Week 3 Storytelling: The Beggar King

Author's Note: In the original story, a king was forced out of his luxurious palace and forced onto the streets having to act as a beggar because of a genie who tricked him. In the end, the king learned his lesson. He was given his kingdom back and was an even better ruler because of his experience. I decided to retell the story of "The Beggar King" because I don't feel like a king who acted like he did all his life would change his life and thoughts so drastically. I know some people who have gone through some pretty life-changing things who have changed for the better. I also know some people who changed for the worst or didn't even change at all. I think that the king would be ticked off and would want revenge on the genie, especially since the king was beaten by a man who he refused to serve. I think the genie forcing the king would have made the situation even worse, which is why I rewrote the story to have the king act the same after he gets back. But in his defense, I don't think I would be too happy about having to live on the streets for an entire year after being in a nice home and having plenty to eat for all my life...

(The Beggar King, Source:UnTextbook)

The Beggar King
There once was a king who thought he belonged on a high horse. His people thought the worst of him (and they weren't wrong). He was greedy and selfish. The High Priest was reading out of the Holy Book when he came across a passage that the king didn't like. The king snatched the Holy Book out of the High Priest's hands and threw it across the room. The Priest was stunned. The king shoved past the priest and stormed out of the room. He ordered his men to saddle the horses and informed them that they were going hunting.

The king owned the fastest horse in all of the lands. When the king saw a deer, his horse easily outran his men's horses. He followed the deer into the woods and saw it cross the water. There, he dismounted and waded through the water to follow the deer. When he came towards the deer, it transformed into a man.

The man spoke to the king and explained that he was the deer and that he was actually a genie. "Because you are so haughty, I am here to teach you a lesson." And with that, he transformed himself into the king's look-alike, swam across the river, and mounted the horse.

By this time, the king's men finally caught up and believed that the genie was the real king. "I lost the trail of the deer. Let us return," said the genie. The genie and the king's men rode away back to the palace.

The king was so shocked. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He wandered all over and found a wood-cutter. "You there!" cried the king. "I am the king. You shall escort me back to my palace."

The wood-cutter laughed in the king's face. "You must be mad," cackled the wood-cutter. "You're in ragged clothes. You cannot be the king. Work for me and I will give you food and clothes." The king refused and the wood-cutter beat him.

The king wandered away and reached the palace late at night. He told the guards who he was, but they didn't believe them. He went away and blended in with a group of blind beggars. He had decided to be their eyes.

After a few months, the royal heralds went by and announced that the good king would give a feast to all of the beggars and that the beggars would have a chance to speak with him. The king was overjoyed. He would be able to convince the genie to change him back.

The time came when it was the king's turn to talk to the genie. He begged for forgiveness and said that he would never act that way towards the Holy Book again. He repented his sins. The genie realized that the king had learned his lesson and transformed himself back into the genie's body. The king had regained his clothes and was now sitting on the throne.

The king was overjoyed. He then looked to the genie and swore. "How dare you?! Who do you think you are making me act as a beggar and forcing me to live on the streets while you live in my palace! Guards! Exile this man!"

As the guards were dragging the genie away, the genie sighed, "I guess you haven't learned anything at all." The king went back to his old ways and was haughtier than ever.

Bibliography: Story: "The Beggar King", Jewish Fairytales and Legends by Gertrude Landa (1919).

Extra Reading Diary: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche

Cupid and Psyche

The Jar of Beauty: Psyche has to do a plethora of tasks for Venus. She must travel to the underworld to Prosperine and ask for a jar of her beauty. She went on her way and was stopped by a turret who warned her of the many dangers in the underworld. He warned her that she needs to take two coins in her mouth and two barley cakes. He also warned that she must not talk to anybody or drop the cakes otherwise she would be stuck there forever. She did as she was told and got the jar of beauty, but when she got back up she thought that she deserved a little bit of the beauty. I think it's funny that Venus had so many traps waiting for Psyche in the underworld. If Psyche wouldn't have listened to the turret, she would be stuck in the underworld due to Venus.

Sleep of the Dead: Psyche didn't listen to the turret and opened the box. There wasn't beauty in there but deathly sleep. She fell into a deep sleep. Cupid came down and wiped away the sleep and restored it to the jar. He awoke Psyche and told her to finish the task.

The Wedding Feast: Psyche is brought to heaven to drink a cup of ambrosia to make her immortal. Her wedding to Cupid will be equal. There was a big feast and when Psyche came to turn, she gave birth to a girl named Pleasure. The old woman's story ended and the robbers came back. They took everybody and made them travel and debated on the horse's death (Lucius).

The Escape: Lucius broke free of his restraints and ran, but the old woman saw and held onto his reigns. He kicked her off and rescued the girl. The girl was so happy that she prayed to the gods and thanked the horse magnificently. She was in his debt.

(Psyche and the Jar of Beauty, Source: UnTextbook)

Reading Diary B: Jewish Fairy Tales

Jewish Fairy Tales

The Sleep of One Hundred Years: I remember reading a story like this a long time ago! But I don't think it had anything to do with religion. A man named Onias is on his way to Jerusalem on his camel. He is on a long journey and when gets there he sees that the city is destroyed. He cries himself to sleep and falls into a deep sleep and doesn't wake for 100 years. When he wakes, he's so confused and realizes that he's aged and slept 100 years. Onias was brought to his great grandson and they talked. Rabbi Onias asked his grandson to take him to his place of sleep and once again he falls into a deep sleep.

The Higgledy-Piggledy Palace: This story was so good and kind of funny! The Pharaoh lusts after Abraham's wife and in return is basically cursed by a spirit that he cannot see. The spirit can injure the Pharaoh and bother him and nobody can provide Pharaoh with any answers of what is happening. He is so frustrated that he tells Abraham to take his "sister" away and Abraham tells Pharaoh that Sarah is actually his wife. He also gives Pharaoh a warning about if any of his descendants came after them that God will punish the King with plague again.

The Fairy Frog: This story was very interesting. Hanina's parents were dying and his father made him promise to mourn for seven days and then go into the market and to buy the first thing that is offered to him. So he goes to the market and ends up buying a frog. He takes the frog home and feeds it. The frog grows and grows and eats all of their food. Hanina's wife breaks down and the frog talks to her and rewards her with whatever she wishes. Same with Hanina. The frog takes the couple to the forest and rewards them for listening to the dying. The frog is the fairy son of Adam and can take any form. He turns back into a small frog and hops way. The couple return with their riches and become and wealthy and loved by all.

(The Fairy Frog, Source: The Fairy Frog)

Reading Diary A: Jewish Fairy Tale

Jewish Fairy Tales

The Beggar King: I absolutely love this story! It talks about a king who is the typical stereotypical king, who is cruel and basically undeserving of the throne, and has him trade places with a genie to teach him a lesson. I really like how the king was actually treated like a beggar so that he would know how it felt to be on the streets. I also really like how when the genie knew that the king had learned his lesson that the kind tried to refuse because he knew that he was unworthy at first and cared about the blind beggars.

The Water Babe: This story is so good! I haven't read the story of Moses since I was a little kid so I can't really remember if its the same or not. I think its funny that Pharaoh and Bilum have doubts about Moses even though he is just a baby. It just doesn't make sense to me. Like why would you have a weird feeling about a baby? But I guess that Bilum and Pharaoh do have something to worry about since Moses grows up to do great things.

From Shepherd-Boy to King: This story was a little weird. It has the boy David, who is very curious and brave, climb a 'mountain' to see a tree that had no leaves. Turns out the mountain was actually a unicorn. A lion commanded that the unicorn bow and when it did, David slid off in front of the lion. David was prepared to fight but a deer came in and saved David. It got David away from the lion and said that he had orders to save David because he was the future king.

(Baby Moses, Source: The Orthodox Life)