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"The Monkey's Paw" is a horror short story by English author W. W. Jacobs. It first appeared in Harper's Monthly in 1902, and was reprinted in his third collection of short stories, The Lady of the Barge later that year. In the story, three wishes are granted to the owner of The Monkey's Paw, but the wishes come with an enormous price for interfering with fate.

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Plot:

Mr. and Mrs. White, and their grown son, Herbert, are visited by Sergeant-Major Morris, a friend who served with the British Army in India. During dinner, he introduces them to a mummified monkey's paw. An old fakir placed a spell on the paw, so that it would grant three wishes but only with hellish consequences as punishment for tampering with fate. Morris, having had a horrible experience using the paw, throws it into the fire, but the sceptical Mr. White retrieves it. Before leaving, Morris warns Mr. White of what might happen should he use the paw.

Mr. White hesitates at first, believing that he already has everything he wants. At Herbert's suggestion, Mr. White flippantly wishes for £200, which will enable him to make the final mortgage payment for his house. When he makes his wish, Mr. White suddenly drops the paw in surprise, claiming that it moved and twisted like a snake. The following day, Herbert leaves for work. That night, an employee arrives at the Whites' home, telling them that Herbert had been killed in a terrible machine accident that mutilated his body. The company denies any responsibility for the incident, but declares its intention to make a goodwill payment to the bereaved family. When the despairing couple asks what the sum will be, they are told "£200".

A week after the funeral, Mrs. White, mad with grief, insists that her husband use the paw to wish Herbert back to life. Reluctantly, he does so, despite great unease at the thought of summoning his son's mutilated and decomposing body.

Later that night, there is a knock at the door. As Mrs. White fumbles at the locks in a desperate attempt to open the door, Mr. White becomes terrified and fears that the thing outside is not the son he loved.

He makes his third and final wish. The knocking stops, and Mrs. White opens the door to find that no one is there.

Mahima

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A rich man in a village in God’s Own State had a house full of utensils of different shapes and sizes. Whenever there was a ceremony in the village, the villagers would borrow his utensils and return them once the function was over. One day, a young man turned up at this rich man’s doorstep with more utensils than he had actually borrowed. When the rich man inquired about this, the young fellow gleefully replied that the utensils had been blessed with children and that he was simply returning them. Although astonished, the wealthy man rejoiced at that stroke of luck. A few days later, the young man came back to rent utensils for his sister’s marriage. The rich man, still mindful of his recent gains, began to anticipate his returns. A fortnight went by and there was no news of the young man. One evening, the rich man saw the young guy frantically running toward him. As he reached closer, the lad burst into tears. When asked why, the young man remorsefully replied that three of the vessels had passed away and two had committed suicide. The rich man was incensed. He grabbed the young man by his shoulders and asked him how could inanimate pieces of silverware kill themselves. He demanded that all his utensils be returned at once. At this, the young man smirked and asked if utensils giving birth made any sense, and if it did not, then why had he accepted the additional utensils in the first place. The affluent man realized his folly and asked the young man to keep the utensils as a reward for having opened his eyes ¹.

M.Shalini

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In the heart of rural India, there lived a wise old woman named Parvati. One day, a mysterious tiger appeared in the village, causing fear among the residents. Parvati, known for her connection with nature, decided to confront the tiger. To everyone's surprise, she spoke to the majestic creature, discovering that it was a cursed prince.

Legend had it that a wicked sorceress had transformed him, and only a selfless act could break the spell. Determined to help, Parvati embarked on a quest to find the rare Saffron Lotus known to lift curses. Along her journey, she faced trials from mythical beings and landscapes.

After many challenges, Parvati reached the Lotus Lake, where the beautiful flower bloomed. Plucking it, she returned to the village and placed the Saffron Lotus on the tiger's paw. The curse lifted, revealing a grateful prince. As a token of gratitude, he bestowed the village with prosperity and protection.

Harshita.K

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A story travels every time it is narrated and transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries.

A folktale is an expression of the cultural tradition, customs, beliefs, rituals and knowledge of the people.

In India the oral traditions of story telling have existed for centuries through living memory and oral repetition.

To conserve this rich heritage and to enhance your creativity, tell just one story.

You may use any forms like audio visual presentation, story board, comic strip, song, dance etc.

Jayanthi Bhaskar

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Once, a weaver who was in need of work took service with a certain farmer as a shepherd.

The farmer, knowing that the man was very slow-witted, gave him the most careful instructions as to everything that he was to do.

Finally, he said: ‘If a wolf or any wild animal attempts to hurt the flock, you should pick up a big stone like this’ (suiting the action to the word) ‘and throw a few such at him, and he will be afraid and go away.’ The weaver said that he understood and started with the flocks to the hillsides, where they grazed all day.

By chance in the afternoon, a leopard appeared, and the weaver instantly ran home as fast as he could to get the stones that the farmer had shown him to throw at the creature. When he came back, all the flock were scattered or killed, and when the farmer heard the tale, he beat him soundly. ‘Were there no stones on the hillside that you should run back to get them, you senseless one?’ he cried; ‘you are not fit to herd sheep. To-day you shall stay at home and mind my old mother, who is sick; perhaps you will be able to drive flies off her face if you can’t drive beasts away from sheep!’

So, the next day, the weaver was left at home to take care of the farmer’s old, sick mother. Now as she lay outside on a bed, it turned out that the flies became very troublesome, and the weaver looked round for something to drive them away with; and as he had been told to pick up the nearest stone to drive the beasts away from the flock, he thought he would this time show how cleverly he could obey orders. Accordingly he seized the nearest stone, which was a big, heavy one, and dashed it at the flies; but, unhappily, he slew the poor old woman also; and then, being afraid of the wrath of the farmer, he fled and was not seen again in that neighbourhood.

All that day and all the next night he walked, and at length he came to a village where a great many weavers lived together.

‘You are welcome,’ said they. ‘Eat and sleep, for to-morrow six of us start in search of fresh wool to weave, and we pray you to give us your company.’

‘Willingly,’ answered the weaver. So the next morning the seven weavers set out to go to the village where they could buy what they wanted. On the way, they had to cross a ravine, which lately had been full of water but now was quite dry. The weavers, however, were accustomed to swim over this ravine; therefore, regardless of the fact that this time it was dry, they stripped, and, tying their clothes on their heads, they proceeded to swim across the dry sand and rocks that formed the bed of the ravine. Thus they got to the other side without further damage than bruised knees and elbows, and as soon as they were over, one of them began to count the party to make sure that all were safe there. He counted all except himself, and then cried out that somebody was missing!

This set each of them counting; but each made the same mistake of counting all except himself, so that they became certain that one of their party was missing! They ran up and down the bank of the ravine wringing their hands in great distress and looking for signs of their lost comrade. There a farmer found them and asked what was the matter. ‘Alas!’ said one, ‘seven of us started from the other bank and one must have been drowned on the crossing, as we can only find six remaining!’ The farmer eyed them a minute, and then, picking up his stick, he dealt each a sounding blow, counting, as he did so, ‘One! two! three!’ and so on up to the seven. When the weavers found that there were seven of them they were overcome with gratitude to one whom they took for a magician as he could thus make seven out of an obvious six.