Oral Tradition, Part 37th Grade Literature

Background

This week’s readings consist of a Greek myth, an Arthurian legend, and a Puerto Rican folk tale.

Myths- attempt to answer basic questions about the world and are considered truthful by their originators.

Folk tales– are told primarily for entertainment and feature humans or humanlike animals.

“Narcissus”

Greek myth

Beauty is a common issue in many Greek myths, as may characters’ identities are closely tied to beauty.

Narcissus is a very vain and handsome youth who falls in love with his own reflection, believing it to be someone else.

Narcissus and the nymph, Echo, are both deceived and taught lessons in typical Greek fashion.

“Young Arthur”

A retelling of a classical medieval tale that focuses on Arthur’s belief in his heart that he was already a knight, even though no one had made him one.

The story of King Arthur is full of disguises and deceptions.

“Lazy Peter and His Three-Cornered Hat”

Puerto Rican folk tale

A trickster tale that depicts the trickster as a con man, while reflecting an admiration for cleverness.

Part 3: Flights of Imagination

Vocabulary: Write the following words in your LNb on a page titled Oral Traditions, Part 3. Then look up the meaning of the words in your glossary. You may split the list with your partner, if you wish.

Immortal rebellion

Misfortune reclaiming

Scornfully grievous

Vainly bellow

Contempt dismount

Pine inscription

Enchanted unsound

Melancholy haggle

Priceless

“Narcissus”: Sequence

Sequence is the order in which things happen.

Writers sometimes provide signal words such as first, next, last, and after to cue readers about the time at which a story even takes place.

At other times, readers must infer the sequence of events based on clues such as changes in setting

“Narcissus”and “Lazy Peter”: Irony

Irony is the difference between what we expect and what actually happens.

A situation turns out to be ironic when what happens is the opposite of what we have been led to expect. (situational)

Another kind of irony occurs when the reader of the story knows something that the characters do not know. (dramatic) The difference between what the character knows

and what the readers know creates a sense of irony, which adds to the dramatic tension in the story.

Group Discussion Questions

Why did Narcissus spurn Echo?

How did Aphrodite punish Narcissus? Why?

How did Merlin control the events of the story?

What did the farmer discover after he bought Lazy Peter’s hat?

What lessons should have been learned by the characters in these stories?