The The Grasshopper Grasshopper and the Bell and the Bell

CricketCricket

by Yasunari by Yasunari KawabataKawabata

Grasshopper Bell Cricket

Grasshoppers are symbolic of most of the mediocre events in life that we often neglect.

Bell cricket stands for the precious things in life that are worth treasuring.

SETTING

““The Grasshopper and the Bell The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket” is set behind a university Cricket” is set behind a university in an embankment. in an embankment. The embankment is a very The embankment is a very colorful and magical place lit up colorful and magical place lit up by home-made lanterns. by home-made lanterns. 

CHARACTERSCHARACTERS

NARRATNARRATOR

Who might be the narrator Who might be the narrator in this story? What clues in this story? What clues are provided in the story?are provided in the story?

What is this story all about ?What is this story all about ?

lanterns lanterns insects insects young love young love

PLOTA young boy and a young girl fell in love unexpectedly. 

It started off with a scene set with beautiful multicolored lanterns in Japan. 

Some children made their own lanterns out of cardboard and tissue paper. 

The young boy at first is advising his friends that he has a sacred grasshopper and that he is giving it away. 

As several children crowd around him, a young girl approaches and voices her desire for the grasshopper. 

But once Fujio hands her the grasshopper, Kiyoko realizes that it is not a grasshopper, but a cricket. 

Then they unknowingly fall in love.

THEMES : CHILDHOOD INNOCENCE, JOY, FRIENDSHIP,LOVE, CULTURE, DIVERSITY AND CREATIVITY

,

The children in the embankment are The children in the embankment are disinterested with the problems of the world. disinterested with the problems of the world. Their only worries are their lanterns and Their only worries are their lanterns and finding a grasshopper, or maybe even a bell finding a grasshopper, or maybe even a bell cricket. Specifically, the main characters, cricket. Specifically, the main characters, Fujio and Kiyoko, are very innocent. They are Fujio and Kiyoko, are very innocent. They are unaware of their futures, and are focused only unaware of their futures, and are focused only on the present and finding a grasshopper or a on the present and finding a grasshopper or a bell cricket.bell cricket.  

METAPHORS / SYMBOLS METAPHORS / SYMBOLS

varicoloured lanterns

DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN OF CHILDREN

Red lantern –having intense emotionRed lantern –having intense emotionPink – gentle emotionsPink – gentle emotionsYellow – wisdom and intellectYellow – wisdom and intellect

Indigo –dignity and high aspirations

Violet –noble, spiritual aspirations,honor, spirituality and self-esteem.

Green –social stability and Green –social stability and greedinessgreediness

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VALUES VALUES The story is able to provide a simplistic view of the world.

It excludes biased impressions of friendship and love.

Illustrating friendship, Kawabata creatively chosen the grasshopper as its symbol. "Does anyone want a grasshopper?

IMAGES :IMAGES :SIGHT IMAGERYSIGHT IMAGERY

CONNECTIONCONNECTION

Yasunary Kawabata uses the title “ The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket ” as a symbol to differentiate different kinds of people.

REFLECTION: DRAW IMAGES REFLECTION: DRAW IMAGES SEEN IN THE SELECTION. SEEN IN THE SELECTION.

ASSIGNMENT : 1. Prepare for a test on the Introduction to Literature, east and west literature, Swaddling Clothes and The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket. 2. Interpret the poem “ Song “ from Shi Ching and be able to discuss it in class.3. What different stages in life of a woman is shown in the poem ? Explain your answer.