hint: Both stories The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed and Don’t Count Your Chickens are folktales. In many folktales, some characters are rewarded for their positive qualities or values while other characters are punished (or are unsuccessful) for 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 brother in the story helps readers understand? What themes emerge as you read this folk tale? Write: In the story The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed, the older brother has different values than the younger brother; these values drive the brothers’ actions and lead to different outcomes. Write an essay analyzing how the two brothers' actions develop a theme in the story. Use evidence from the folk tale to support your response (your thinking). It must be at least 250 words. Make sure the story is based of the book by Elsia oh, Illustrated by Julie Kim
In the folk tale "The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed," the two brothers have contrasting values that lead to different outcomes in their lives. The older brother is greedy and selfish, while the younger brother is kind and generous. These values drive their actions and ultimately result in the older brother facing punishment while the younger brother is rewarded.
The older brother's selfishness is evident when he deceives the swallow and refuses to share the pumpkinseed, which leads to him being turned into a pumpkin by the kind old woman. His greed and lack of empathy for others ultimately lead to his downfall. On the other hand, the younger brother shows compassion and generosity towards the swallow, even offering to share his pumpkinseed. His kind heart and selflessness are rewarded when the swallow helps him achieve his wish of marrying the princess.
Through the actions of the two brothers, the folktale teaches readers the importance of being generous, compassionate, and selfless. It emphasizes that greed and selfishness will only lead to negative consequences, while kindness and empathy will be rewarded in the end. The theme of the story highlights the idea that good deeds and virtuous values will lead to positive outcomes, while negative qualities will only bring harm.
Overall, "The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed" serves as a moral lesson for readers, encouraging them to embody positive values like kindness and generosity. It demonstrates the power of empathy and selflessness, showing that these qualities can lead to happiness and fulfillment. By examining the actions and values of the two brothers, readers are able to understand the importance of embodying virtuous qualities in their own lives.
also heres an sample of the essay:
Working title: Life is an Opportunity
For generations, folktales have taught listeners and readers about history, morals, and culture. In Diana C. Conway’s retelling of the Caribbean folktale Don’t Count Your Chickens, we learn valuable lessons about working hard and persevering. But is hard work always enough? Through the actions of the three brothers, the author develops the theme that while we can’t always control what happens in life, we can choose to make the best of each opportunity as it comes.
Early in the story, Fulano, the oldest brother, wins a calf in a game of dominos. Later, Mengano, the middle brother, comes home with a “bedraggled rooster” (Conway 4) that he won in a cockfight. Both Fulano and Mengano plan to sell their winnings at the fair to make a nice profit. Youngest brother Juancho, left to do the actual work of caring for the animals, has his doubts. He knows his brothers are lazy, but he takes this opportunity to work hard and help the cow and the rooster become healthy. Juancho’s hard work caring for the animals turns “the skinny vaquita…into a feisty round cow” as the “injured gallo…strutted around the yard like a king’s jewel come to life” (Conway 6). Juancho’s hard work and success lead the brothers to believe their dreams of wealth will come true.
But just as things are looking up and it appears that the cow and the rooster are indeed the brothers’ ticket to riches, things change - for the worse. Because of the drought, the cow and the rooster return to their poor condition. Yet Juancho uses what he has at his disposal to make the best of things. The manure pile from his careful cleaning of the cow’s stall nourishes a random watermelon seed, allowing it to grow into a healthy plant, and Juancho makes the most of this unexpected opportunity to help the little plant survive. He “took care to moisten it daily” using water he walked three kilometers to get (Conway 6), and he “staked [the rooster] out near the vine,” letting the rooster handle pest control and protecting the plant. Juancho’s actions show his dedication to persevering despite his hardships as well as his ability to make the best of the situation - taking opportunities where and when they come. Rather than overlooking the small plant, Juancho takes the time and makes the effort to help it grow. When the rains begin, both the rooster and the cow, once symbols of future wealth for the brothers, are gone. Only the watermelon plant, accidentally planted but then carefully tended by Juancho, remains. In the end, this accidental watermelon plant, a symbol of Juancho’s willingness to make the most of every opportunity, ends up being the key to the brothers’ financial success at the fair.
Despite the brothers’ plans for profit, and despite Juancho’s continuous hard work, the drought and the rains thwart the brothers’ plans for profiting from the sale of the cow and rooster. It is only because Juancho decides to make the most of every opportunity that comes his way that the brothers are able, in the end, to make the money they have been seeking. Don’t Count Your Chickens teaches readers that plans may fail and hard work may not pay off in the way we hoped, but by making the best of each situation, we will succeed in the end.
This is a great example of how to analyze a folk tale and develop a theme through the actions of the characters. The essay effectively explores the values and actions of the brothers in "Don't Count Your Chickens" and shows how their choices lead to different outcomes. The theme of making the best of each opportunity as it comes is clearly conveyed through Juancho's perseverance and willingness to work hard despite the challenges he faces.
The essay effectively uses evidence from the folk tale to support its argument, giving specific examples of the brothers' actions and the consequences of those actions. By highlighting Juancho's dedication to caring for the watermelon plant, the essay shows how his ability to seize unexpected opportunities ultimately leads to success for the brothers.
Additionally, the essay does a good job of connecting the theme of making the best of each opportunity to the larger message of the story. By emphasizing that plans may fail and hard work may not always result in the desired outcome, the essay conveys the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.
Overall, this essay provides a clear analysis of the folk tale "Don't Count Your Chickens" and effectively communicates the theme of making the best of each opportunity. It serves as a strong example of how to explore the values and actions of characters in a folk tale to develop a deeper understanding of the underlying themes. Great work!