Conflict and Theme in World Folklore
Argon Team Language Arts
Conflict:
Theme:
VOCABULARY
The driving force behind most stories is conflict: a clash of opposing
energies. Almost all story plots feature characters trying to resolve
conflicts. If you can identify the conflicts in a story, you will find it easier
to understand the plot. You also gain insight into why the characters
behave as they do. As conflicts intensify, you may feel suspense: buildup
of excitement and curiosity about the outcome. In our assigned readings,
you will encounter five types of conflict:
 Character vs. Character
 Character vs. Self
 Character vs. Destiny
 Character vs. Society
 Character vs. Nature
Theme is the statement about life or human nature that an author wants to
make to the reader.
PLAN FOR UNDERSTANDING THEME
Step 1: Find the “big ideas” or general topics in the story
Step 2: Find out what the characters do and say that relates to the general
topics.
Step 3: Come up with a statement of the author’s point about the topic.
COMMON TOPICS FOR THEMES
childhood
courage
death
faith
family
freedom
friendship
growing up
hate
hope
identity
independence
justice
self improvement
loyalty
nature
patience
patriotism
prejudice
race relations
love
self-reliance
success
trust
truth
unhappiness
violence
war
Folklore:
Traditional literature that was passed along by word of mouth before being
written down: myths, fables, folk tales, legends
Readings:
Pages 584-585
Pages 587-592
Pages 593-596
Pages 608-609
Pages 610-611
Arrow and the Lamp – Greek Myth
Lazy Peter and His Three-Cornered Hat – Puerto
Rican Folk Tale
The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, The Travelers and
the Purse – Greek Fables
Anansi and His Visitor, Turtle – Ashanti Fable
Pages 612-614
Pages 619-621
Pages 625-629
Pages 633-635
Pages 636-639
Pages 646-647
Pages 653-659
A Blind Man Catches a Bird – Zimbabwean Folk
Tale
Phaethon – Greek Myth
Kelfala,s Secret Something – Kenyan Folk Tale
Prometheus – Greek Myth
Where the Girl Saved Her Brother – Native
American Legend
Echo and Narcissus – Greek Myth
The Fatal flower – Chinese Folk Tale
Assignments
In your composition book, please complete a profile for each piece of folklore.
 Title
 Conflict
 Theme
 Protagonist
 Antagonist
 Setting
 Climax
 Using the language of science, who or what in the story is the independent
variable?
 Using the language of science, who or what in the story is the dependent
variable?
 What is the lesson learned from this piece of folklore that can be applied
to mankind?
folklore
conflict
sear
aptitude
stench
myth
wretched
pyrethrum
sustenance
consultation
VOCABULARY QUIZ:
EXAM:
March 4 & 5
VOCABULARY
folktale
fable
infer
abode
calabash
akimbo
hover
illicit
legend
acknowledge
explicit
vexed
theme
dissuade
endow
repulsive
February 25th (1 & 3) February 27th (2 & 4)