iTapuih.com - Blind Men and The Elephant dan Terjemahannya. Pada postingan kali ini saya akan berbagi tentang contoh Narrative Text kategori Fable. Contoh dibawah ini merupakan cerita tentang hewan atau binatang. Sebagaimana kita ketahui Narrative merupakan salah satu jenis text yang dipelajari ditingkat SMP dan SMA yang bersifat Unreal (tidak nyata). Tujuan text ini hanya sekedar untuk menghibur pembaca dengan menyelipkan pesan moral pada setiap ceritanya. Semoga contoh text berikut dapat menjadi referensi bagi kita untuk meningkatkan kemampuan dalam bahasa Inggris.
Blind Men and The Elephant
Long ago six old men lived in a village in India. Each was born blind. The other villagers loved the old men and kept them away from harm. Since the blind men could not see the world for themselves, they had to imagine many of its wonders. They listened carefully to the stories told by travelers to learn what they could about life outside the village.
The men were curious about many of the stories they heard, but they were most curious about elephants. They were told that elephants could trample forests, carry huge burdens, and frighten young and old with their loud trumpet calls. But they also knew that the Rajah's daughter rode an elephant when she traveled in her father's kingdom. Would the Rajah let his daughter get near such a dangerous creature?
The old men argued day and night about elephants. "An elephant must be a powerful giant," claimed the first blind man. He had heard stories about elephants being used to clear forests and build roads.
"No, you must be wrong," argued the second blind man. "An elephant must be graceful and gentle if a princess is to ride on its back."
"You're wrong! I have heard that an elephant can pierce a man's heart with its terrible horn," said the third blind man.
"Please," said the fourth blind man. "You are all mistaken. An elephant is nothing more than a large sort of cow. You know how people exaggerate."
"I am sure that an elephant is something magical," said the fifth blind man. "That would explain why the Rajah's daughter can travel safely throughout the kingdom."
"I don't believe elephants exist at all," declared the sixth blind man. "I think we are the victims of a cruel joke."
Finally, the villagers grew tired of all the arguments, and they arranged for the curious men to visit the palace of the Rajah to learn the truth about elephants. A young boy from their village was selected to guide the blind men on their journey. The smallest man put his hand on the boy's shoulder. The second blind man put his hand on his friend's shoulder, and so on until all six men were ready to walk safely behind the boy who would lead them to the Rajah's magnificent palace.
When the blind men reached the palace, they were greeted by an old friend from their village who worked as a gardener on the palace grounds. Their friend led them to the courtyard. There stood an elephant. The blind men stepped forward to touch the creature that was the subject of so many arguments.
The first blind man reached out and touched the side of the huge animal. "An elephant is smooth and solid like a wall!" he declared. "It must be very powerful."
The second blind man put his hand on the elephant's limber trunk. "An elephant is like a giant snake," he announced.
The third blind man felt the elephant's pointed tusk. "I was right," he decided. "This creature is as sharp and deadly as a spear."
The fourth blind man touched one of the elephant's four legs. "What we have here," he said, "is an extremely large cow."
The fifth blind man felt the elephant's giant ear. "I believe an elephant is like a huge fan or maybe a magic carpet that can fly over mountains and treetops," he said.
The sixth blind man gave a tug on the elephant's coarse tail. "Why, this is nothing more than a piece of old rope. Dangerous, indeed," he scoffed.
The gardener led his friends to the shade of a tree. "Sit here and rest for the long journey home," he said. "I will bring you some water to drink."
While they waited, the six blind men talked about the elephant.
"An elephant is like a wall," said the first blind man. "Surely we can finally agree on that."
"A wall? An elephant is a giant snake!" answered the second blind man.
"It's a spear, I tell you," insisted the third blind man.
"I'm certain it's a giant cow," said the fourth blind man.
"Magic carpet. There's no doubt," said the fifth blind man.
"Don't you see?" pleaded the sixth blind man. "Someone used a rope to trick us."
Their argument continued and their shouts grew louder and louder.
"Wall!" "Snake!" "Spear!" "Cow!" "Carpet!" "Rope!"
"Stop shouting!" called a very angry voice.
It was the Rajah, awakened from his nap by the noisy argument.
"How can each of you be so certain you are right?" asked the ruler.
The six blind men considered the question. And then, knowing the Rajah to be a very wise man, they decided to say nothing at all.
"The elephant is a very large animal," said the Rajah kindly. "Each man touched only one part. Perhaps if you put the parts together, you will see the truth. Now, let me finish my nap in peace."
When their friend returned to the garden with the cool water, the six men rested quietly in the shade, thinking about the Rajah's advice.
"He is right," said the first blind man. "To learn the truth, we must put all the parts together. Let's discuss this on the journey home."
The first blind man put his hand on the shoulder of the young boy who would guide them home. The second blind man put a hand on his friend's shoulder, and so on until all six men were ready to travel together.
The men were curious about many of the stories they heard, but they were most curious about elephants. They were told that elephants could trample forests, carry huge burdens, and frighten young and old with their loud trumpet calls. But they also knew that the Rajah's daughter rode an elephant when she traveled in her father's kingdom. Would the Rajah let his daughter get near such a dangerous creature?
The old men argued day and night about elephants. "An elephant must be a powerful giant," claimed the first blind man. He had heard stories about elephants being used to clear forests and build roads.
"No, you must be wrong," argued the second blind man. "An elephant must be graceful and gentle if a princess is to ride on its back."
"You're wrong! I have heard that an elephant can pierce a man's heart with its terrible horn," said the third blind man.
"Please," said the fourth blind man. "You are all mistaken. An elephant is nothing more than a large sort of cow. You know how people exaggerate."
"I am sure that an elephant is something magical," said the fifth blind man. "That would explain why the Rajah's daughter can travel safely throughout the kingdom."
"I don't believe elephants exist at all," declared the sixth blind man. "I think we are the victims of a cruel joke."
Finally, the villagers grew tired of all the arguments, and they arranged for the curious men to visit the palace of the Rajah to learn the truth about elephants. A young boy from their village was selected to guide the blind men on their journey. The smallest man put his hand on the boy's shoulder. The second blind man put his hand on his friend's shoulder, and so on until all six men were ready to walk safely behind the boy who would lead them to the Rajah's magnificent palace.
When the blind men reached the palace, they were greeted by an old friend from their village who worked as a gardener on the palace grounds. Their friend led them to the courtyard. There stood an elephant. The blind men stepped forward to touch the creature that was the subject of so many arguments.
The first blind man reached out and touched the side of the huge animal. "An elephant is smooth and solid like a wall!" he declared. "It must be very powerful."
The second blind man put his hand on the elephant's limber trunk. "An elephant is like a giant snake," he announced.
The third blind man felt the elephant's pointed tusk. "I was right," he decided. "This creature is as sharp and deadly as a spear."
The fourth blind man touched one of the elephant's four legs. "What we have here," he said, "is an extremely large cow."
The fifth blind man felt the elephant's giant ear. "I believe an elephant is like a huge fan or maybe a magic carpet that can fly over mountains and treetops," he said.
The sixth blind man gave a tug on the elephant's coarse tail. "Why, this is nothing more than a piece of old rope. Dangerous, indeed," he scoffed.
The gardener led his friends to the shade of a tree. "Sit here and rest for the long journey home," he said. "I will bring you some water to drink."
While they waited, the six blind men talked about the elephant.
"An elephant is like a wall," said the first blind man. "Surely we can finally agree on that."
"A wall? An elephant is a giant snake!" answered the second blind man.
"It's a spear, I tell you," insisted the third blind man.
"I'm certain it's a giant cow," said the fourth blind man.
"Magic carpet. There's no doubt," said the fifth blind man.
"Don't you see?" pleaded the sixth blind man. "Someone used a rope to trick us."
Their argument continued and their shouts grew louder and louder.
"Wall!" "Snake!" "Spear!" "Cow!" "Carpet!" "Rope!"
"Stop shouting!" called a very angry voice.
It was the Rajah, awakened from his nap by the noisy argument.
"How can each of you be so certain you are right?" asked the ruler.
The six blind men considered the question. And then, knowing the Rajah to be a very wise man, they decided to say nothing at all.
"The elephant is a very large animal," said the Rajah kindly. "Each man touched only one part. Perhaps if you put the parts together, you will see the truth. Now, let me finish my nap in peace."
When their friend returned to the garden with the cool water, the six men rested quietly in the shade, thinking about the Rajah's advice.
"He is right," said the first blind man. "To learn the truth, we must put all the parts together. Let's discuss this on the journey home."
The first blind man put his hand on the shoulder of the young boy who would guide them home. The second blind man put a hand on his friend's shoulder, and so on until all six men were ready to travel together.
Terjemahannya
Dulu, enam orang tua tinggal di sebuah desa di India. Setiap orang dilahirkan buta. Penduduk desa yang lain menyukai lelaki tua itu dan menjauhkan mereka dari bahaya. Karena orang buta tidak dapat melihat dunia untuk diri mereka sendiri, mereka harus membayangkan banyak keajaibannya. Mereka mendengarkan dengan seksama kisah-kisah yang diceritakan para pelancong untuk mempelajari apa yang mereka bisa tentang kehidupan di luar desa.
Para lelaki ingin tahu tentang banyak kisah yang mereka dengar, tetapi mereka paling ingin tahu tentang gajah. Mereka diberitahu bahwa gajah bisa menginjak hutan, membawa beban besar, dan menakut-nakuti anak muda dan tua dengan panggilan terompet keras mereka. Tetapi mereka juga tahu bahwa putri Rajah mengendarai seekor gajah ketika dia melakukan perjalanan di kerajaan ayahnya. Akankah Rajah membiarkan putrinya mendekati makhluk berbahaya semacam itu?
Orang-orang tua bertengkar siang dan malam tentang gajah. "Seekor gajah harus menjadi raksasa yang kuat," kata orang buta pertama itu. Dia telah mendengar cerita tentang gajah yang digunakan untuk membersihkan hutan dan membangun jalan.
"Tidak, Anda pasti salah," bantah pria buta kedua. "Seekor gajah harus anggun dan lembut jika seorang puteri naik di punggungnya."
"Kamu salah! Aku telah mendengar bahwa seekor gajah dapat menembus hati seorang pria dengan tanduknya yang mengerikan," kata pria buta ketiga.
"Tolong," kata lelaki buta keempat itu. "Kamu semua keliru. Seekor gajah tidak lebih dari sapi jenis besar. Kamu tahu bagaimana orang melebih-lebihkan."
"Aku yakin gajah itu ajaib," kata pria buta kelima. "Itu akan menjelaskan mengapa putri Rajah bisa bepergian dengan aman ke seluruh kerajaan."
"Aku tidak percaya gajah ada sama sekali," kata orang buta keenam. "Kurasa kita adalah korban lelucon yang kejam."
Akhirnya, penduduk desa menjadi bosan dengan semua argumen, dan mereka mengatur agar para pria penasaran mengunjungi istana Rajah untuk mempelajari kebenaran tentang gajah. Seorang bocah laki-laki dari desa mereka dipilih untuk membimbing orang buta dalam perjalanan mereka. Pria terkecil meletakkan tangannya di bahu anak itu. Orang buta kedua meletakkan tangannya di pundak temannya, dan seterusnya sampai keenam pria itu siap untuk berjalan dengan aman di belakang anak lelaki yang akan memimpin mereka ke istana megah Raja Rajah.
Ketika orang buta mencapai istana, mereka disambut oleh seorang teman lama dari desa mereka yang bekerja sebagai tukang kebun di halaman istana. Teman mereka membawa mereka ke halaman. Di sana berdiri seekor gajah. Orang-orang buta melangkah maju untuk menyentuh makhluk yang menjadi subyek banyak argumen.
Orang buta pertama mengulurkan tangan dan menyentuh sisi binatang besar itu. "Gajah itu halus dan kokoh seperti tembok!" dia menyatakan. "Pasti sangat kuat."
Orang buta kedua meletakkan tangannya di atas batang limber gajah. "Seekor gajah itu seperti ular raksasa," katanya mengumumkan.
Orang buta ketiga merasakan taring runcing gajah. "Aku benar," dia memutuskan. "Makhluk ini setajam dan mematikan seperti tombak."
Orang buta keempat menyentuh salah satu dari empat kaki gajah. "Apa yang kita miliki di sini," katanya, "adalah sapi yang sangat besar."
Pria buta kelima merasakan telinga raksasa gajah. "Saya percaya gajah itu seperti kipas besar atau mungkin karpet ajaib yang bisa terbang di atas gunung dan puncak pohon," katanya.
Orang buta keenam memberi tarikan pada ekor kasar gajah. "Kenapa, ini tidak lebih dari seutas tali tua. Berbahaya, memang," dia mencemooh.
Tukang kebun memimpin teman-temannya ke bayangan pohon. "Duduk di sini dan istirahatlah untuk perjalanan pulang yang panjang," katanya. "Aku akan membawakanmu air minum."
Sementara mereka menunggu, enam orang buta itu berbicara tentang gajah itu.
"Gajah itu seperti tembok," kata orang buta pertama. "Tentunya kita akhirnya bisa menyetujui itu."
"Dinding? Gajah adalah ular raksasa!" jawab pria buta kedua.
"Itu tombak, kataku," kata orang buta ketiga itu.
"Aku yakin itu sapi raksasa," kata lelaki buta keempat itu.
"Karpet ajaib. Tidak ada keraguan," kata pria buta kelima.
"Apakah kamu tidak melihat?" memohon kepada orang buta keenam. "Seseorang menggunakan tali untuk mengelabui kita."
Argumen mereka berlanjut dan teriakan mereka semakin nyaring dan lantang.
"Dinding!" "Ular!" "Tombak!" "Sapi!" "Karpet!" "Tali!"
"Berhentilah berteriak!" disebut suara yang sangat marah.
Itu adalah Rajah, terbangun dari tidurnya oleh argumen yang berisik.
"Bagaimana Anda masing-masing dapat begitu yakin bahwa Anda benar?" tanya sang penguasa.
Keenam pria buta itu mempertimbangkan pertanyaan itu. Dan kemudian, mengetahui Rajah menjadi orang yang sangat bijaksana, mereka memutuskan untuk tidak mengatakan apa pun.
"Gajah adalah hewan yang sangat besar," kata Rajah dengan ramah. "Setiap orang hanya menyentuh satu bagian. Mungkin jika Anda menyatukan bagian-bagian itu, Anda akan melihat kebenaran. Sekarang, biarkan saya menyelesaikan tidur dengan tenang."
Ketika teman mereka kembali ke kebun dengan air dingin, enam pria itu beristirahat dengan tenang di tempat teduh, memikirkan nasihat Rajah.
"Dia benar," kata pria buta pertama. "Untuk mempelajari kebenaran, kita harus menyatukan semua bagian. Mari kita diskusikan ini di perjalanan pulang."
Orang buta pertama meletakkan tangannya di bahu anak laki-laki muda yang akan memandu mereka pulang. Pria buta kedua meletakkan tangannya di pundak temannya, dan seterusnya sampai keenam pria itu siap untuk bepergian bersama.
Para lelaki ingin tahu tentang banyak kisah yang mereka dengar, tetapi mereka paling ingin tahu tentang gajah. Mereka diberitahu bahwa gajah bisa menginjak hutan, membawa beban besar, dan menakut-nakuti anak muda dan tua dengan panggilan terompet keras mereka. Tetapi mereka juga tahu bahwa putri Rajah mengendarai seekor gajah ketika dia melakukan perjalanan di kerajaan ayahnya. Akankah Rajah membiarkan putrinya mendekati makhluk berbahaya semacam itu?
Orang-orang tua bertengkar siang dan malam tentang gajah. "Seekor gajah harus menjadi raksasa yang kuat," kata orang buta pertama itu. Dia telah mendengar cerita tentang gajah yang digunakan untuk membersihkan hutan dan membangun jalan.
"Tidak, Anda pasti salah," bantah pria buta kedua. "Seekor gajah harus anggun dan lembut jika seorang puteri naik di punggungnya."
"Kamu salah! Aku telah mendengar bahwa seekor gajah dapat menembus hati seorang pria dengan tanduknya yang mengerikan," kata pria buta ketiga.
"Tolong," kata lelaki buta keempat itu. "Kamu semua keliru. Seekor gajah tidak lebih dari sapi jenis besar. Kamu tahu bagaimana orang melebih-lebihkan."
"Aku yakin gajah itu ajaib," kata pria buta kelima. "Itu akan menjelaskan mengapa putri Rajah bisa bepergian dengan aman ke seluruh kerajaan."
"Aku tidak percaya gajah ada sama sekali," kata orang buta keenam. "Kurasa kita adalah korban lelucon yang kejam."
Akhirnya, penduduk desa menjadi bosan dengan semua argumen, dan mereka mengatur agar para pria penasaran mengunjungi istana Rajah untuk mempelajari kebenaran tentang gajah. Seorang bocah laki-laki dari desa mereka dipilih untuk membimbing orang buta dalam perjalanan mereka. Pria terkecil meletakkan tangannya di bahu anak itu. Orang buta kedua meletakkan tangannya di pundak temannya, dan seterusnya sampai keenam pria itu siap untuk berjalan dengan aman di belakang anak lelaki yang akan memimpin mereka ke istana megah Raja Rajah.
Ketika orang buta mencapai istana, mereka disambut oleh seorang teman lama dari desa mereka yang bekerja sebagai tukang kebun di halaman istana. Teman mereka membawa mereka ke halaman. Di sana berdiri seekor gajah. Orang-orang buta melangkah maju untuk menyentuh makhluk yang menjadi subyek banyak argumen.
Orang buta pertama mengulurkan tangan dan menyentuh sisi binatang besar itu. "Gajah itu halus dan kokoh seperti tembok!" dia menyatakan. "Pasti sangat kuat."
Orang buta kedua meletakkan tangannya di atas batang limber gajah. "Seekor gajah itu seperti ular raksasa," katanya mengumumkan.
Orang buta ketiga merasakan taring runcing gajah. "Aku benar," dia memutuskan. "Makhluk ini setajam dan mematikan seperti tombak."
Orang buta keempat menyentuh salah satu dari empat kaki gajah. "Apa yang kita miliki di sini," katanya, "adalah sapi yang sangat besar."
Pria buta kelima merasakan telinga raksasa gajah. "Saya percaya gajah itu seperti kipas besar atau mungkin karpet ajaib yang bisa terbang di atas gunung dan puncak pohon," katanya.
Orang buta keenam memberi tarikan pada ekor kasar gajah. "Kenapa, ini tidak lebih dari seutas tali tua. Berbahaya, memang," dia mencemooh.
Tukang kebun memimpin teman-temannya ke bayangan pohon. "Duduk di sini dan istirahatlah untuk perjalanan pulang yang panjang," katanya. "Aku akan membawakanmu air minum."
Sementara mereka menunggu, enam orang buta itu berbicara tentang gajah itu.
"Gajah itu seperti tembok," kata orang buta pertama. "Tentunya kita akhirnya bisa menyetujui itu."
"Dinding? Gajah adalah ular raksasa!" jawab pria buta kedua.
"Itu tombak, kataku," kata orang buta ketiga itu.
"Aku yakin itu sapi raksasa," kata lelaki buta keempat itu.
"Karpet ajaib. Tidak ada keraguan," kata pria buta kelima.
"Apakah kamu tidak melihat?" memohon kepada orang buta keenam. "Seseorang menggunakan tali untuk mengelabui kita."
Argumen mereka berlanjut dan teriakan mereka semakin nyaring dan lantang.
"Dinding!" "Ular!" "Tombak!" "Sapi!" "Karpet!" "Tali!"
"Berhentilah berteriak!" disebut suara yang sangat marah.
Itu adalah Rajah, terbangun dari tidurnya oleh argumen yang berisik.
"Bagaimana Anda masing-masing dapat begitu yakin bahwa Anda benar?" tanya sang penguasa.
Keenam pria buta itu mempertimbangkan pertanyaan itu. Dan kemudian, mengetahui Rajah menjadi orang yang sangat bijaksana, mereka memutuskan untuk tidak mengatakan apa pun.
"Gajah adalah hewan yang sangat besar," kata Rajah dengan ramah. "Setiap orang hanya menyentuh satu bagian. Mungkin jika Anda menyatukan bagian-bagian itu, Anda akan melihat kebenaran. Sekarang, biarkan saya menyelesaikan tidur dengan tenang."
Ketika teman mereka kembali ke kebun dengan air dingin, enam pria itu beristirahat dengan tenang di tempat teduh, memikirkan nasihat Rajah.
"Dia benar," kata pria buta pertama. "Untuk mempelajari kebenaran, kita harus menyatukan semua bagian. Mari kita diskusikan ini di perjalanan pulang."
Orang buta pertama meletakkan tangannya di bahu anak laki-laki muda yang akan memandu mereka pulang. Pria buta kedua meletakkan tangannya di pundak temannya, dan seterusnya sampai keenam pria itu siap untuk bepergian bersama.
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