Plots Analysis
Coyote Steals the Sun and Moon (Page 903)
Characters: The Coyote and the Eagle
Setting: In the darkness of a forest, in New Mexico, Arizona. After, they would arrive at the pueblo, where the Kachinas danced. Where the summer and winter were created before humans existed, probably.
Plot:
Exposition: The Coyote was a bad hunter, so he decided to pair up with the Eagle to have in off meat to eat. However, while the Eagle caught many rabbits, the coyote could only catch some bugs. So, the coyote said it was due to the poor light.
Rising action: The Eagle said that there might be some light towards the west. The coyote swam through the river and the eagle flew over it. At last, they arrived at a village. The Eagle believed that the Kachinas had some light; After looking around, they found one small box and another larger box. These were used by the people when they needed light. They decided to steal them. The Eagle took the large box and flew, while the Coyote tried to keep up. The coyote wanted to carry the box and after asking for the fourth time the Eagle accepted.
Climax: The Coyote promised not to open it. However, the coyote had curiosity about what was inside. He opened the lid’s box and there was the sun and moon. As soon as it was opened, the moon flew high into the sky; So, winter appeared. The Coyote tried to catch the moon, while the sun flew away.
Falling action: The Eagle went back to see what had delayed the coyote. When he arrived, he noticed what had happened, and he put all the fault into the coyote’s shoulders.
Resolution: The story ends by saying that if it wasn’t because of the Coyote’s curiosity winter would’ve never arrived.
Conflict:
Man vs man: Coyote vs Eagle. The coyote paired up with the eagle for food. After noticing that he wasn’t catching anything but bugs, he excused his poor hunting with the poor light. They arrived at the village and stole. The Eagle gave the Coyote the box with a condition that wasn’t followed; The coyote disobeyed and caused a natural disaster.
Kachinas vs the Coyote and Eagle: If the animals hadn’t stolen from the Kachinas, the winter would’ve never come.
Man vs self: Coyote vs his curiosity and clumsiness. From the beginning of the story, the fact that it is a bad hunter and even clumsy is stated. The same clumsiness makes the Eagle doubt, still he decided to trust him. At the end of the story, the winter came because of the mischief made by the coyote and his curiosity. This didn’t only affect him, but everyone in the world.
Man vs nature: Coyote vs the darkness. As previously mentioned, the reason why they looked for light, was because of the Coyote saying everything was too dark. After, Coyote vs Winter is evidenced. The Coyote let the moon and sun escape, which produced a disbalance in nature. Winter made the Coyote shiver and the summer nature died.
Man vs. Superpower: Coyote vs the sun and the moon. The sun and the moon are astrological bodies that have the power of heating the planet Earth and with the Earth’s tilt the Sun is partly responsible for the change of seasons. However, no one can have the power to change the seasons physically. That means that: First, the Kachinas (In fact, they were supernatural beings themselves) had the power of controlling those seasons, and second it is a folk story that represents the power that the sun and the moon have.
Man vs Society: The coyote did something irreversible that would affect human, animal and plant life.
Theme: The curiosity killed the cat. The main theme of this folktale is the origin of the universe and natural occurrences (The creation of winter). As well as, respecting nature and its balance.
Mood: Mischievous, foolish, suspenseful and foreboding.
Tone: Subjective, descriptive, pragmatic and eloquent.
Voice: Third person limited
Alternate ending:
After running for hours, the Eagle finally caught the sun. But the moon was still up in the sky.; the Sun was kept in the box and given to the Kachinas, who tried to control the sun’s brightness and share it when it was needed. Time went by and the moon lost the dim tightness that it had. At that moment, the Sun escaped from the box and flew to the sky; While, the moon went back to the box. The phenomenon happened once or twice a year. Being the reason for the change of seasons.
Questions
Why couldn’t the Coyote hunt properly?
What did the Eagle and Coyote find? Who was it from?
Do you think the eagle should’ve let the Coyote carry the box?
How was the moon and sun carried?
What caused winter according to the story?
The Spirit Chief Names the Animal People (Mourning Dove)
Characters: The Coyote (Imitator or Sin-ka-lip), The Spirit Chief, Mole (the mound Digger, the Fox and the new people (Indians).
Setting: It happened before the creation of humans, in the Spirit Chief’s lodge in the morning. As well as the Coyote’s place. The historical background comes from one of the Native American Myths.
Plot:
Exposition: The Great Spirit called the animal people from all parts of the world, to tell them new people were coming to the Earth, and some people were going to have their name changed or put. This by order of arrival, until the names were over. The Animal People were very excited, including the Coyote; Who wanted to change his name from Imitator to one of the biggest names and granted one of the most important works, being a leader.
Rising action: The coyote wanted the name: Grizzly Bear, Salmon or Eagle. He told his brother (the Fox) about it, but his brother didn’t believe in him. The Coyote stalked off to his tepee, because he told himself he was going to stay awake, until the next morning. When he arrived, his children were hungry and his wife (a loyal Mole) said that there was nothing to eat, since she couldn’t find any roots to dig. He said that she was growing old and was no longer a homely wife for a chief warrior. She just turned around and prepared food for the children.
The coyote sat watching the fire, he was falling asleep. So, he decided to brace his eyelids apart with two sticks, nevertheless he fell asleep. The next morning he woke up, but it was already past daybreak. His wife didn’t arise him, because she was scared of losing her husband.
Climax: The coyote walked into the lodge and asked the Spirit Chief to give him one of the names previously mentioned. However, the Spirit Chief explained that they were all taken and he was the only one left. That Person was deeply moved, therefore he said that he was now the chief in charge of conquering the People-Devouring Monsters. He was going to be praised by the people there and that came afterward but despised for his actions.
Falling action: The entity also gave him power to transform himself to any form he wanted. After that day, his eyes grew slant from the night and the Indians got his eyes from the Coyote.
Resolution: After the Coyote had gone, the Spirit Chief’s wife took the name of Sweathouse- Quil’sten, The Warmer. She wanted a place where people could purify themselves. Thus, the ribs, frames and bones of the sweat house represent the spirit. She’s a spirit that is always near but cannot be seen.
Conflict:
Man vs nature: The Coyote vs human development and sleep. The story explains that the reason why Indians had slant eyes, was because of the Coyote’s sleep and using sticks to keep them open; But, he still fell asleep due to his natural need of rest.
Man vs superpower: The spirit chief, That Person and the Coyote. The Coyote, unfortunately, couldn’t get the name he wanted. But that Person and the Spirit Chief gave him a more important task and a special magic power. This power could allow him to turn into whomever he wanted, and his brother could restore his life, with even only one hair in his body.
Man vs man: Coyote vs his wife (the Moal). The Coyote’s wife was always mistreated by her own husband; Though, she was always loyal, respectful, and never got jealous. In fact, the Mole didn’t raise the Coyote, because she was scared of him leaving her, if he became a powerful chief.
Man vs society: Coyote vs what people thought of him. The rest of the Animal people didn’t respect the Coyote’s name (Imitator). Also , he had no friends either; Since, he always smartly talked and did foolish actions. Personally, I feel like the rest of the Animal People should've helped him to improve as a person instead of ignoring or avoiding him, because this caused the desire of changing his name. At the end of the story, Hah-hah’ Eel-me said that he was going to be praised by some, but despised by his actions
Man vs self: Coyote vs the desire of power and a new name. The Coyote affirmed that he wanted another name. After, he said that he wanted one of the three chief names, meaning that he wanted the power that came with each name. In this case, the Coyote was fighting against who he was and what he wanted to be, or be seen as. He wanted to change his identity to a certain degree.
Theme: The story explains the origin of how the animals got their names, and the origin of the Indian’s slant eyes.
Moral: The desire of supremacy and changing identities is not positive. Each person has a different purpose in life.
Mood: The mood of the story is hopeful, realistic, inspiring and empathetic, however the protagonist behaviors can cause dislike and a bittersweet feeling.
Tone: The tone is diplomatic(meaning that is subtle and sensitive), honest, supportive, powerful, descriptive and eloquent.
Voice: Third person limited
Alternate resolution
The Coyote arrived at the lodge, and even though the name that he wanted was already taken, the Spirit Chief gave him the name of Clever-Ruler of the forest. His work was keeping the peace of the forests. At first, he was doing a good job, but soon jealousy, the desire of power, his smart talk and unlikable personality; Started to take over his ruling, and instead of peace there was permanent silence and suspicion in the air. The Spirit Chief decided to revoke his power and gave him his old name back (Imitator). The Coyote was mad, he wanted his power back. The Spirit Chief said that being the conqueror of People-Devouring Monsters was equally important, and a job made for him and his qualities.
Questions
Why did the Coyote want to change his name?
How was the Mole treated by the Coyote? Was it fair?
Was the Coyote’s name accurate (The name Imitator)?
Who was the Sweat house in the story?
What power was given to the Coyote?
By Natalia Pérez Samudio, Step 8 Yellow
