The Spirit Chief Names the Animal People
Author: Mourning Dove.
Characters: Coyote, Fox, the great Spirit Chief, Grizzly Bear, Salmon, Eagle, Mole.
Setting: Coyote’s tepee, the great Spirit Chief’s lodge, many years ago.
Exposition: The great Spirit Chief told the animal people that everyone would have the opportunity to get a name, or change theirs, since a new kind of people was coming to the earth.
Rising action: Coyote wanted to get a new name, for he didn’t like it as nobody respected it and wanted to change his reputation. The night before the lodge, Coyote decided to stay awake so that he would be the first at the Spirits Chief’s lodge for the name he wanted.
Climax: The day of the lodge, Coyote was awakened by his wife, and immediately ran to the lodge of the Spirit Chief. But there, he found out that all the names had already been taken so he had to keep his name.
Falling action: The Spirit Chief told Coyote that his mission was to conquer the bad creatures in the earth, and to make his work easier, he gave him a special power that would help him whenever he needed it. And his twin brother, Fox, could restore his life, even if there was only one hair of his body left.
Resolution: Coyote felt good again. After that day his eyes grew slant for staying open the night before, and the Indians got their eyes from him. The wife of the Spirit Chief took the name of Sweathouse, the Warmer, because she wanted the people to have the sweat-house, for she pitied them.
New resolution: After talking to the Spirit Chief, Coyote felt good because of the power that had been given to him, but at the same time, he felt sorry for his past actions, especially with his family, and decided to go reconcile with them.
Theme: How ego affects self-esteem.
Voice: Third person.
Mood: Reflective, pitiful, gloomy.
Tone: Belligerent, irreverent, resigned.
Conflict: Man vs self Coyote’s low self-esteem and his ego.
Man vs man Coyote’s wife didn’t wake him up on time for the lodge. The Spirit Chief didn’t want him to change his name.
Man vs society Coyote was hated by everyone and often laughed at because of his own foolishness. No one wanted to take his name.
Questions:
Why didn’t Coyote like his name?
Whose name did Coyote want to take?
What did Mole ask Coyote when he arrived at the lodge the night before the naming day?
What power did the Spirit Chief give to Coyote? What did he say about Fox?
Why did no one like Coyote?
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