Literacy. Snake, Horse and Toad.

[Johnny Thunder]

My daughters homework........


This story by Michael Rosen is apparently inspired by an African folk tale?
Hopefully someone here has read it and knows what the hell it means.
It is regarded as a political parable about the relationship between West Africa, after it gained
its independence, and its former governors.

Question:

If snake represents the West Africans and toad represents their former governors, what does horse represent?


Cheers.

 

[Hacker]

A trouser press.

 

[Hacker]

 

[photon]

From a review:

Snake has a horse; Toad shows him how it should be ridden: eyes forward, back straight, knees bent. Snake goes on swaying about in the saddle, horse ambling. `Thing is, I own a horse and you don't.' A note tells me the story is popular in Africa `as a parable of the post-colonial relationship'.

 

[dod]

what does horse represent?

The daughter who failed her exams because she didn't do her own homework

 

[SarahLee]

If snake represents the West Africans and toad represents their former governors, what does horse represent?

From a review:

Snake has a horse; Toad shows him how it should be ridden: eyes forward, back straight, knees bent. Snake goes on swaying about in the saddle, horse ambling. `Thing is, I own a horse and you don't.' A note tells me the story is popular in Africa `as a parable of the post-colonial relationship'.

In that case the horse represents West Africa . . .

The daughter who failed her exams because she didn't do her own homework

. . . although that is an equally valid interpretation

 

[Johnny Thunder]

Thank you.