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10.4.127: Palatable Proverbs & Fascinating Folk Tales As a life-long learner, I will…  To activate prior knowledge and apply it to a new text  To understand the relationship between symbol and archetype  (RL.2) To make thematic connections among proverbs and folk tales  (RL.2) To consider Achebe’s purpose for using proverbs and folk tales

In your study of culture in earlier units, you have learned about the traditions and beliefs of groups of people. Traditions and beliefs are often passed from one Literary terms generation to the next orally, usually through storytelling. Proverbs and folk tales are A folk tale is a story without one part of a culture’s oral tradition. People share proverbs and folk tales in order to a known author that has express important stories, ideas, and beliefs about their culture. Proverbs and folk been preserved through oral tales are short but also entertaining and memorable. retellings.

As you read the novel Things Fall Apart, you will encounter many proverbs and folk An oral tradition is the tales that illustrate the beliefs of the Ibo people. One memorable Ibo proverb is passing down of stories, “Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten.” Discuss the proverb with tales, proverbs, and other your classmates and your teacher. What do you think it means? culturally important stories and ideas through oral Listed below are additional proverbs from Things Fall Apart. Work with your group to retellings. discuss and explain each of them.

Proverb Explanation

If a child washes his hands, he could eat with kings.

When the moon is shining, the cripple becomes hungry for a walk. Since men have learned to shoot without missing, [the bird] has learned to fly without perching. A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches. The clan was like a lizard. If it lost its tail it soon grew another. I cannot live on the bank of a river and wash my hands with spittle. A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.

In addition to proverbs, you will also encounter a number of folk tales in the novel. Literary terms A symbol is a person, place, Use the organizer below to record details about the folk tales discussed in class. Then, thing, or event that stands either copy this organizer or create your own organizer to record details about the folk for itself and also for a tales you find in Things Fall Apart, especially in Chapters 7, 9, 11, and 15. larger idea. (In other words, don’t lose this – you’re going to have to duplicated it in your notes!) An archetype is a pattern, symbol, image, or idea that recurs in literature.

Fascinating Folk Tales Characters: Setting:

Plot Summary: Symbols & Archetypes:

Meaning of the Folk Tale: Significance (reason for its retelling across generations, and its inclusion in the novel):