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A Horse and Two Goats
A Horse and Two Goats
Narayan
Write 3 questions for each of the following
words, in which the word is the answer to your
questions.
+ Muni
+ The statue
+ The American
+ Kritam
+ To understand, analyse and critically review
the short story,
+ To express a personal opinion.
+ To write a formal essay in an analytical and
academic register.
Barren couple
I sold the goats!
R.K. Naryan’s, ‘A Horse and Two Goats’, is set in Kritam, a tiny village located on the edge of India. The main
character and protagonist of the story, Muni, is shown as poor and deprived old man, who previously led a
prosperous life, which has gone downhill, leading to him and his wife living in poverty. Muni and his wife are
taunted by the villagers as a ‘barren couple’ as they have no children, and are frowned upon, because even
though they are childless and must only support themselves, they still live a rundown life. This ‘slice of life’
story shows what begins as a typical day in Muni’s life, and ends very unpredictably. The story begins with Muni
begging his wife to make him a breakfast of ‘drumsticks’. She decides to make this breakfast as long as Muni is
able to find the other ingredients needed. Muni’s wife does not have these ingredients in the house, nor the
money to buy them, therefore she sends her husband off, telling him that a day of fasting ‘will do (you) good’.
Disappointed, Muni sets out with his two goats, to ask the local shopkeeper, for the items that his wife needs to
cook him the breakfast he is craving. However, Muni is sent away by the shopkeeper, as he already owes the
shopkeeper a large debt. Again, Muni is let down, and continues to his usual spot, underneath a large clay
statue of a horse and warrior, where he rests, as his goats graze. Unexpectedly, Muni is approached by an
American man, who has just pulled over in a station wagon. Muni becomes frightened as the man’s ‘khaki’
coloured clothing, has mislead Muni to believe the foreigner is a soldier or police officer. Muni tries to run
away, however his old age restricts him and he is unable to move. The stranger approaches Muni and greets
him in Tamil, then continues the conversation in English, as his knowledge of Tamil is very little. Muni replies
with ‘Yes, no’. These two words are as far as Muni’s English vocabulary reaches. The foreigner, who in reality is a
businessman from New York, pulls out a cigarette, lights it and offers it to Muni. Muni accepts this offer, and
the American man then pulls out a business card. Muni becomes startled at this action, as he believes that this
is a warrant of some kind, therefore starts blabbering of his innocence and how he has not committed any
crime. The American man asks Muni questions about the ‘marvellous’ horse statue, which he believes belongs
to Muni. Both men “converse”, though neither understands what the other is saying. This language barrier
leads to Muni, reminiscing about his past, the statue and his childhood, while the American explains to Muni
how he will be rearranging his furniture back in New York, to accommodate the statue. Finally after this strange
conversation, the foreigner places a 100 rupee note into Muni’s hand. Muni believes he has just sold his goats,
while the American believes he has just purchased the statue. The American makes his leave with the horse
statue towed in his station wagon, while Muni returns home to his wife. When he arrives home and explains to
his wife that the money has come from their sold goats, she is infuriated and does not believe him. Muni is left
confused, and the story ends with the wife threatening him to go ‘back to her parents’.
+ Although the story is short there are frequent
references to Indian mythology and a strong presence
of irony.
+ Analyse the story in 3 sections:
1. The Statue and the Village
2. The transaction
3. The outcome
DO NOW: Write a brief summary of events in each
section.
EXTENSION: What does each section represent? Eg
statue and village are symbolic of what? Transaction is
symbolic? Outcome is tragi-comic, why?
+ Examine the state of the statue and the village in which
it is situated (1st paragraph of the story).
+ Comment on the way the village and the statue are
presented by the writer.
+ The village, “apex of the world” , on the other hand a
“tiny dot on even the most detailed map”.
+ The statue was magnificent because of its bright
colours, its texture is little more than “blobs of mud”,
being ravaged by the sun and rain. Where do readers
learn that there are many statues like this?
+ Overall – descriptions present former grandeur, India is
no longer what it used to be.
+ The protagonists don’t have the slightest idea
of what the other is talking about – mutual
mystification.
+ Use the handout to fill in the speech bubbles
– speculate on what each of the characters
could be thinking while the other is speaking.
+ What leads Muni to think that the American wants to buy his
goats?
The American strokes them. Muni has looked after them, so they are
in fairly good condition and are therefore worth buying.
+ What makes the American so sure that he has bought the statue?
As Muni was sitting near the statue, the American automatically
assumes that it must belong to him. He cannot conceive of an
object not belonging to anybody. He gives Muni Money, so believes
a transaction must have taken place and he is now in possession of
the statue.
+ How does the narrator make use of comic irony to describe the
situation?
Neither of the protagonists knows what the other is talking about:
The American does not know that he now owns the goats and not
the statue, while Muni does not realize that he now has 120 rupees
but still has his goats.
+ Mutual Mystification – speech bubbles task
Compare with
+ Games at Twilight by Anita Desai
+ Of White Hairs and Cricket by Rohinton Mistry
Online
+ Information about RK Narayan is available at:
+ http://www.eng.fju.edu.tw/worldlit/india/narayan.html
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8759633237701250144#