A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
A monkey asks a barber to remove a thorn from his tail, but the barber accidentally cuts off its end. The monkey demands either restoration or the barber’s razor and receives the razor. He lends it to a wood-cutter, then demands all her wood when it breaks; next he gives the wood to a cake-maker and demands all the cakes when the fuel is consumed. Before he reaches town a dog bites him to death and eats the cakes. The monkey’s speech and manipulative bargains structure the fable; the razor has no magical power, and the old women addressed as grandmothers are not established relatives.
Origins & earliest records
Philippines; Ilocano account as grouped by Cole
Records & interpretation
Complete relevant story, collection preface, regional introduction and attached notes directly read.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Philippine Folk Tales
Ilocano, The Story of a Monkey, pp. 183–184
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Primary records and illustrations
Mabel Cook Cole, Philippine Folk Tales (Chicago: A. C. McClurg, 1916)
Ilocano section. Ilocano, The Story of a Monkey, pp. 183–184
Complete tale and attached notes read. Exact source-specific identities, narrative ending and limits retained. Earlier recordings credited by Cole have not been independently inspected for this entry.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical collected narrative and editorial notesCole, Philippine Folk Tales (1916), Ilocano, The Story of a Monkey, pp. 183–184Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.