Introduction to Indonesian Literature

Yovan Dicky Dwijaya || 174214037

Introduction

This paper contains the explanation and the origin of the formation of Toba Lake. Toba
Lake is recognized as one of the identity of Indonesia which is very iconic especially in
Sumatera. Nowadays everyone knows about Toba Lake and its beauty. The popularity of this
lake also boost by the contribution of government. The other thing that makes this lake very
popular is because Toba is the biggest Lake in Indonesia.

Toba Lake was actually formed because of the supermassive volcanic eruption, but
domestic people in Indonesia also believe that Toba formed by the legend story. This paper will
explain about the legend story version about the old story of Toba and Samosir.

The Legend of Toba Lake

Once upon a time, a peasant named Toba lived in North Sumatera. He fulfilled his daily
needs by farming and sometime by fishing. He usually got lots of fish, but not that day. His
fishing rod never caught by the fish until he was upset. When he started to get angry, suddenly
his fishing rod caught by very big fish. He put the fish from the hook to the bucket and his fish’
eyes looked at him deeply.

After Toba came to his house, he brought his fish to the kitchen and imagined how
delicious his fish is to be baked, but he realized that he run out of wood and tried to find it. After
few minutes he found some woods and back to his kitchen. How shocked he was when he saw
his bucket empty, and his fish was lost, but he found some gold coins inside the bucket. He was
surprised by those strange incident and went to his bedroom. For the second time, he was very
shocked when he found a beautiful woman with long hair inside his room. That beautiful woman
was in the mirror and combed her hair. Toba was enchanted by the woman.
 When the night came, Toba turned on his house light and cooked the rice with the
woman. The woman told Toba that she was the incarnation of his fish and the golds coins that he
found was her scales. Toba understood and started get used to her.

Day by day had past, Toba started to had interest with the woman. He loved the woman
and tried to purposed her. The woman accepted his purposed by one condition. He must promise
to never told their child that his mother was the incarnation of a fish. And then after Toba
accepting the condition they are married. They had one son named Samosir as result of their
marriage. Their son always treated spoiled by his mother. It made their son had bad attitude.
Samosir always rejected his mother’s order to deliver his father the food. One time, after his
mother forced him to deliver the food to his father at the field, he was accepted, but instead of
delivered the food that is still intact he eaten mostly. When Toba received the small part of the
food, he got very angry and shouting his son. He also told that his son was a son of fish.

After heard what his father said, Samosir went home to tell his mother. His mother was
very sad because his father was broken his promise and finally asked him to climb the highest
hill and the highest tree in that hill. After found her son almost reach the top of highest tree, she
went to the river and transformed into a big fish after the lightning struck. At the same time, that
village rained heavily and caused the heavy flood. Toba could not save himself and died. The
flood finally turned into a lake named Toba Lake and a small island in the middle of the lake
named Samosir Island.

The reason why choosing the object

Toba is the most popular lake in Indonesia with the legend story of formation of Lake
Toba that is often aired on TV. As a pride of Sumatera and Indonesia, Toba Lake will be the
most popular Lake to be discussed by word of mouth and also scientific work. Toba Lake not
only famous in Indonesia, but also in other country. The beauty of this Lake are recognized by
the other country, it was seen from the visit of several foreign tourists.
Characteristic of being cultural

This legend contains some cultural elements such as believe and story. People believe the
myth of the origin of lake formation and spread their story through the mouth as a folklore.

Characteristic of being Indonesian

Toba Lake is located in North Sumatra which is the part of Indonesia. It is also the
identity of Indonesia because Toba lake is the most popular lake from Indonesia. Some
Indonesian people also still believe with the myths so this legend represent Indonesian people
that is still believe that the origin of the lake formation due to the myth.

Conclusion

Toba Lake is the biggest and most popular lake in Indonesia which was actually formed
by the supermassive volcanic eruption, but there is another version of the origin of Toba lake.
The other version is that Toba Lake exist because of the flood caused by the big fish.

The fish incarnated into beautiful woman and got married with a man named Toba. As a
result of their marriage they had a son named Samosir. Samosir had bad attitude. One day his
mother ordered him to deliver the food for his father at the field, but instead of deliver the whole
of food, he eaten mostly. When his father received the foods, he got angry and shouting him. His
father said that he is the son of a fish. When Samosir told his mother, she was very sad because
Toba broken his promise. His mother asked him to climb the tree in the highest hill and she went
to the river. She transformed into a big fish and the village rained heavily caused the heavy flood
that sank the village into the lake named Toba Lake and the small island in the middle of the lake
named Samosir Island.
References

History. Legenda Asal Mula Terbentuknya Danau Toba. Retrieved from

https://histori.id/legenda-asal-mula-terbentuknya-danau-toba/. Accessed on May 25,
2019.

Gobatak. Cerita Rakyat Tentang Asal Usul Danau Toba. Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/amp/www.gobatak.com/asal-usul-danau-toba/amp/. Accessed
on May 25, 2019.

Siregar, Rusman. Sejarah Terbentuknya Danau Toba dan Pulau-pulaunya. Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/amp/s/dearah.sindonews.com/newsread/1319277/29/sejarah-
terbentuknya-danau-toba-dan-pulau-pulaunya-1530806611. Accessed on May 25, 2019.