




Genghis Khan and His Loyal Hawk
"Genghis Khan and His Hawk" is retold by Lori Verstegen and was published by the Institute for Excellence in Writing in 2007. The original author is unknown. This story is a classic tale based on a true legend. It takes place in Mongolia with Genghis Khan as its ruler in the 1200's. The main setting is a mountain stream coming out of a rocky outcropping. Gengis Khan is a lot wiser at the end of the day than he is at the start of the day. Khan is an antagonist and dominant character who is a massively wicked rich man who often acts hastily without thinking. He loves falconing. His favorite friend is his hawk. The protagonist, the hawk, is a perfect hunter.
One day the Great Khan hunted too far with his hawk and was extremely thirsty, so they started seeking for a stream. The one he found had an "unknown" water source. When he raised his cup full of water to his lips, his hawk dived and spilled all the water. The hawk swooped down and knocked the cup over again. The next time the hawk dived the Great Khan killed him and turned his best friend into a lifeless bird. In doing so, he knocked his cup up and over the rocky outcropping. Around the rocky outcropping he went to retrieve his cup. When he reached the water source, who should he see but a dead viper with all of its deadly poison emptied into the water. The Great Khan realized that the hawk had saved his life.
"Genghis Khan and His Hawk" is a fascinating story filled with life and death, loyalty and betrayal. Genghis is a tragically wicked man that is disliked by a great many people. His hawk is loyal to the end because he loves his master. The Khan is cruel. For his many faults, his worst is a rash temper. When he and the reader realize that the hawk gave his life for the Khan's, it makes the story's surprise ending captivating and sorrowful. The theme of the story is to think before you act and to check the facts before you kill. The hawk is a likeable character, as the story makes him a hero, and the Khan, who is cruel, the villain.
Hope you enjoyed it, and are either having your own fun and success with RTR's IEW, or are now looking forward to it!



In Christ,
Julie