Directions: For this portfolio, you will be analyzing 2 stories: “The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed” & “Don’t Count Your Chickens”. The first is a folktale, & the second is written in the style of a folktale. Your analysis should focus on the following essay prompt: What life lesson or important values do you think the younger brothers in the two stories help readers understand?
Portfolio Requirements:
Your essay must be at least 3 paragraphs.
Read the stories & choose a life lesson OR important value that you feel the readers should learn based on the younger brothers in BOTH stories. Find evidence in BOTH stories to support your thesis.
Answer the question, “How are the younger boys DIFFERENT from the older brothers in BOTH stories?” and find evidence from BOTH stories to support your answer.
Find TWO examples of how the authors’ use of plot events, language, and literary devices give BOTH stories meaning & show what the authors want the readers to learn (Author’s Message). Here is a link to a list of Literary Devices to help you determine what was used in the stories.
Your analysis must be submitted in MLA format & include a Works Cited Page for the 2 stories.
You must submit your analysis to the Paper Review Center & provide their feedback along with your updated analysis (showing that you utilized their feedback) in the dropbox. Click here to watch a video on how to submit to the Paper Review Center. Click here to read how to download their feedback.
In both "The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed" and "Don't Count Your Chickens," the younger brothers display the important value of persistence and determination. In "The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed," the younger brother, the Swallow, never gives up on his quest to find a wife, even after being rejected by the animals in the forest. Similarly, in "Don't Count Your Chickens," the youngest brother continues to try and find a solution to the king's riddle, even when his older brothers fail. These stories teach readers that perseverance is key to achieving their goals.
The younger boys in both stories are different from the older brothers in their willingness to keep trying, even in the face of adversity. The older brothers in both stories give up easily when faced with challenges, while the younger brothers continue to push forward. This contrast highlights the importance of resilience and determination, showing that giving up is not an option when faced with obstacles.
Both authors use plot events, language, and literary devices to convey their messages about persistence and determination. In "The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed," the Swallow's journey is filled with obstacles that he must overcome, showcasing the importance of perseverance. The author's use of animal characters and vivid descriptions adds depth to the story and emphasizes the Swallow's determination. In "Don't Count Your Chickens," the author uses the king's riddle as a metaphor for the challenges we face in life. The younger brother's creative thinking and refusal to give up on finding a solution illustrate the value of persistence in the face of adversity.
Works Cited:
- Aesop. "The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed."
- Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm. "Don't Count Your Chickens."