Week 6 Storytelling: How the Stone Ape Became King

“Hey Grandpa Baboon, tell us the story of how our Ape King became king,” said the ape children.

“Alright children, I will tell the story but first you have to stop monkeying around and be good little apes,” replied Grandpa Baboon.

All the ape children settled down and Grandpa Baboon started the story.

The story starts on a dark night many years ago. An egg was laid by the mountain and from it hatched a stone ape. He learned to walk and by doing so golden beams shot from his eyes all the way to the heavens. The beams were so bright that night turned to day. All the monkeys and apes woke up thinking daylight had come early but started their day. The stone ape closed his eyes and restrained the beams from returning causing darkness to fall on the earth again. This caused all the monkeys and apes to go crazy. The stone ape heard the commotion and went to see what was going on. He found the monkeys and apes yelling and screaming and running around crazily. He tried to ask what was going on but no one would stop freaking out. To put a stop to the madness, the stone ape let the gold beams out again. This caused all the monkeys and apes to stop. The stone ape closed his eyes and pulled the beams back. He was then welcomed to the family. 

The stone ape learned to act like an actual ape and started helping out around the island. He became very strong and powerful but he was unaware of his strength. He would accidentally knock down a tree or break a boulder by jumping on it. The Elder Baboons saw the great power laying inside the stone ape and started teaching him how to control himself. After a couple of years, the stone monkey had worked his way up the ranks and was considered one of the leaders of the island. During a meeting of the leaders they decided they needed a king to protect them and help rule over the island. All of the leaders wanted the title. They decided that the first ape to pass under the waterfall without injury would become king. All of the leaders except the stone ape tried but turned back because the water fell too hard on them. Once all the other leaders had their chance, the stone ape decided to try. He jumped through the waterfall without a problem. All the leaders were mesmerized and made the stone ape the king. 

The Stone Ape Jumps Through the Waterfall

Web Source: Un-Textbook

Author’s note: I did my reading over The Monkey King particularly the Handsome King of Apes part. This story I thought was really great. The beginning part of the stone ape’s life isn’t talked about much. So I thought I would add a lot to the beginning of his life. The original story tells about just the beams shining the first time and the stone ape jumping through the waterfall to become king. I added all the rest of the story. I hope you like it. 

Bibliography: The Monkey King by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921). Website: Un-Texbook