WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THEM?
Traditionally they have been used to
answer some of life’s larger, more
difficult questions, such as:
 Why are we here?
 How did we get here?
 How should we live our lives?
 What happens to us after our lives
are completed?
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WHAT IS A MYTH?
a traditional story based on truth but
which may have bits added.
 The Tiger, Brahman and Jackal
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WHAT IS A FABLE?
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a traditional story of gods or heroes which tries
to explain why people or things are like they
are.
THE ANT AND THE DOVE
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An Ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and
being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the
point of drowning. A Dove sitting on a tree overhanging the
water plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to
her. The Ant climbed onto it and floated in safety to the bank.
Shortly afterwards a birdcatcher came and stood under the
tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the Dove, which sat in the
branches. The Ant, knowing what he was going to do, stung
him in the foot. In pain the birdcatcher threw down the twigs,
and the noise made the Dove take wing.
Moral
One good turn deserves another
THE TEA KETTLE FABLE
The tea kettle fable (from Japan)
 This fable is about a kettle disguised as a
badger ... or is it about a badger disguised as a
kettle?
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TEA KETTLE FABLE
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How did the abbot think about the kettle?
What did the kettle think about the fire?
Did the Abbot lie to the pedlar?
What three things didn’t the 'bager kettle' like?
Why did the 'badger kettle' do all his singing and
dancing?
What did the pedlar do that showed that he wasn't a
greedy man?
What did the monks do with the kettle?
Do you think the kettle was happy about this?
So ....... what is the moral of the story?
THE DREAMTIME
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The Dreamtime is the Aboriginal understanding
of the world, of it's creation, and it's great
stories. The Dreamtime is the beginning of
knowledge, from which came the laws of
existence. For survival these laws must be
observed.
THE MERMAID STORY
An old man, feeling unwanted, leaves his group,
and is taken to an underwater life by mermaid
spirits.
He misses his family,
and chooses to
return to life above
ground with them.
Watch the story.
THE ‘BE’
Something mysterious has been scaring the
camp. Two special brothers set out to find out
what it is.
 Watch the story.
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The main theme of this story is the importance
of kinship and identification with a community.
THE RAINBOW SNAKE
Rainbow Snake was one of the Dreamtime
creatures who had shaped the earth. In the
beginning the earth was flat, a vast barren plain.
As the Rainbow Snake wound his way across the
land, the movement of his body heaped up the
mountains and dug troughs for the rivers.
WHAT IS A LEGEND?
a short story which has been written to give a
message.
 The Abandoned Children of Wailing Wood
 What do you think is the message in this story?
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THE MESSAGE IS ...
Always try and do
the right thing
otherwise you will
have to pay for your
misdeeds.
QUESTIONS
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1. How did Robert de Grey plan to get richer?
2. How did he plan to get the children’s money?
3. Who was supposed to kill the children?
4. Was there anything for the children to eat? What?
5. Where did the children shelter?
6. What did the robins do?
7. Did the wicked uncle become wealthy?
8. What do they say happened to someone who steals a robin’s
egg in Wayland Wood?
9. What is the message in this story?
ANSWERS
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1. Robert de Grey lived at Griston Hall
2.By killing the children.
3. A bargain was made with two ruffians, for them to kidnap the
children and kill them in the nearby woods.
4. Blackberries.
5. The children sat down in the shelter of an old oak tree.
6. Covered them carefully with leaves.
7. No, his debts mounted and he was imprisoned, where he
died, penniless and alone.
8. It was believed that any person taking a robin's eggs would
come by misfortune before a year was out.
9. always try and do the right thing otherwise you will have to
pay for your misdeeds.
Title
Culture
Summary
Characters
What ‘big
question or
explanation the
story provides
Identify the narrative structure –
Orientation (sets the scene and mood, introduces
characters):
_________________________________________
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Complication (dilemma or problem that sets off the
events):
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Sequence of events (triggered by the complication):
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Resolution (climax or ending where the problem
is resolved)
:_______________________________________
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