurai who were searching for the emperors two daughters, whod been kidnapped by demons. They told him about the cash reward, left and with the help of the dogs, he retrieved the dogs and killed the demons, freeing two spirits who promised to help him later.
The conflict occurred once Kaminagahiko returned the girls back to the samurai. They asked him to tell them how he rescued them, and then once he told them, they took his flute, the dogs, the princesses, the money and left, leaving Kaminagahiko with nothing. Fortunately, with the help of the spirits, he was able to go to the emperors palace, where he told on the evil samurai and was rewarded. He married one of the emperors daughters and the two samurais were banished.
2. Hero-Kaminagahiko
Female Soul mate-One of the daughters
Villain- The two samuari
Wise counselors-Giants, spirits
Good mother-Emperor
Sacrificial Scapegoat- Kaminagahiko
The point of view for this story is third person omniscient, as in it is told as that of an observer of the story and explores the emotions/ inner dialogue of multiple characters- Kaminagahiko, samurai, the daughters.
3. This story reads like a traditional fairy-tale and has no illusion, images, etc. The ending was expected, and definitely not a surprise.
Carmen Akutagawa Ryunosuke
1. Two men are discussing a play, Carmen, that they would like to go see because of an attractive Russian (Yena) woman that they are both interested in. She is the star of it. However when they show up she is not in the play, but instead a plain actress is in her spot. They discuss that her absence deals directly with the fact that a man killed himself because of her (he loved her, but she loved someone else, so he hung himself). Just as they decide to leave, Yena appeared, just to watch, and the two men stayed, just to stare at her. The next day at lunch, the two analyzed how much Yena was like the real Carmen from the opera.
2. Female Soul mate-Yena
In this story, there were none of the traditional archetypes except for Yena, but she was no ones female soul mate, because she was an independent woman and didnt real fit into the traditional mold of a female soul mate.
The point of view for this story is first person, the narrator. This point of view makes the story more personal and interesting as it seems as the narrator is human and more involved.
3. This story is mainly an allusion, and little else. It alludes to the classic Opera- Carmen- and how the female soul mate is like a modern day Carmen. The ending for this story is not really a twist as the story just fades; it doesnt stop. However, from the beginning the reader can tell that Yena is like Carmen.
|  | | | The Sage Akutagawa Ryunosuke
1. A man called Gonsuke wanted more than anything to become immortal. So one day, he went to a man who found for people and asked him to found out how he could become immortal (i.e.-sage). He could not think of how to do this but he asked his friend, a doctor for advice. His wife told him to tell Gonsuke that if he worked for them, without payment for 20 years, then they would teach him how to be immortal, although they themselves did not know. After working faithfully for them for the 20 years, asked her to teach him how to be immortal.
The point of conflict comes when the doctors wife then challenges him to climb the tall tree outside of their house. The doctor intervenes as Gonsuke begins to climb, because he does not want him to die, as the tree is very high and if he were to fall, he would crash on the rocks below and die. The husband subsides his arguing until Gonsuke reaches the top of the tree and the wife tells him to take both hands off. The conflict is resolved when Gonsuke lets go and instead of falling, floats away and becomes a sage.
2. Hero- Gonsuke
Good Mother- Doctors Wife
Sacrificial-Scapegoat
The Point of view for this story is also third person omniscent as it explores the inner dialogue of Gonsuke, the clerk, the wife and the doctor.
3. The tone for the story is lighthearted and hopeful also fantasy, as this is a story that could never happen. The ending is a bit of a twist because the reader is led to believe that Gonsuke will die or fail in his quest to become a sage but instead, he does eventually become one.
The Monkey-Crab War Akutagawa Ryunosuke
1. A crab, Kani, who found a rice ball to feed her family with, meets up with a cruel, greedy, monkey, Saru-don, who traded her the rice ball for a persimmon seed he found in his cheek. Kani planted the seed, and soon, she had a huge persimmon tree full of beautiful persimmons. Since Kani was too short to reach the fruit, she ask Saru-don the help her pick the fruit from her tree. He, noting that the persimmons were very good, proceeded to eat all of the persimmons, and when Kani asked for one, he threw a too ripe one at her shell, causing it to break. Her friend the bee helped her home then went to her friends the mortar and the chestnut and asked for their help in punishing Saru-don. They decided one day to go to his house, hurt him a little bit, and then make him go apologize to Kani. After they did this, he picked persimmons for Kani and her family to eat, and did so a few times a year, but otherwise, didnt see her.
2. Heroine-Kani
Villain- Saru-don
Sacrificial Scapegoat-Kani
Sidekick(s)-Bee, Mortar, Chestnut
The point of view for this story is third person. This helps make the story like a childs story and still keep the story objective.
3. This story is a fairy tale or a fantasy. There are no allusions in this story because this story was written probably as part of a childrens book.
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