Fortune and the Beggar

The fortune and the beggar is a Russian fable. A fable is a narrative story that contains a

moral, a message or a point. It gives us percepts, ideas, by which to conduct our life or

understand life.

The story was about the wretched beggar wondering why those who lived in rich

apartments, and were up to their throats with money, should be always unsatisfied, however full

their pockets might be, and that they should go so far often to lose all while craving and shaking

for new riches.

That moment, the fortune suddenly appeared to the beggar and offered him help. The

fortune said I have long wished to help you. Here is a lot of ducats I have found. Open your

wallet, and I will fill it with them. You shall have all it will hold, but only in this condition; all

that falls into the wallet shall be gold, but if any should fall out of the wallet to the ground; all

shall become mere dust. Consider this well, I have warned you beforehand. I shall hold strictly to

our agreement. Your wallet is old; dont overload it beyond its powers

The beggar was almost too overjoyed to breath. He opened his wallet, and with a generous

hand, the ducats fell into it in a gold stream.

The wallet soon become rather heavy. Yet the beggar wanted more ducats. But at the

moment the wallet split; the treasure fell to the ground and turned to dust, and fortune

disappeared. The beggar had nothing but empty wallet, and remained as poor as he had ever

been.

The lesson in this fable is for us not to be greedy. We are similar to the beggar in one way

or another. We often dont value the things we already have because we desire to have something

more that we forget the things we already possess.

One of the human traits that is illustrated in the story is that it is easy for us to judge or say

something about someone. But if we are put in the same situation as theirs, just like the beggar in
the story, whom at first dont understand the rich became one of them after offered many ducats

by the fortune.

Our human desire often increase with the means of our gratifications. This fable teaches

us when to say enough. Men seem to be never satisfied unless they can gain the whole world. We

must learn to be contented. Although it is not wrong for us to desire something and to work hard

to get what we want in order for us live comfortably, we must live our lives with simplicity. It is

good for us to possess and experience such comfortable life, but human as we are, tend to desire

and crave for more. We cant deny the fact that money is a necessity for us, but we must bear in

mind that it is us who will control the money, not money that will control us. For money is a

good servant, but some people serve money as their master and yet at the end it will only lead

them to being unsatisfied. After all, happiness is not determined by how much you have in your

wallet. Happiness doesnt come as a result of getting something we dont have, but rather of

recognizing and appreciating what we do have.

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The Story of Beowulf

(British Epic)

An epic is an extended narrative poem celebrating episodes of a persons or a peoples

heroic acts. The epic Beowulf is the only full-length heroic epic that has survived in English

literature. It is a very good example of warrior literature. The story begins with Hrothgar, who in

his old age built a splendid hall where his thane (noble followers) gathered nightly to feast and

listen to the songs of the gleemen (minstrels). This hall was called Heorot.

One night, as all were sleeping, a frightful monster, Grendel, broke into the hall, carrying

away with him thirty of the sleeping warriors to devour them in his lair under the sea. Every

night, Grendels vi sit repeated and fear and death came over Heorot. Many warriors tried to fight

the monster but no weapon could harm him. This situation continued for twelve years.

At last, the rumor about Grendel reached a young hero named Beowulf. He was a man of

immense strength and courage. When he heard the story of Heorot, he decided to fight the
monster and free the Danes, who were his fathers friends. With fourteen companions, he crossed

the sea to liberate the Danes.

Beowulf was welcomed in Heorot. But when night fell upon the Danes and all left the

hall after the king had warned Beowulf about the frightful danger of sleeping in the hall. But he

expressed his intentions and remain in the hall with his men proudly saying that he would fight

the monster with his bare hands.

At midnight, the monster came and seized Beowulfs men but the hero bravely fought

Grendel and made a wide wound opened at the monsters side. The monster escape to his sea

home to die, shrieking and howling in pain. Danes came and everyone rejoiced at Beowulfs

victory.

But the old scenes of sorrow were renewed when the mother of the monster came to

avenge her sons death. Beowulf was determined to kill the monsters mother. He defeated the

monster with his courage and bravery and received honors from his men.

In my own point of view, this story depicts bravery, courage and heroism of Beowulf. He

was a great example of a true hero. He was noble, great and fearless. He was never afraid to face

death because he knew that he was fighting for the sake of the people.

His story is very exciting and adventurous. For me, this story tells us to be brave and

courageous, just like Beowulf who had faced monsters, we also have our own monsters in life

that we are afraid to face. Our fears, sufferings, doubts and every devastating emotion are

monsters within us, ready to devour us. But we have to face all of it with courage and dignity.

Because we cant avoid those monsters living from us, the only solution is to face, fight and take

control of them. For if we succeed on facing those monsters, we can live happily with

contentment and peace in our hearts. For we are the hero of our own selves.
 Federigos Falcon
Giovanni Boccaccio (Italian)

This story truly amazed me. For me, this story is a suspense and at the same time a romantic

tale. The story was about Federico di Messer Filippo Alberighi who became enamored of a lady

named Monna Giovanna, who in her day held rank among the fairest and most elegant ladies of

Florence. Federigo did everything just to have the ladys affection. He jousted, tilted, give

entertainments, scattered largess, and in short set no bounds to his expenditure. However, the

lady cared not a jot for what he did for her sake, yet not for him.

Spending all his riches just to please the woman whom he truly love, Federigo reduced to

such poverty that he had nothing left but a little state and a single falcon, the best in the world.

He bore his poverty as patient as he might. Later on, the lady of his life married a very rich man

and bore a son. But then the man become very ill and died.

Later on, Monnas dearly son also got ill. She was so distressed that she aked his son what

he wished for just for him to get better. The boy said that he want Federigos falcon. At first,

Monna hesitated because she knew that the bird is the only thing that left for that man. But

because for her love for his son she promised that he will ask for Federigos falcon.

That very morning, Monna visits Federigos household. The man was so surprised and

made a breakfast for his visitor. Having nothing to offer he decided to cook his falcon because he

thought that it would be a fine dish for such a beautiful lady.

After eating the breakfast, Monna told Federigo of her intentions. But the man felt so sad

and sorry that he cooked his falcon just to the lady. The lady was so frustrated and went home.

She felt so sorry for his son and later on his son died.
 Monnas brother want her to marry again and with that he thought of Federigo, who in all

what he has, gave everything for her. The two got married. And so Federigo, being mated with

such a wife, and one that he had so much love, and being very wealthy to boot, lived happily,

keeping more exact accounts, to the end of his days.

I found this story very interesting. I thought that Federigo wouldnt have a chance to

marry the woman he truly loved. I did enjoy reading the story. For me it has a surprised ending.

The falcon plays a very significant role in the story because when Federigo killed his falcon just

to served Monna a fine dish, thats the point where Monna realized what Federigo did just to

please her. I consider this a romantic tale because it tells the undying love of the man for the

woman. Willing to give everything just to please his love.

What really amazed me is when Monna said that Id rather have a man without wealth

than a wealth without man. For me, Monna means that it is not really important to have wealth

without to no one to share and spend it. It is more important for a lady like me, to have a man

who will do everything just to keep me and make me happy than to have a rich man who will

only look at me like one of his possessions. Not all woman wanted to have a rich husband. There

is nothing more important than a loving and understanding man who will take care of me for the

rest of his life.