Brilio.net - Hikayat is one form of classical Malay literature that has high historical and cultural value. The stories in the hikayat often contain moral messages , life values, and depictions of society in its time. Understanding and appreciating the hikayat can provide insight into local wisdom and the mindset of society in the past.
Definition of tale.
A tale can be defined as:
1. Old literary works in prose form
2. Contains stories, laws and genealogies of kings
3. Is legendary and contains historical elements
Characteristics of a tale.
Some of the characteristics of sagas include:
1. Anonymous (author unknown)
2. Palace-centric in nature
3. Using classical Malay
4. Uses a lot of archaic words
5. Contains elements of myth, legend and fairy tale
Values in the tale.
Tales often contain values such as:
1. Heroism and leadership
2. Loyalty and devotion
3. Wisdom and discernment
4. Adherence to customs and traditions
Example of a short story text.
To provide a clearer picture, here are five examples of short fable texts. These examples are condensed versions of longer fables, but still represent the essence and characteristics of the fable. Through these examples of short fable texts, readers can understand the storytelling style and messages contained in the fable.
1. The Tale of Hang Tuah.
In ancient times, there lived a brave admiral named Hang Tuah. He served the Sultan of Melaka loyally. One day, slander befell Hang Tuah. He was accused of treason and sentenced to death. However, thanks to the Treasurer's wisdom, Hang Tuah's life was secretly saved. When the kingdom was in danger, Hang Tuah returned and saved the country. The Sultan realized his mistake and reinstated Hang Tuah as admiral.
2. The Tale of the Poor Man.
Once upon a time, there was a very poor couple. They were always insulted and chased away wherever they went. One night, they dreamed of meeting an old man who gave them directions. The next day, they found a jar filled with gold in the place indicated in the dream. Thanks to their honesty and kindness in using the wealth, they finally lived prosperously and were respected by the community.
3. The Tale of Bayan Budiman.
A merchant had a wise parrot. One day, the merchant's wife intended to have an affair while her husband was away. The parrot told stories every night to prevent the wife's bad intentions. The parrot's stories about loyalty and the consequences of betrayal made the merchant's wife change her mind. When the merchant returned home, he praised the parrot's wisdom for saving his household.
4. The Tale of the Noble Senses.
Indera Bangsawan was the king's son who was sent to find medicine for his sick father. On his journey, he faced various obstacles and met magical creatures. Thanks to his intelligence and kindness, Indera Bangsawan managed to get the medicine and return to the kingdom. His father was cured, and Indera Bangsawan was crowned a just and wise king.
5. The Tale of Bakhtiar.
Bakhtiar was a poor but intelligent young man. One day, he was accused of stealing and sentenced to death. Every day before his execution, Bakhtiar told the king stories. His wise stories made the king always postpone the sentence. Finally, after forty days, the truth was revealed. Bakhtiar was proven innocent and was appointed as the king's advisor thanks to his intelligence and wisdom.
The short fable text example above illustrates some general characteristics of fables, such as palace settings, elements of magic, moral values, and messages of wisdom. Although presented in a condensed version, the essence and main message of the fable are still conveyed.
Some important points in understanding the tale:
1. Hikayat often describes the ideals of society in its time
2. The characters in the story usually have exaggerated characteristics.
3. Supernatural and magical elements often appear as part of the story.
4. Moral messages and life values are the main focus of the story.
Studying hikayat is not only important to understand classical literature, but also to explore local wisdom and values that are still relevant today. Through examples of short hikayat texts, readers can get an idea of the way of thinking, value systems, and social conditions of society in the past.
Finally, it is important to maintain and preserve the tales as part of cultural heritage. By understanding and appreciating the tales, the younger generation can learn from the wisdom of the past to apply in the context of modern life.