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RE: The Kind and Gentle Lion (An Original Children's Story)

in #steemiteducation7 years ago (edited)

You get from art what you bring to it.

  1. The lion was not responsible for the protection of any of the other species but instead ventured to form an alliance with them through voluntarism. His actions put him in a position to help and thereby a position of leverage to negotiate a mutually beneficial relationship.

  2. Teaches that force is only appropriate in defense of yourself and/or another in order to stop aggression. It does not necessarily dictate the force must be externally sourced (hey that rhymes).

  3. I agree with you on that one.

  4. Again...voluntarism. Nobody forced him to defend them. The narrator didn't indicate that it was something he must do.

  5. Some people are sad when they are alone. Others prefer it. The story seems to indicate that the lion was the former. Even so, there is no underlying theme that tells the reader that he must join the rest of the jungle to survive. In fact, it pretty much says that that he was about to just let them go. There is no force pushing the jungle's inhabitants together. They do so under their own accord. It's not like he put the hunters in a cage and threatened to let them out if the rest of the jungle didn't play with him.

  6. True, but in defense of the OP, the hunters did manage to catch 5 animals before the lion intervened. It doesn't say what happened to them, so the reader can interpret that how they see fit.

Each story has a purpose, but they don't always have to have a lesson. Sometimes they are simply manifestations of an imagination. The author's intent matters less than the readers own interpretation. We must not fear our children looking inside of themselves and pulling their own meanings from stories. We can teach them the principles of force and the ethical and moral considerations of it, but with art, we must let them interpret their own meanings.

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very well said @moeknows. thanks a lot. 😊😊😊

First, I want to thank you for your long reply to my comment. I get so tired of one and two word comments that really do not address the comment itself and lead to meaningful conversation. Thank you for your time.

I agree that everyone is different and that we all get out what we put into a story. My point was that this is a children's story and as such must be crafted carefully. Young children lack critical thinking skills ( and, quite frankly most adults as well) and so their perceptions must be a bit more guided. These are the minds of the future and if you fill them with cotton candy, the will become unhealthy.

We all have our own preferences and I am perfectly happy to let everyone express them. I wasn't criticizing the author, simply pointing out to a young, aspiring writer the awesome responsibility she has if she is going to write to children. As a parent and grandparent, I also am free to chose which children's stories I will read to my kids. I understand that the values we wish to instill are best presented as children's stories and I always discuss what the stories mean to the children, guiding them in their thought processes. When they are adults they are free to read whatever they choose and that is what being a parent is all about.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Kahlil Gibran

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