the hunter (Tale 21)

Role: village hunter · First appears: Tale 21 · The Hunter and the Tortoise

In Tale 21 · The Hunter and the Tortoise, the hunter persuaded the tortoise to come to his hut and sing for him alone. Soon, he revealed her secret to others, and word reached the chief. Commanded to tell his tale before the Assembly, he brought the tortoise and harp to the Assembly Place at dawn, but she sang nothing. “As the last ray of the setting sun faded, he was beheaded.”

Relationship record

Life events

• The hunter persuaded the tortoise to let him carry her to his hut to sing for him alone.(Tale 21 · The Hunter and the Tortoise · 📍 the forest)
  • With: the tortoise (Tale 21)
  • “At last he persuaded her to let him carry her back to his hut, that he might enjoy her singing daily in comfort. This she permitted, only on the understanding that she sang to him alone.”
• The hunter revealed the tortoise's secret to others, breaking their agreement that she sing to him alone.(Tale 21 · The Hunter and the Tortoise)
  • With: the tortoise (Tale 21)
  • “Soon he began to wish that he could show off this wonderful tortoise to all the world, and thereby thought he would gain great honour. He told the secret, first to one, then to another, until finally it reached the ears of the chief himself.”
• The hunter was commanded to tell his tale before the Assembly.(Tale 21 · The Hunter and the Tortoise · 📍 the Assembly)
  • “The hunter was commanded to come and tell his tale before the Assembly.”
• The hunter brought the tortoise to the Assembly Place, but she remained mute instead of singing.(Tale 21 · The Hunter and the Tortoise · 📍 the Assembly Place)
  • With: the tortoise (Tale 21)
  • “As soon as the morrow dawned, he carried tortoise and harp down to the Assembly Place—where a table had been placed ready for her. Every one gathered round to listen. But no song came.”
• The hunter was beheaded after the tortoise failed to sing.(Tale 21 · The Hunter and the Tortoise)
  • “As the last ray of the setting sun faded, he was beheaded.”

Tale 21 · The Hunter and the Tortoise

• recipient: the tortoise (Tale 21) “At last he persuaded her to let him carry her back to his hut, that he might enjoy her singing daily in comfort. This she permitted, only on the understanding that she sang to him alone.”

Also listed in Other Figures — Minor Figures

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Extracted from the original text of West African Folk-Tales. Made with Rho MD.