1a. According to the narrator, how was life different in ancient Benin? What did people do for food?
2a. Who warns the people when they start being wasteful? Who is distressed when the people start killing animals?
3a. What happens to the hunter, and why? What does the woman do after cutting off a large part of the sky? What does she tell her husband? What does she realize? What do the woman, her husband, and her neighbors try to do?
4a. In what major ways do the people of ancient Benin disobey the will of Osanobua? Order their crimes from least harmful to worst, according to how they are presented in the story.
5a. Do you agree with the story's interpretation of each crime's seriousness? Which crime do you think is the worst, and why? Explain.
1b. How do you know that this is a tale out of the oral tradition?
2b. What explanation does this story offer of the origins of hunting? What is particularly shocking about the people's greedy and wasteful ways?
3b. What sort of person is the hunter? How do you know? How does the narrator feel about trying to hide things from Osanobua? How do you know?
4b. What consequences do the people experience? What punishments do they receive for their crimes? What lesson does this story intend to teach?
5b. Do you think the lesson taught in this story is still a valuable one in our society? What modern laws and rules can you think of that are similar to the "laws" or wishes of Osanobua? In your opinion, who are the people most likely to break such laws, and why would they do so?
Oral Tradition and Myth. What explanation does this myth offer? What aspect of the natural world is explained?
Motif. What golden age is described in this Yoruban myth? How is the golden age ruined?
1. Write a list of rules that Osanobua might have written for the people of ancient Benin. Use formal language that you feel is appropriate for a divine set of laws.
2. What is your opinion about people who waste natural resources? Write a statement of belief expressing your thoughts about and responses to this issue.
3. Imagine that you want to tell this myth to a friend and continue to pass it on through the oral tradition. Write a retelling of the story, using informal language such as you would use in a personal letter or conversation.
Researching Environmental Causes: What is being done to protect the natural resources in Africa? Research an organization such as Greenpeace or an Africa-specific organization that is working to protect natural resources. Ask a librarian for help, or use the Internet. On the Internet, try these web sites: http://www.greenpeace.org (the homepage for Greenpeace International); http://www.rri.org (Resource Renewal Institute); or http://www.saep.org. (Southern Africa Environment Project). Choose one organization that interests you. What is the mission of this organization? What projects is the organization currently working on? Explain what actions the organization is taking at this time and has taken in the past. Explain which of these environmental causes interests you most. If there are volunteer opportunities with this organization, find out how a person could become involved. When you have finished your research, prepare an oral report to be given to the class. <br> <b>Research Log</b>. Use this log to keep track of the sources you use, the information you find, and your reactions to what you learn. </p> <input type="hidden" name="h4" value="Study and Research"> <p> <b>Book and print sources:</b><br> <input type="hidden" name="qStudy-Book and print sources:" value=""> <textarea name="rStudyBook " rows="4" cols="30">
Internet sources:
Selected Organization:
Investigating Word Origins. The word croissant, which appears in "Why the Sky is Far Away from the Earth" is a French term meaning a flaky bread roll made in the shape of a crescent. Write down ten other words that have been adopted into the English language from other countries. Also include the definition of the word and the language in which it originated.
Examples rodeo, a public exhibition of cowboys' skill (Spanish); hamburger, a sandwich made of cooked ground beef (German)
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Making Sentences Colorful. Read the Language Arts Survey 3.36, "Adding Colorful Language to Sentences." Then, rewrite the following sentences, replacing the dull or imprecise verbs and adding or changing modifiers as indicated.
Example Felix said, "Watch out for that big dog behind you." Felix shouted, "Watch out for that enormous dog behind you!"
1. The people thought the food from the sky tasted good.
2. The gnomes were mad because the people were killing animals.
3. The (add modifier) sky was close to the people.
4. The man went into the woods to hunt for food.
5. The pregnant woman was very hungry.
6. Osanobua was sad because the people did not follow his rules.
7. The big elephant fell on the hunter.
8. The (add modifier) people kept wasting food.
9. The woman shouted when she saw what had happened to the sky.
10. The people were unhappy when they found out they would have to work to have food.
