Bot, 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. Please make sure you stay on topic.
In "The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed" and "Don't Count Your Chickens", the main characters are the younger brothers who possess qualities of humility, patience, and hard work. These values help the readers understand the importance of staying true to oneself, remaining patient in the face of adversity, and putting in the effort to achieve one's goals.
The younger brothers in the two stories contrast sharply with their older brothers. In "The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed", the younger brother is patient and humble, while the older brothers are greedy and arrogant. Similarly, in "Don't Count Your Chickens", the younger brother is hardworking and persevering, while the older brothers are lazy and overconfident. The younger brothers' willingness to listen, learn, and stay committed to their goals sets them apart from their older siblings, who are ultimately punished for their negative qualities.
The authors of the stories want readers to learn that positive qualities such as humility, patience, and hard work are essential for success in life. By showcasing the younger brothers as examples of these virtues, the authors highlight the rewards that come from embodying these values. The plot events in the stories serve to reinforce this message, as the younger brothers are ultimately rewarded for their positive qualities, while the older brothers face consequences for their negative traits. Through their use of language and literary devices, the authors make it clear that the life lesson to be gleaned from the stories is that cultivating qualities like humility, patience, and perseverance can lead to success and happiness in life.