Page 21 - English Workbook

Story time!

Read the text carefully and answer the following questions. You may also discuss
and do this task with your partner.

The Legend of Lutung Kasarung

(A Sundanese folktale from West Java, Indonesia)

Prabu Tapa Agung was an old king.

He had two daughters, Purbararang and

Purbasari. Prabu Tapa Agung planned to
retire as a king. Prabu Tapa Agung

appointed Purbasari, her youngest daughter

to replace him as the queen of the kingdom.
Purbasari had a sister named Purbararang.

Hearing this, Purbararang was angry. She

did not agree that her sister was appointed to replace their father.

"You cannot ask her to be the queen, Father. I'm older than she is. It's supposed to
be me, not her!" said Purbararang.

But the king still chose Purbasari to be the next queen. Purbararang then set a bad

plan with her fiancé, Indrajaya. Together they went to a witch and asked her to put a

spell on Purbasari. Later, suddenly Purbasari had bad skin. There were black dots
all over her body. Purbararang make it an excuse to expel her sister.

"People who are cursed like her do not deserve to be a Queen!" said Purbararang to

her father. And then Purbararang went to meet her sister. "You are not as beautiful

as I am. You cannot be the queen. Instead, you have to leave this palace and stay in
a jungle," said Purbararang.

Now she had to stay in the jungle. Over in the jungle she had many friends of

animals that were always good to her. Among these animals there was a

mysterious black hairy monkey that always tried to cheer her up. It was not just an

ordinary monkey, he had magical power. And he also could talk with humans. The
monkey's name was Lutung Kasarung.

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