1a. After observing that music is missing on Earth, what reason does Tezcatlipoca give for his heart being heavy with sadness?
2a. What color do the musicians who play songs for the epics of love or war wear?
3a. Ever since the time when Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl created music on Earth, what can every living thing do?
1b. What is the meaning of this reason?
2b. Why might this color have been chosen?
3b. What is meant by this?
4a. Identify what is heard on Earth before and after music is created.
4b. Predict sounds that will, in the end, be heard. What musical sounds can we hear from the earth if we listen closely?
5a. In your opinion, how believable would this myth—about the creation of music—have been to the Aztec people of the 1400s and 1500s? How believable would it be to the people in industrial countries of the world today? Explain both of your answers.
5b. The poem "Whale Breathing: Bartlett Cove, Alaska" also describes music coming into being. In what way is the description in the poem similar to that in the Aztec myth?
Myth. In "The Creation of Music," which action of a supernatural being seemed the most dramatic to you?
Setting. How is the setting on the sun created? How is the setting of the universe created?
1. Write a fortune cookie insert for Quetzalcoatl that predicts where Tezcatlipoca will send him.
2. Imagine you are a person living on Earth who lived at a time when music was created. For readers of history, write a descriptive paragraph about how the coming of music changed you.
3. Write a new myth for children everywhere about how the sun was created.
Writing Sentences Using Context Clues. Read the Language Arts Survey 1.16, "Using Context Clues to Estimate Word Meaning." Then, write one sentence that uses context clues for each of the following Words for Everyday Use. Four of your eight sentences should include restatements and four should include appositions.
1. disposition
2. lash
3. ominous
4. raucous
5. reluctant
6. tempestuous
7. torrential
8. turbulent
Figure of Speech. A figure of speech is a statement that has more than a straightforward, literal meaning. Hyperbole, metaphor, personification, and simile are all figures of speech. A hyperbole is an exaggeration made for effect. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken or written about as if it were another. This figure of speech invites the reader to make a comparison between the two things. Personification is a figure of speech in which something not human is described as if it were human. A simile is a comparison using the word like or as. See examples below:
Examples Hyperbole: The mile-high ice cream cones slowly melted. Metaphor: The bulldozer in the group of men finally lowered his voice. Personification: As we approached, the river murmured a greeting. Simile: The diamond glittered like a star.
Indicate and label the figures of speech in the following phrases and sentences from "The Creation of Music":
1. The storm clouds swallowed Sun, Father of All Life, who drowned like a flaming beast.
2. Yet, in spite of such beauty, Earth is sick with sadness!
3. "You must travel high above to the roof of the universe."
4. They remained in frozen silence in obedience to the wishes of flaming Sun, like a colorful array of dancers suspended in the midst of their dance.
5....flocks of black storm clouds rumbled ominously toward the house of Sun...
6. Even Wind was now happy.
7. He [Wind] now sang along with the rest of all life...
8. Mighty roars of thunder poured from the great god's throat, engulfing the house of Sun in torrential sound.
9. ...the musicians and singers flew into the lap of Wind...
10. Wind shouted again, more harshly, "Come, musicians! Come, singers!"
Listening to the World Around You. Use the following chart to document the sounds you hear as you walk around your school.
Summary Report: Imagine that you work as an archeologist for the National Museum of Mexico. For thirty years, your work has concentrated on uncovering the remains of the Aztec people at the height of their civilization. You have been asked by the museum to prepare a summary report that includes a listing of the types of findings (for example: bones, tools) that have been excavated so far and the conclusions that have been made from those items. Research to learn about as many types of such findings and conclusions as possible. Use resources from your school's media center as well as the Internet. Then, write your report for the museum. Research Log. Use this log to keep track of the sources you use, the information you find, and your reactions to what you learn.
Internet sources:
Books and other print sources:
Notes:
