Plot+-+A+Horse+and+Two+Goats

//Writing Assignment: Summarize the main events in the story. Include any cultural background information you feel is relevant and necessary for the reader to fully understand the events. Be sure to use connectors to indicate sequence, contrast, cause, and result.//

**** Plot ****
The short story “A Horse and Two Goats“ is about the humorous tale of a meeting between a poor old Indian peasant and a rich American Tourist. It illustrates a complete misunderstanding between both men. Each of them is so close living in his own special world in two very different cultures and educations, that amusing misunderstandings continues there talks all the time. Another important point is, the American speaks English, the India Tamil, an Indian dialect, this brings also confusion. In a small Indian village an old man was sitting in the shade of a cactus, watching a pair of goats and waiting for a green bus in the evening, the signal for him to start back home. Near by the old man, at the portal of the village a statue of a horse, formed out of clay, as a massive guardian stood there, forgotten, unpopular in these days, plants and dorns growing around it. In the past for people in the village it was an important part of Hindu religion. The old man was disturbed by the arrival of a motorist, who stop suddenly, at the side of the statue, got out of his car, arounded the horse and cried: “Marvelous”. The foreigner was wearing khaki clothes, he had a sun burned red face. He was an American Tourist and began a conversation with the old man. He thought the old man is the owner of the horse and offered him, he would like to buy it. Muni, the old man, thought, because of the khaki dressed man this would be a police man, who wants to ask him about a murder in the village. So, misunderstanding began. Muni said: “I never even heard of it until yesterday”. The American interesting to get the horse statue, asked how old the statue would be. Muni however, thought, he is asking about the significance of the statue. He explained the legend of the horse and soon he was lost in visions on his hindu religion. As more as he told about the importance of the horse for the villagers within there Hinduism, the American, offering hundred rupees to buy the statue, thought, the old man perhaps wants to get more money for it and asked again for the price. So misunderstandings continued. At first, Muni thought, the American wanted money to change. Afterwards coming back from his dreams about Krishna, Vishnu and so on, into the real daily life, he decided, this man wants to get the two goats. The foreigner said: “Will you sell me for hundred twenty rupees?”. He meant the horse statue, Muni thought, for the two goats. The confusing went on. Muni, himself, never saw a money note before in his life, only nickels; He was delighted now, to be able to realize his dream of opening a small shop. Quickly and happily he took the money and went home to the village. The American thinking, Muni was going to pick up help to transport the statue into the car, settled down to wait for him.

(written by Anika)