January 5, 2015Trickster Tales

Why Monkeys Live in Trees

Homework: TSB book check this Friday, January 9th!

Oral literature test on Monday, January 12th!

ObjectiveI can evaluate characteristics of trickster tales from cultures around the

world

Warm Up:Think about the folk tale that we read before break, Aunty Misery.

In what ways was Aunty Misery a trickster?

trickster tales

a story in which an animal is personified, or takes on human characteristics, and uses intelligence and cleverness to trick or outwit an opponent.

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trickster tales typically...

have a small, weak animal as their main character who takes on a larger, stronger animal, resulting in a battle of brains vs. brawn

and now for a little background into the history behind trickster tales

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Trickster tales were often told among African-American slaves who gathered around a fire at night as a respite from the suffering, anguish and humiliation they endured during the day. Oral storytelling, a common practice in native West African communities, forged a bond among slaves who longed for reminders of the lives that they were forced to leave behind.

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Animals in trickster tales were not always honorable characters. They frequently broke the rules, were greedy, nasty and selfish, and sometimes got into trouble. Still, their role as the weak and helpless underdog who could not be intimidated by a greater strength or power paralleled the struggle between the slaves and their owners. Slaves identified with the trickster hero whose spirit could not be broken despite overwhelming odds.

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Trickster tales made heroes out of characters whose circumstances forced them to be guided by questionable values and to act accordingly. The tales face a sense of hope to slaves that they could prevail over those in power and that trickery as a form of revenge was better than hate or violence. Like other types of folk literature, trickster tales helped listeners better understand human nature.

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Now we will watch a short video. This is a trickster tale about a raven. What elements of the trickster tale do you see in this story?

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Get a brown Literature book from the back of the classroom and turn to

Why Monkeys Live in Trees

pg. 830

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So now you have heard two trickster tales. Your assignment is to work in your groups of 3-4 to come up with a one page story about your own underdog animal that outwits another animal or animals.

Think of a unique smaller animal that will serve as your main characterThink of the other larger animal / animals that your underdog will outwitThink of a CLEVER trick that the underdog could play

Remember - this is BRAINS vs. brawns so your story should not include anything painful, mean, injury-inflicting, etc. The underdog must use his / her BRAIN!