COMPARISON OF Timun Mas

(Indonesia) AND
Momotaro (Japan)
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE C
GROUP 3
Tita Puspita (F041171013)
Junita Situru (F041171545)
Marchella Audria (F041171332)
 TIMUN MAS MOMOTARO
(INDONESIA) (JAPAN)
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

01 02 03 04 05

Theme Plot Characters Settings Cultural

Aspects
THEME

1. The desire to have a children. Both

Timun Mas and Momotaro have the
same theme, where at the beginning of
the story, it was told that there lived a
parent (s) who couldn’t bear a child so
they were hoping for a miracle to
come.

2. Adventure fighting the villain. Both

stories were similar in the ways in
which the main characters, Timun Mas
and Momotaro were fighting the
giant/ghost. They both won the battle
of course.
 PLOT

INTRODUCTION

Timun Mas and Momotaro have a slight

similarity in the introduction. There
lived parent (s) who couldnt bear a
children. The difference is that Timun
Mas was born from a cucumber seed
that the giant gave to her mother.
Meanwhile, Momotaro had nothing to
do with the villain. He was born from a
peach fruit his grandmother found in
the river.
 PLOT

RISING ACTION

The conflict of both stories is different.

In Timun Mas, the giant and her mother
made a deal that she has to give Timun
Mas back to the giant once she was old
and delicious enough to be eaten, which
is 17 years old. Meanwhile, in Momotaro,
it was told that there was a ghost who
had stolen the people’s property in his
village and scares them, therefore he
has the desire to kill it.
 PLOT

CLIMAX

The giant in Timun Mas finally came

and look for her. However, her mother
tried to find excuses in order for the
giant to come back the next day. When
he finally loses his patience, he chased
Timun Mas.

In Momotaro, the climax of the story is

told when Momotaro decided to go to
the ghost island to slay the ghost, no
matter how strong and many they are.
 PLOT

ANTICLIMAX

Both stories have pretty much the same

idea of fighting the battle against the
villain of the story. Timun Mas was told
to go to the mountains to ask for help
from someone. He finaly gave her salt,
needles, and also a shrimp paste to
fight against the giant. On the other
hand, Momotaro’s parents gave him
Kibi Dango for him to eat so he wont
starve himself on the way to the ghost
island. On his journey, he met a dog, a
monkey, and a bird asking for help. In
return, they all help him fight the ghost.
 PLOT

RESOLUTION

Timun Mas and Momotaro both

succeeded in killing the villain.

CHARACTERS IN TIMUN MAS
TIMUN MAS: Described as a beautiful, kind hearted and
brave young girl who was born from a cucumber seed.
Grown into a large gold cucumber, hence the name
Timun Mas.
  MBOK SRINI: The grandmother who couldnt bear a
children. She met the giant who gave her cucumber
seed. Although Timun Mas is not her child, she took
care of her and loved her.
BUTO IJO: The giant (villain of the story). Greedy.
  AN OLD MAN: A minor character but has a huge
impact in the story. He was an old man who gave her
salt, needles, and shrimp paste which can turn into
something useful for her to kill the giant.
CHARACTERS IN MOMOTARO
MOMOTARO: Described as a strong ,brave, young man.
He was born from a peach his grandmother had found
in the river.
 
GRANDPARENTS: The ones who took care
and loved Momotaro with all their hearts
until he turned into a strong, brave, young
man.
GHOST/DEMONS: The villain of the story. It
frightens the people in the village and stole
their things.
  DOG, MONKEY, BIRD: The story of Momotaro also has
minor characters who has an impact in the story. They
were these animals who asked for help from
Momotaro and in return, they all helped him.
SETTINGS

The origin of these two stories are different. Timun Mas is a folktale from West Java, Indonesia
meanwhile Momotaro is from Japan. Timun Mas took place in the forest, where her grandmother
met the giant. In Momotaro, his grandmother found the peach fruit where Momotaro laid on in the
river. Momotaro also took place in the ghost island where he and his "friends" killed the ghost who
had haunt his village for a long time.

The atmosphere of both these stories are pretty much the same. Full of hope, longing for a children,
also affection and love from parents, even thought they are not their children by blood. Other is
bravery, how these two main characters are brave enough to kill the villain in the story.
CULTURAL ASPECTS

Because both tales come from different

place, therefore there’s a cultural
differences between both of them. Timun
Mas describes the portrayal of ideal women
in Indonesian culture. Timun Mas is
described as a kindhearted, smart, and
brave who killed the giant. She prepares
herself facing the villain who tried to kill her.
Not only that, the items (salt, needle, and
shrimp paste) which turn into something
extraordinary is one characteristics in
every Indonesian folktales: magic. Also, the
name of the characters. “Mbok” and “Buto
Ijo” represents the culture of West Java.
CULTURAL ASPECTS

In Momotaro, the main character is

taller and far stronger than any other
boys of his own age, he had a
handsome face and a heart full of
courage, and he was very wise for his
years. This character represents the
view of a hero in Japan society: strong
and brave. Not to mention the
equipments Momotaro's parents gave
him: hichimaki, hakama, and a new
sword. Also, the traditional Japanese
cake, Kibi Dango.