The Soul of the Great Bell

Why it is entitled The Soul of the Great Bell?

Because the story shows of how the bell was created and because Ko Ngai
sacrificed herself to save her father and to make the great bell. And because she
sacrificed herself and jumped

Settings
The setting of the story THE SOUL OF THE GREAT BELL was nearly five hundred years
ago at the City of Peking (now called Beijing).

Characters
Celestial August- Son of Heaven
Kouan-Yu- Father of Ko-Ngai and the worthy official
Ko-Ngai- the only daughter of the worthy official
Ko-Ngai’s Lady in waiting- beside her when she jumped
Yung-Lo - Good leader

Roles
Celestial August- was the one who ordered to make the bell and the one who threatened
the worthy official for delaying the Great Bell. He served as the Antagonist or the opposing
side of the story. Antagonist

Kouan-Yu – the worthy official that was only doing his duty but almost caused him his own
life. He has a role of a supporting character or one of the protagonist of the story.
Protagonist

Ko-Ngai- the young maiden who sacrificed her own life in exchange of her father’s
freedom and life. The main Protagonist of story. Protagonist

Ko-Ngai’s Lady in Waiting- is a supporting character, who managed to capture only one
shoe while trying to stop Ko-Ngai from jumping in the cauldron. Protagonist
Yung-Lo - Good leader & He wanted everything in his kingdom to be at peace. Antagonist
Summary
Nearly 500 years ago, the Celestial August and Yung-Lo commanded his greatest
bellsmiths and mouders to create a bell that will create a sound that reaches 100 Li. It was
spearheaded by Kouan-Yu. They tried to cast a bell twice but gold, silver, brass, iron
wouldn’t meld together. At first, when the Son of Heaven heard about it, he got angry but
he spake nothing. When the second time the Celestial August learned about the situation,
he got angrier and sent Kouan-Yu a letter warning him that if they wouldn’t successfully
cast the bell, he would be condemned to death. Ko-Ngai is the daughter of Kouan-Yu.
She is exquisite but her heart is much more beautiful than her face. Ko-Ngai found the
letter, read it, and kept mum about it. She sold her jewelries and gold to pay an astrologer
she needs to consult for an advice. The astrologer informed her that gold and brass will
never meet in wedlock, silver and iron never will embrace until the flesh of a maiden is
melted in the crucible and the blood of a virgin is mixed in the metal fusion. Thus, in the
third attempt, Ko-Ngai leapt in the crucible. His father couldn’t do anything, he was
sorrowful but they need to follow the order of the Celestial August and Yung-Lo. They
casted the bell with success. As they rang the bell, it created a sound that is deeper,
mellower and mightier than any other bell.

Reflection
The Soul of the Great Bell is a story of a daughter who has an unconditional love for
her father. Ko-Ngai is a brave girl and she died for her father, Kouan-Yu, who was
commanded that a great bell should be made.

Kouan-Yu and his men failed twice because the metals would not blend and fell
apart. The emperor remained silent after the incident. They tried again for the third time,
but still failed. The emperor was angry, and threatened to execute Kouan-Yu because he
failed once more. Ko-Ngai heard about this and she made a plan. She sacrificed herself
for her father.

This story shows the readers that sometimes people have to take risks and make
sacrifices for the people they love. This is an inspiring story and that Ko-Ngai serves as a
role model to all of us.

Theme
The theme of the story is Life Process because it is showed in the story the
experiences of Kouan- Yu and Ko- Ngai and what a child can do in order to save his/her
parents.
 STORY RETELLING
THE SOUL OF THE GREAT BELL

Five hundred years ago, the Celestial August and Yung- Lo commanded the worthy official Kouan-
Yu to make a bell that the sound thereof might be heard for one hundred Li. He therefore called the
master moulders and renowned bellsmiths and all men of great repute and cunning in foundry work
to begin the labor. But when the metal had been cast, it was discovered that the result was void of
worth; for the metals had rebelled one against the other therefore the moulds had to be once more
prepared, and the fires rekindled, and the metal re-melted, and all the work tediously and toilsomely
repeated. The Son of Heaven heard and was angry, but spake nothing. A second time the bell was
cast, and the result was even worse. The Celestial August was angrier than before and send Kouan-
Yu letter telling him that another failure will cost his life. Ko-Ngai, the daughter of Kouan-Yu
learned about this and feared the life of his father so she consulted an astrologer and gave her an
answer "Gold and brass will never meet in wedlock, silver and iron never will embrace, until the
flesh of a maiden be melted in the crucible; until the blood of a virgin be mixed with the metals in
their fusion." So Ko-Ngai returned home sorrowful at heart; but she kept secret all that she had heard,
and told no one what she had done. At last came the awful day when the third and last effort to cast
the great bell was to be made; and Ko-Ngai, together with her waiting-woman, accompanied her
father to the foundry, and they took their places upon a platform overlooking the toiling of the
moulders and the lava of liquefied metal. Then Ko-Ngai leaped into the white flood of metal and the
lava of the furnace roared to receive her. All was shocked including his father and her waiting-
woman holding her shoe. But in spite of all these things, the command of the Celestial and August
had to be obeyed. It was found that the bell was beautiful to look upon and perfect in form, and
wonderful in colour above all other bells. And when they sounded the bell, its tones were found to
be deeper and mellower and mightier than the tones of any other bell, reaching even beyond the
distance of one hundred li, like a pealing of summer thunder; and yet also like some vast voice
uttering a name of Ko-Ngai. And still, between each mighty stroke there is a long low moaning heard
and when the people hear that great golden moan they keep silence, but when the sharp and the
sobbing of "Hiai!" then, indeed, do all the Chinese mothers whisper to their little ones: "Listen! That
is Ko-Ngai crying for her shoe! That is Ko-Ngai calling for her shoe!"

Reference: http://radionidaboi.blogspot.com/2016/09/summary-of-story-named-soul-of-thegreat.html
 What to Do Before, During, and After an Earthquake
What to Do Before an Earthquake:
 Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and extra
batteries at home.
 Learn first aid.
 Learn how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity.
 Make up a plan of where to meet your family after an earthquake.
 Don't leave heavy objects on shelves (they'll fall during a quake).
 Anchor heavy furniture, cupboards, and appliances to the walls or floor.
 Learn the earthquake plan at your school or workplace.

What to Do During an Earthquake:

 Stay calm! If you're indoors, stay inside. If you're outside, stay outside.
 If you're indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, stand in a doorway, or crawl
under heavy furniture (a desk or table). Stay away from windows and outside doors.
 If you're outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall. Stay away
from buildings (stuff might fall off the building or the building could fall on you).
 Don't use matches, candles, or any flame. Broken gas lines and fire don't mix.
 If you're in a car, stop the car and stay inside the car until the earthquake stops.
 Don't use elevators (they'll probably get stuck anyway).

What to Do After an Earthquake:

 Check yourself and others for injuries. Provide first aid for anyone who needs it.
 Check water, gas, and electric lines for damage. If any are damaged, shut off the valves. Check for
the smell of gas. If you smell it, open all the windows and doors, leave immediately, and report it to
the authorities (use someone else's phone).
 Turn on the radio. Don't use the phone unless it's an emergency.
 Stay out of damaged buildings.
 Be careful around broken glass and debris. Wear boots or sturdy shoes to keep from cutting your feet.
 Be careful of chimneys (they may fall on you).
 Stay away from beaches. Tsunamis and seiches sometimes hit after the ground has stopped shaking.
 Stay away from damaged areas.
 If you're at school or work, follow the emergency plan or the instructions of the person in charge.
 Expect aftershocks.
STORY RETELLING
The Soul of the Great Bell