Unit 10, Lesson 6 Portfolio Directions
Analyzing Literary Texts
Directions: In unit 10, lessons 1-5 you learned about analyzing literary texts. For this portfolio, you will write an analysis of The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed and Don’t Count Your Chickens. In many folktales, some characters are rewarded for their positive qualities or values. Other characters are punished or do not have success due to their negative qualities or values. The characters and events teach the reader a lesson about life. Please read the texts carefully before you begin the assignment.
Your portfolio must include 3 paragraphs and the following: (Use this graphic organizer to assist you in starting this assignment)
Paragraph 1: Write an intro paragraph that identifies the main characters in The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed and Don’t Count Your Chickens. Tell what life lesson or important values the younger brothers in the two stories help the readers to understand.
Paragraph 2: Explain how the qualities or values of the younger brothers in the stories are different from those of their older brothers. Use details from the stories to contrast the character traits and points of view of the younger brothers with those of their older brothers.
Paragraph 3: Explain what you think the authors want readers to learn from the younger brothers in the stories. Tell how the plot events and the authors’ use of language and literary devices support your ideas. End your paragraph with a sentence that restates the lesson or values that the characters in the stories convey to the readers.
write a 6 paragraph essay
In the folktale, The Swallow and the Pumpkinseed, the main characters are two brothers, the older brother and the younger brother. The older brother is selfish and greedy, always putting his own needs above others, while the younger brother is kind, generous, and always willing to help others. Through their actions and choices, the younger brother teaches the reader the important values of kindness, generosity, and selflessness. In contrast, the older brother’s negative qualities lead to his downfall, showing the reader the consequences of greed and selfishness.
Similarly, in Don’t Count Your Chickens, the main characters are also two brothers, the older brother and the younger brother. The older brother is lazy and irresponsible, always looking for shortcuts and easy ways out, while the younger brother is hardworking, honest, and diligent. The younger brother’s positive qualities of hard work and honesty lead to his success, while the older brother’s negative qualities of laziness and dishonesty result in his failure. Through their actions and choices, the younger brother helps the reader to understand the importance of hard work, honesty, and responsibility.
The authors of these stories want readers to learn from the younger brothers that good qualities such as kindness, generosity, selflessness, hard work, and honesty are important for success and happiness in life. The plot events in both stories demonstrate how the younger brothers’ positive qualities lead to positive outcomes, while the older brothers’ negative qualities lead to negative consequences. The authors’ use of language and literary devices, such as vivid descriptions of the characters’ actions and motivations, further emphasize the contrast between the younger and older brothers. Ultimately, the lesson that the authors convey to the readers is that kindness, generosity, hard work, and honesty are essential values to uphold in order to lead a fulfilling and successful life.