Reading Notes: Brer Rabbit, Part B

 Bibliography: Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings by Joel Chandler Harris (1881).

Mr. Fox and the Deceitful Frogs

Brer Fox finds his reflection and is captivated. Brer Fox dips his paw in, overbalances, and falls in. He manages to scramble out though.

Reminds me of the story of Narcissus a little bit, and how Narcissus was cursed to fall in love with himself and stare at his reflection until he died.

               Old Mr. Rabbit, He’s a Good Fisherman

Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Brer Bear (say that ten times fast!), and Brer Coon are working hard. Brer Rabbit gets tired, gets a sticker in his paw, and decides to rest. He finds a well, and in that well is a bucket, which he decides to lay down in. Only after he gets in the bucket, it starts descending. Brer Fox sees this and determines that Brer Rabbit has found a gold mine or has buried treasure down there. Brer Rabbit tells Brer Fox there are fish in the well, and to jump in the other bucket so he can help haul the fish up. Of course, the Fox’s weight brings the Rabbit right out of the well.

               Mr. Rabbit Meets His Match Again

Brer Rabbit tries to trick Brer Buzzard out of his fair share of crops. Brer Buzzard takes him up high into the trees, and Brer Rabbit eventually confesses and agrees to give Brer Buzzard his share of the crops.

               A Story about the Little Rabbits

Brer Fox dropped in on the Rabbit household when the baby rabbits were alone in the house. Brer Fox gave the little rabbits a lot of tasks to do, but he ran out of time to ‘snatch’ one of them before Brer Rabbit came home.

               Mr. Rabbit and the Bear

Brer Rabbit was stealing crops from Brer Fox. Brer Fox made a trap to catch him, and it worked! Brer Rabbit talked Brer Bear into taking his place, and Brer Fox hit Brer Bear every time he tried to explain. Brer Rabbit hid in a mudhole, sent Brer Bear on his way when he came looking and went home.

                                                            Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox


               Mr. Terrapin Shows His Strength

Brer Terrapin listens as the other animals brag about what they are the best at. Brer Terrapin says Brer Bear is not the strongest and Brer Rabbit is not the fastest. Brer Bear and Brer Terrapin agree to play tug of war, only Brer Terrapin ties his end to a tree. Brer Bear could not move Brer Terrapin, even with Brer Wolf’s help.

               The Story of the Deluge

There was a council of animals, filled with infighting and conflict. An elephant accidentally squashed two of the crawfish, only no one noticed. So, the crawfish burrowed into the ground, causing a flood which killed all the other animals.

               Plantation Proverbs

This one was hard to read for me, but even though it was difficult for me to parse out, I did enjoy the proverbs.

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