“The Coyote and the Buffalo”a trickster tale retold by Mourning DoveDO NOW: Define a villain. What characteristics does a villain have to have to be considered a villain? What actions do they need to take? Are there any examples of sympathetic villains (villains you feel sorry for)? Describe.

Read the notable quote in the corner of page 42. What does Mourning Dove mean by what she says? After reading her biography, what do you think her purpose or mission is?

Trickster Tales• Feature an animal or human

character that engages in deceit, violence or magic•Tricksters are mythic and explain how some aspects of human nature came to be•Some trickster tales are about weak people or tiny animalsoutwitting their stronger enemies

Setting takes place in the distant past or a timeless place.

desert

jungle forest

There is usually a problem anda solution to the problem.

"Coyote takes water from the Frog people... because it is not right that one people have all the water."

Trickster Characters in Different Cultures:

Greek: Eris (goddess of chaos), Hermes (god of thieves and travelers), Prometheus (stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans)

Eris is partly responsible for the Trojan war.Hermes played tricks on the gods and mortals; ally of the Greeks in the Trojan war and “bringer of luck” to the soldiers.

Nordic: Loki – sometimes assists the gods, sometimes hinders; shape-shifter; his murder of Baldr bring about the end of the world. Father of Hel (goddess of the underworld), Fenrir (a wolf beast), and the Midgard serpent.

Native American: coyote, raven (also associated with battle and death), fox, Iktomi the spiderWest Africa: Anansi the spider

Many of Aesop’s Fables deal with trickster animal characters, such as the story of the “Fox and the Grapes”

Trickster Tales in the Library

Characteristics of Tricksters are Contradictory

•Foolish and clever•Greedy and helpful•Immoral and moral•Creative and destructive

Think of a movie or book where the villain is more compelling than the hero. What qualities does such a villain display? Which of these traits contribute most to his/her appeal?

What is the difference between being mischievous and being evil?

Why do these trickster characters appeal to so many cultures? Why are they likeable and unlikeable at the same time?

Coyote and the BuffaloWhat does the Coyote find in

the second paragraph?How does he respond?What do you think about his actions and motivation?

What do you think about Buffalo Bull and his actions? Does he seem justified and reasonable?

What trickster qualities does the Coyote exhibit in the story?

Explain.•Desecrates the dead body of his enemies (immoral)•Calls on his helper spirit to grow some trees in his way to climb (magic)•Convinces Buffalo to le him smoke before he dies (clever)•Gives the Buffalo new horns (creator, generous)•Kills the cow (greedy, destroyer)

Have you ever tried to talk your way out of a difficult situation?

Did it work? How does this experience help you understand

how the Coyote feels?How does the Coyote use his wiles to try to maniupulate Buffalo Bull?

•Calls him “friend” and “uncle”•Offers to share his pipe•Makes new horns

What does Coyote receive from Buffalo Bull in return for the horns? Will he listen to the restrictions associated

with the gift?

He is greedy and selfish; lives by his own rules.

What happens when the Coyote breaks the rules and eats attempts to eat the marrow bones? Is he able to enjoy his

meal? What lesson may this be trying to teach the reader?How would you characterize the old woman? Who does she remind

you of?

She is a trickster. Flatters the coyote to get his marrow-fat. Calls him “brave warrior” and “great chief” that should not do woman’s work.

Which do you think is more of a villain, the old woman or the

Coyote? Why?What are some lessons this story teaches? Both the old woman and the Coyote use flattery to deceive. What message about flattery is the story conveying?

Stories give the reader insight into the culture that they come from. What did you learn about: The traits and qualities the Okanogan admire and disapprove of

Okanogan rituals and religious beliefs

Traditional role of women

Warrior culture (leaders displaced by stronger ones) – Buffalo.Favored tricksters and taught their children the benefits of lies in difficult situations. Respected intellect and cunning.

Smoking pipes, spirit helpers – both assist and scold Coyote (a guiding force in life), reincarnation – Buffalo Bull comes back from the dead

Women did the cooking and housekeeping – old woman’s comments

What do you have in common with Native Americans?