make a Text Dependent Literary Analysis Portfolio
in the swallow and the pumpkin seed
Think about how the brothers’ values are different. Make notes!
Think about how these values affect their actions, which affect the outcome of the story. Make notes!
Decide what lesson is being taught in the folk tale. How does this lesson help you identify a theme?
The brothers in "The Swallow and the Pumpkin Seed" have different values: one values hard work and perseverance, while the other values shortcuts and immediate rewards.
The brother who values hard work and perseverance plants a pumpkin seed and tends to it carefully, patiently waiting for it to grow. In contrast, the brother who values shortcuts steals a swallow's egg and tries to take credit for the pumpkin that magically grows from it.
These values affect their actions and ultimately the outcome of the story. The brother who works hard is rewarded with a bountiful harvest and the admiration of his community. On the other hand, the brother who takes shortcuts is exposed as a thief and suffers the consequences of his actions.
The lesson being taught in this folk tale is that hard work and perseverance are more rewarding in the long run than taking shortcuts or cheating. This lesson helps identify the theme of the story, which could be about the importance of integrity, honesty, and the value of putting in effort to achieve success.