Question

Read the Native American fable "Mukumik! Mukumik! Mukumik" Then, answer the question that follows.

Pauppukkeewis was a mischievous person who played many peculiar tricks but always provided food for his family and children. However, there came a time when he and his entire family were on the verge of starvation. Despite his efforts, he couldn't find any partridges, hares, or fish due to the deep snow and prolonged storm. His lodge was near the Gitchiguma shores, where the autumn storms had created towering ice formations resembling castles.

One morning, Pauppukkeewis decided to seek mercy from the spirits inhabiting these ice castles, believing that some of the spirits of his village resided there. He followed their instructions, filled his sacks with ice and snow, and was instructed only to look back once he reached a specific hill near his lodge. He was told to leave the bags there overnight and promised they would be filled with fish by morning. Although he heard voices calling out and insulting him along the way, which were just the wind among the branches of the trees, Pauppukkeewis managed to resist the temptation to look back. The following day, he discovered that his sacks were filled with fish.

Later, when Manabozho visited Pauppukkeewis, he was curious about the abundance of food during a time of scarcity. Pauppukkeewis shared the secret and the necessary precautions. Intrigued, Manabozho decided to visit the icy castles. He followed the same steps, filling his sacks with ice and snow. However, he forgot the crucial instruction not to look back and turned his head to see who was insulting him. Although he saw no one, his disobedience reversed the charm, and his sacks remained filled with rubbish the next day. As a result, every year during March, Manabozho is cursed to run over the hills while Pauppukkeewis follows, crying out, "Mukumik! Mukumik!"

Which of the following best states the universal theme of this fable?

Forgiveness is the key to inner peace.
Having a sense of humor is a source of joy and fun.
Obedience brings rewards and disobedience leads to negative consequences.
Striving for personal excellence and continuous self-improvement is a worthwhile pursuit.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

Obedience brings rewards and disobedience leads to negative consequences.