“The Boy Who Drew Cats” is a classic Japanese folktale that transports readers into a world where artistry and courage intersect with the supernatural. Rooted in the rich tapestry of Japanese folklore, this timeless story follows the journey of a young boy whose artistic talents, initially dismissed as frivolous, become instrumental in facing otherworldly challenges. Read More Summaries Class 8 English Summaries.
The Boy Who Drew Cats Summary in English
The main character in the story, youngest son of poor, hardworking farmer, lives in a country village of old Japan. Because he is small, weak, and bright, his parents sent him to the village priest to be trained for priesthood. The boy learns well and pleases his master in almost all ways, but he persists in one act of disobedience drawing cats whenever he can. Although warned to stop, he continued it.
The disobedience of the boy causes the old priest to send him away with the advice to stop trying to become a priest but instead become an artist. The priest cautions the boy to avoid large places at night and keep to the small. Puzzled by the strange warning, the boy reluctantly leaves his temple home and walks to the next village, where there is a large temple at which he hopes to continue his religious training.
the boy who drew cats summary pdf
He arrives at the temple at night, only to find it deserted and covered with thick layers of dust and cobwebs. He does not know the temple has been abandoned because a bloodthirsty goblin lived there. Earlier, soldiers entered the temple at night to kill the goblin but did not survive the attempt. The unsuspecting boy sits quietly and waits for the temple priests to appear. He notices large, white screens, wonderful surfaces for drawing cats, and soon has drawing ink and brushes ready. He unhesitatingly draws cats, not stopping until he is too tired to continue.
Sleepily he remembers the old priest’s warning as he lies down, so he crawls into a small cabinet and pulls the door before he sleeps. Hours later, the boy wakes to sounds of horrible screaming and fighting. He cowers silently while the fight rages, and only ventures out after daylight streams into the room. He finds a floor wet with blood and, lying dead, a monster goblin-rat the size of a cow.
the boy who drew cats summary class 8
Scanning the temple, he notices the wet, blood-red mouths of the cats he has drawn on the screens. Suddenly he understands the priest’s advice and realizes that his cats have destroyed the goblin in the vicious fight he has overheard. The boy later becomes a famous artist, whose pictures of cats can still be seen in Japan.
Conclusion :
In conclusion, “The Boy Who Drew Cats” stands as a charming and thought-provoking folktale that transcends cultural boundaries. It celebrates the power of creativity, resourcefulness, and determination, showing that even seemingly insignificant talents can become extraordinary assets when the need arises.