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.
Use details from the stories to support your ideas in the essay.
In The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed, the main characters are the two brothers, the elder one who is selfish and greedy, and the younger one who is kind and selfless. In Don’t Count Your Chickens, the main characters are also two brothers, one who is overconfident and careless, and the other who is cautious and wise. Both sets of younger brothers demonstrate the values of kindness, selflessness, caution, and wisdom, which help readers understand the importance of these qualities in achieving success and happiness in life.
The younger brothers in both stories are contrasted with their older brothers who possess negative qualities that lead to their downfall. In The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed, the elder brother's selfishness and greed ultimately result in his demise, while the younger brother's kindness and selflessness lead to his prosperity. Similarly, in Don’t Count Your Chickens, the elder brother's overconfidence and carelessness cause him to lose everything, while the younger brother's caution and wisdom enable him to succeed. The stories highlight how negative qualities can lead to failure, while positive qualities can lead to success.
The authors of the stories want readers to learn that kindness, selflessness, caution, and wisdom are important values that can lead to prosperity and happiness. The plot events in both stories clearly demonstrate the consequences of possessing negative qualities like selfishness, greed, overconfidence, and carelessness. The authors use language and literary devices to emphasize the contrast between the older and younger brothers, reinforcing the idea that positive values are essential for a fulfilling and successful life. Ultimately, the younger brothers in the stories convey the important lesson that being kind, selfless, cautious, and wise is essential for achieving happiness and success in life.