Momotaro by Anonymous (1784)
Mototaro is a classic Japanese folktale about a young boy who is born from a giant peach. He is sent on a mission to defeat a band of marauding ogres who have been terrorizing the countryside. Along the way, he is joined by a talking dog, a monkey, and a pheasant, who help him in his quest. After a long and difficult journey, Mototaro and his companions eventually succeed in defeating the ogres and restoring peace to the land. The story is a beloved classic in Japan, and has been adapted into many different forms, including films, plays, and video games.
By Anonymous · First published 1784 · Genre: Folklore, Fantasy, Adventure · 596 words
First lines
A long long time ago there lived an old man and an old woman. One day the old man went to the mountains to cut grass; and the old woman went to the river to wash clothes. While she was washing a great big thing came tumbling and splashing down the stream. When the old woman saw it she was very glad, and pulled it to her with a piece of bamboo that lay near by.
When she took it up and looked at it she saw that it was a very large peach. She then quickly finished her washing and returned home intending to give the peach to her old man to eat.
What this Textopian page supports
Momotaro is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anonymous, dated 1784 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Anonymous
- Date: 1784 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Folklore, Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature
- Length: 596 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Momotaro by Anonymous
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Momotaro?
- How does this short story by Anonymous fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Folklore first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Folklore — The book is based on a traditional Japanese folktale about a boy born from a peach.
- Fantasy — The book contains elements of fantasy, such as talking animals and magical powers.
- Adventure — The book follows Momotaro on his journey to defeat the ogres and save his village.
- Children's Literature — The book is written for a young audience and contains themes of courage and friendship.
Tags
Fairy tales · Folklore · Japan · Little Peachling · akandoji · bamboo · body · bravely · care · chief · child · couple