Name: _____________________________
Old Man Coyote Makes the World [Crow story of origins]”
Read the myth individually and then you can work with partners to come up with good discussion answers
for these questions.

How do you imagine Old Man Coyote? In what ways does he seem “old?” Do you imagine him a man or a
coyote or both? Do you find him likable? Do you find his actions understandable? Comic? Wise? Foolish?
Something else?

What sort of creator is he? Would you want him as your creator? If so, why? If not, why not? Do you find
the idea of a creator who takes suggestions appealing?

What are the most meaningful aspects of this story?

What moral shall we derive from the story of the Bear, and how the Crow account for some of its animal
behaviors?

What role does Old Man Coyote’s nephew play in the story? What do you make of his justification for
war? Do you think men in our culture differ radically from men in Crow culture in how they distinguish
themselves, or do you see some similarities?

What truths can we derive from the story about the roles females played in traditional Crow culture? What
is the dialogue at the end of the story about? Whose argument in that conversation do you find more
compelling, or more sympathetic?

In what ways do Corn Mother and Old Man Coyote resemble each other? In what ways are they very
different? How do you think Crow culture would compare to Penobscot culture?