Portfolio: Analyzing Literary Text
Write an Essay
The story The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed is a folktale and Don’t Count Your Chickens is written in the style of a folktale. In many folktales, some characters are rewarded for their positive qualities or values. Other characters are punished or do not have success due to their negative qualities or values. The characters and events teach the reader a lesson about life. What life lesson or important values do you think the younger brothers in the two stories help readers understand? Write a three-paragraph essay that tells your response.
Paragraph 1: Write an introductory paragraph that identifies the main characters in The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed and Don’t Count Your Chickens. Tell what life lesson or important values the younger brothers in the two stories help the readers understand.
Paragraph 2: Explain how the qualities or values of the younger brothers in the stories are different from those of their older brothers. Use details from the stories to contrast the character traits and points of view of the younger brothers with those of their older brothers.
Paragraph 3: Explain what you think the authors want readers to learn from the younger brothers in the stories. Tell how the plot events and the authors’ use of language and literary devices to support your ideas. End your paragraph with a sentence that restates the lesson or values that the characters in the stories convey to readers.
In The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed, the main characters are two brothers named Pedro and Pablo. In Don't Count Your Chickens, the main characters are two brothers named Jack and Bill. Both sets of younger brothers possess qualities such as humility, perseverance, and kindness. These values help readers understand the importance of being humble and hardworking, as well as the significance of treating others with respect and compassion.
The qualities of the younger brothers in the stories are different from those of their older brothers. In The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed, Pedro is kind and selfless, willing to share with others even when he has very little himself. In contrast, his older brother Pablo is greedy and selfish, only thinking of himself and his own desires. Similarly, in Don't Count Your Chickens, Jack is hardworking and optimistic, always looking for the positive side of things. On the other hand, his brother Bill is lazy and negative, never putting in any effort and constantly complaining.
The authors of the stories want readers to learn that humility, perseverance, and kindness are key values that can lead to success and happiness in life. The plot events in both stories show how the younger brothers' positive qualities ultimately bring them good fortune and reward, while the negative traits of the older brothers lead to their downfall. The authors use language and literary devices such as dialogue and descriptive details to emphasize the contrast between the characters and their actions. In the end, the lesson that the characters convey to readers is that treating others with respect, working hard, and being kind can lead to a more fulfilling and successful life.
k make it like a 7 grader wrote it
The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed and Don't Count Your Chickens are two stories with younger brothers who show important values. In The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed, Pedro and Pablo are brothers who teach us the value of sharing and being selfless. In Don't Count Your Chickens, Jack and Bill show us the importance of working hard and staying positive.
The younger brothers in the stories are different from their older brothers. Pedro is kind and shares what little he has, while his brother Pablo is greedy and selfish. Jack works hard and stays positive, but his brother Bill is lazy and negative. The younger brothers' qualities help them succeed in the end, while the older brothers' negative traits lead to their downfall.
The authors want us to learn that being kind, hardworking, and positive can lead to success and happiness. The stories show us that treating others well and working hard can bring good things in life. By showing us the contrast between the characters and their actions, the authors teach us that important values like kindness and perseverance can make a big difference.