activity 01
s t o r y t e l l i n g
P U P P E T S
presents
THE LEGEND OF MAHSURI
TO GO BACK
Storytelling demonstration
technique
The narration for this storytelling activity uses the Mountain structure to tell Mahsuri’s story - from a thriving young beauty to a wrongly executed lady. There is a rising action as Mahsuri fights against the accusations, and it climaxes when Mahsuri is executed with her family’s dagger. There is a good resolution as the curse ends after her shrine is built in apology.
THE CHARACTERS
Mahsuri
Wan Darus (Mahsuri's Husband)
Wan Mahora (Ruler's Wife)
Datuk Pekerma (Village Ruler)
Male Villager
Female Villager
⬤ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHER
⬤ THE TALE
INSTRUCTION |
♥ Teacher becomes the narrator.
♥ Teacher puts up the backdrop of Langkawi island using mahjong paper or LCD projector.
♥ Props such as paper trees, houses and others may also be used for the backdrop.
INSTRUCTION |
♥ Teacher wears the finger puppets as shown above.
♥ The positions are interchangeable according to the narrator's preferences.
NARRATOR :
Welcome, everyone! Today, we have a very special story to tell. It is the legend of Mahsuri.
NARRATOR :
Once upon a time, on the beautiful island of Langkawi, lived Mahsuri, a young woman who lived happily with her husband, Wan Darus.
INSTRUCTION |
♥ Teacher moves Mahsuri and Wan Darus finger puppets to imitate the movement of them nodding their heads.
MAHSURI PUPPET : (in a gentle voice)
I lived a happy life on the island with my husband. I love everyone on this island. They are very kind to me.
NARRATOR :
Mahsuri was known throughout the island for her kindness and beauty. She was loved by all who knew her.
INSTRUCTION |
♥ Teacher moves the Mahsuri puppet.
♥ Teacher makes the Mahsuri puppet nod at the other puppets.
NARRATOR :
However, there were some who were jealous of Mahsuri's beauty and popularity and wanted to see her suffer. One of these people was the wife of the island's ruler.
RULER'S WIFE :
I am tired of all this talk about Mahsuri! She is nothing special! How dare you be so beautiful and loved by everyone!
INSTRUCTION |
♥ Teacher puts on the Ruler's Wife finger puppet and makes the puppet give a stern look to Mahsuri.
NARRATOR :
One day, Mahsuri’s husband was called to fight in the war. Soon after, the wife of the ruler began to spread lies about Mahsuri, saying that she was unfaithful to her husband with another man.
INSTRUCTION |
♥ Teachers moves the Ruler’s Wife finger puppet to make it seems as if the puppet is whispering to other puppets.
NARRATOR :
Despite the lack of evidence, she was put on trial and the village ruler deemed her guilty.
VILLAGE RULER :
"Mahsuri, you have been found guilty. You will be sentenced to death."
NARRATOR :
Mahsuri protested her innocence, but her pleas were ignored, and she was stabbed with her family’s silver dagger, the only weapon that could kill her.
The moment she was stabbed, white blood flowed out of her body, it was said to be a symbol of Mahsuri's innocence.
INSTRUCTION |
♥ Teacher lays the Mahsuri puppet on the table to symbolize her death.
MAHSURI :
As Mahsuri lay dying, she cursed the island, saying that it would not prosper for seven generations. After her death, the island suffered from various misfortunes, including a prolonged drought and a plague that killed many people.
INSTRUCTION |
♥ The finger puppets representing the people of the island and the misfortunes are shown.
NARRATOR :
Years later, the people of Langkawi realized their mistake and regretted what they had done to Mahsuri. They built a shrine in her honor and offered her apologies. Eventually, the curse was lifted, and the island prospered once again.
And so, Mahsuri's memory lived on, and the people of Langkawi began to realize the truth about her innocence.
INSTRUCTION |
♥ The teacher lifts up the Mahsuri puppet.
NARRATOR :
And that is the story of Mahsuri, a tragic tale of injustice and the power of forgiveness. Mahsuri's story is a reminder that we should never let jealousy and gossip lead to such terrible consequences. We should always seek the truth and never judge someone unfairly.
. THE END .
AUTHOR'S NOTE |
✿ Please note that the tale may differ from its original narration as the author has adapted the story to accommodate the activity and the level of pupils in the primary ESL classroom.
REFERENCES
All pictures and animations were made by Auni Qistina Binti Azrul using Canva.
Ghostkamera. (2023, March 10). Kota Mahsuri. Atlas Obscura. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kota-mahsuri
UNIMA. (2017, August 3). Finger Puppet | World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts. World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts.
https://wepa.unima.org/en/finger-puppet/
Vedats. (n.d.). 8 classic storytelling techniques. Norsensus. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://norsensus.no/storydown/storytelling-techniques