Discussion Grid for Analyzing Folktales by Lady Kofo Ademola from Benin
Folktale
Ojeje
Trader &
the Magic
Pebble
Olurombi
The
Princess
Corn
Tutu & the
Magic
Gourd
Greedy
Wife &
Magic
Spoon
To instill
values of hard
work
To instruct
about threats
and promises
To challenge
arranged
marriages
Trading cloth
in the market;
polygamy
Town of Ojeje
Lazy wife and
daughters
contrasted with
hardworking
wife and
daughter
Trading cloth
to provide for
family
Ajele market
Oluromi,
mother of Ore,
daughter
Arranged
marriages
To instruct the
virtues of
kindness and
generosity
Chief,
polygamy
To instill the
values of
domestic
chores
Polygamy,
bride wealth
Bola’s home
Rich man,
Seyi, Wife,
Bola, Young
wife, Tomi,
Bui, the
magician
Conflict
Industrious
wife vs. lazy
wife
Survival vs.
prosperity
Arranged
marriage vs.
free choice
Mowari village
Chief Dola
who had many
wives, Bimpe
the oldest wife,
Tutu the
youngest wife,
a Genie
Selfish and
greedy Bimpe
abuses Tutu
Climax
Lazy wife
pushed stepdaughter into
slavery
Industrious
wife wins the
husband
Prosperity with
a price
Contest
between Mr.
Sun and Mr.
Rain
Princess Corn
marries the
victor, Mr.
Rain
Moral
Hard work and
trading savvy
are rewarded
Don’t make
promises you
can’t keep
Magic
Brown stone
used to
communicate
with mother
and daughter
Daughter sings
Yoruba song to
communicate
with her
mother
Iroko tree can
bless
prosperity in
the market
Audience
Purpose
Cultural
Aspects
Setting
Characters
Resolution
Songs
Prosperity at
the cost of
losing her
daughter
Oluromi sings
mourning song
after losing her
daughter
Maizeland
Princess Corn,
King and
Queen of
Maizeland,
Skymen, Rain
and Sun
The contest to
win the
princess is
rewarded
Skymen, Sun
and Rain are
personified
Princess Corn
sings victory
song—all sing
and dance
Tutu leaves to
run home;
meets Genie in
the woods
Tutu receives
blessings of the
Genie; Bimpe
learns her
lesson the hard
way
Be kind and
generous to
everyone
Food thief was
stealing food
before it was
served
Spoon sticks to
Tomi’s mouth
She must
endure the
disgrace of not
learning to
cook
Learn to cook
and serve the
family
Magical gourds
Magical
powder on
spoons to catch
the thief
No songs
Tomi’s song of
weeping for the
spoon stuck to
her mouth