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Oni and the Great Bird 209

LITERARY FOCUS: MOTIFS IN FOLK TALESA motif (m£·t≤f√) is a feature that is repeated in stories throughout the

world. Think for a moment about stories you heard during your child-

hood. Chances are that quite a few of those stories involved magic, vil-

lains, and quests to save a kingdom from destruction. Among the most

popular motifs in folk tales is the superhero. Read on, and meet the

superhero featured in the Yoruban folk tale “Oni and the Great Bird.”

READING SKILLS: SUMMARIZINGWhen you summarize a text, you extract only the most important ideas

or events. A summary is different from a paraphrase, in which all the

ideas in a text are restated. Summarizing is a useful tool. By summariz-

ing, you identify the heart of a text and clarify who’s who and what’s

what.

You’ll be asked to summarize “Oni and the Great Bird” after you read

it. You may want to take notes on a chart like this one to prepare for

that summary.

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Oni and the Great Bird retold by Abayomi Fuja

Literary SkillsUnderstandmotifs.

Reading SkillsSummarize.

VocabularySkillsClarify meaningsby using contrast.

Notes for Summary

Main Characters

Conflict(s)

Main Events

Story’s Ending

210 Collection 6 / Our Literary Heritage: Greek Myths and World Folk TalesPart 1

implored (im·plôrd√) v.: asked or begged.

The old man implored Oni to do nothing dangerous.

commenced (k¥·menst√) v.: began.

Oni commenced to sing only when the eagleflew near.

invincible (in·vin√s¥·b¥l) adj.: unbeatable.

No one could beat invincible Oni.

hovered (huv√¥rd) v.: hung in the air.

The great bird flew in and hovered above them.

impostor (im·päs√t¥r) n.: person who

pretends to be someone or something

that he or she is not.

The hunter who claimed to have done Oni’sdeeds was an impostor.

PREVIEW SELECTION VOCABULARYGet to know the following words before you begin “Oni and the

Great Bird.”

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CLARIFYING WORD MEANINGS: CONTRASTWhen trying to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word, you

might try a couple of strategies. Looking for a familiar word or word

part within the unfamiliar word and looking for a restatement of the

word are good strategies. Here’s another good strategy: As you read

“Oni and the Great Bird,” look at the context to see if the writer gives

a clue by telling what the word is not.

In these examples, the italicized passages provide context clues for

the boldface words.

• Kuki, never one to give up, was relentless in her pursuit of the

Junior Miss title.

• Vibrant colors, not pale pastel colors, were chosen for the baby’s

room.

• Unlike the new cars on the lot, the jalopy was ignored by the

customers.

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Yoruban, retold by Abayomi Fuja

There was once a strange boy called Oni who was born

wearing a pair of boots. As Oni grew, the boots grew also.

When he was a boy of eighteen years of age, war broke out

between his people and another village. It was during the

battle that Oni made a second discovery about himself,

which separated him from his fellow men and made him

different. The enemy arrows did not seem to harm him.

Many pierced his body, which in the ordinary course of

events should have slain him. The other young men noticed

this too. They already regarded Oni as strange because of

his wonderful boots, but when they discovered that he

could not be killed, they were afraid to have him near

them. When he returned from the war, several people tried

to kill him in various ways but without any success. Finding

10

From “Oni and the Great Bird” from Fourteen Hundred Cowries: Traditional Stories of the Yoruba, collectedby Abayomi Fuja. Copyright © 1962 by Oxford University Press.

Re-read lines 1–14. Underlinethe details that describe theway Oni differs from theother boys.

Pause at line 14. Why do youthink Oni is able to escapedeath?

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this did not work, it was decided to find an excuse to ban-

ish him. He was accused of setting a house on fire in the

village, and although Oni had nothing to do with the fire,

he was found guilty and banished.

Oni wandered alone on foot for a long time. One

afternoon he came to the banks of a great river, and finding

an empty canoe and feeling tired of walking, he got into the

boat and made his way downstream. Towards evening,

when it was growing dark, Oni reached a town and decided

to pull into the bank and spend the night there. There were

the sounds of many bells being rung and people seemed to

be in a hurry. Oni tied up the canoe and climbed the bank,

and as he did so, he met an old man. “Good evening, my

friend. My name is Oni. I am a stranger to your town and

have nowhere to spend the night. Will you take me to your

house?” Oni asked the old man.

“Yes, certainly, come along with me, but we must go

quickly because the bells are ringing and it is growing

dusk,” replied the old man.

“What is the name of your town and why do your peo-

ple ring bells on the approach of darkness?” asked Oni.

“People call this place Ajo, but hurry up, we must get

indoors. I will explain the bells to you when we are inside,”

replied the old man.

When they reached the old man’s house, they found

his people waiting anxiously for him at the door. The bells

had now stopped ringing and they were hurried inside and

the door was securely fastened.

“Now,” said the old man, “sit down and eat with us

and I will explain. For many years now we, the people of

Ajo, have been troubled by the nightly arrival of a giant

eagle. We call it Anodo. It always appears on the approach

of darkness and stays until the approach of dawn. Anybody

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Pause at line 38. Why are thepeople in such a hurry? Whatdo you think the bells mightbe signaling?

Pause at line 18. Why did thepeople of the village banishOni?

who is unfortunate enough to be out of doors at the time

of its appearance is sure to be killed by it. You were very

fortunate, young man, to reach Ajo before darkness. Our

king has ordered the ringing of bells to warn the people to

return to their homes and lock the doors. None of us knows

where the eagle comes from or where it goes when it leaves

us at dawn. It is a terrible curse, and in the past it has killed

many of our people.”

The old man had hardly finished speaking when Oni

heard the sound of great wings flapping over the house. It

sounded like a great wind, and the windows and doors

shook in their frames.

“It must be a very great bird,” remarked Oni. After Oni

had fed, the old man gave him a mat and a cloth and he lay

down to sleep in the corner of the room. Sleep would not

come to Oni, however, for he heard the constant noise of

the great eagle’s wings as it flew to and fro over Ajo.

When morning had come and the eagle had departed,

Oni thanked the old man for his kindness and set out to find

the king of Ajo and to ask for an audience.1 It was granted.

“My name is Oni and I am a stranger to your town. I

have come to offer my services in helping to rid this town

of the eagle Anodo,” said Oni.

“And what makes you think you will succeed where so

many others have tried and failed?” asked the king.

“I have certain powers and juju,”2 said Oni.

“So had the others. One by one all my hunters have

tried and have been killed or carried off by Anodo. Strangers

have come from time to time to offer their services, but

they too have perished. It is some time now since anybody

has tried to kill Anodo, and I have issued orders to my

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1. audience n.: here, formal interview with a person of high rank.2. juju n.: magic charms used by some West African tribes; the magic of

such charms.

Pause at line 67. What is Onigoing to ask the king?

In lines 43–55, the old mantells about Anodo, the fiercebird that is terrorizing thevillage. What other stories doyou know that feature themotif of terrible beasts?

The word great (line 60) hasseveral meanings. In this context, it means “huge” or“enormous.”

remaining hunters not to try, as enough of them have been

killed already,” said the king.

“Have you ever offered a reward to anybody who could

succeed in killing the bird?” asked Oni.

“Indeed, yes. The man who succeeds will have half my

kingdom. I made that offer long ago,” replied the king.

“Then I will try tonight,” answered Oni, and he paid

his respects to the king and departed.

Oni returned to the old man’s house and told him what

had happened and of his intention to challenge Anodo. The

old man was very frightened and implored him to give up

the idea, for he would only perish and perhaps all those in

the house too. But Oni was not frightened. He took his bow

and arrows and knives and examined them carefully.

It seemed ages to Oni before he heard the bells ringing.

Never had he known a longer day in his life. The old man

was uneasy and his people were almost hostile towards Oni.

When they heard the bells ringing at last, they lost no time

in fastening the doors and windows and ordered Oni to lie

down on his mat and keep quiet.

Presently they heard the noise of a great wind, which

heralded the approach of Anodo. Soon the great wings

were above the house. Oni waited till the great bird was

overhead and then he commenced to sing:

Tonight Oni will be at war with Anodo,

The eagle whose talons are sharper than knives,

For now the knives of nature and man will meet.

Oni is invincible; his knife is sharp.

Anodo heard the challenge as he hovered over the house,

and circling slowly round, he came back and sang:

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implored (im·plôrd√) v.: askedor begged.

commenced (k¥·menst√) v.:began.

invincible (in·vin√s¥·b¥l) adj.:unbeatable.

hovered (huv√¥rd) v.: hung inthe air.

Pause at line 106. Why doesOni sing a song when Anodoflies over the old man’shouse?

Re-read lines 87–92. Describethe different attitudes Oniand the old man’s familyhave about Anodo.

Ah, fortune, I have found a victim tonight,

I have lived many months without a kill,

Will the singer come out and feel the sharpness

Of my talons and of my beak? It will take me

A moment to tear him to pieces. Come out.

All the people in the house were terrified. They seized Oni

and threw him out of the house, fearing the vengeance of

Anodo on them all.

As they threw Oni out into the road, Anodo swooped

down and, seizing him in his talons, drew him upwards.

Oni slashed the eagle in the chest with his knife and the

eagle dropped him with a scream. Oni fell to the ground,

dazed. He picked himself up as the huge bird descended

once again. He had time to use his bow and discharge an

arrow into Anodo before the wounded bird beat him to the

ground with his great wings and pecked him severely. Again

Oni’s knife tore at the eagle, and he buried it twice in

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Read the boxed passagealoud several times. Usepunctuation clues to guideyour reading. As you readthis chant, or song, use athreatening tone, as fits the story.

Pause at line 116. Banishmentis a common motif in folktales. This is the second timein the story that Oni hasbeen thrown out of a place.Why was he banished fromthe old man’s house?

A decorated silo supports the thatched roof of a home inToro, Nigeria.

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Anodo. Slowly the eagle beat his great wings and rose slow-

ly into the air; then he hovered for a last terrible dive on

Oni. Oni watched him and, putting an arrow in his bow,

took aim. The great bird hovered; then with a terrible noise

he tore down on the boy, gathering speed as he came. There

was a great roar of wind as he came down. Oni discharged

a second arrow, then another and another in quick succes-

sion, but still the bird came on. A moment later it had hit

Oni and knocked him over. The boy rolled over, a thousand

lights dancing before his eyes; then all went blank, and he

felt himself sinking down and down into a bottomless pit.

He was knocked unconscious and had not seen that the

great bird was already dead before it struck him. Its great

wings swept the boy to one side, and it plunged on into a

cotton tree, which snapped like a twig and came crashing

down to bury the eagle and Oni under a mass of leaves.

When Oni recovered, he felt very weak, and it was all

he could do to free himself from the great wing of the dead

Anodo and the cotton tree leaves. As he struggled, one of

his magic boots came off and remained stuck beneath the

dead bird. He was very weak and with great difficulty stag-

gered along till he reached the edge of the river; then Oni

fainted again.

Early next morning the people came out to see the

dead Anodo lying in the broken cotton tree. There was

great rejoicing and drumming and the king soon appeared

with his chiefs to view the wonderful sight. “Who is the

great man who killed Anodo?” he asked. One of his hunters

stepped forward and, prostrating3 himself on the ground,

claimed that he was responsible for the deed.

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3. prostrating (präs√tr†t≈i«) v. used as adj.: throwing oneself on theground to show humility and submission, a traditional gesture ofrespect toward rulers in many cultures.

Following the battle, Oniloses one of his boots (lines144–148). In what way mighthe be affected? Will he gethis boot back?

Take a moment to summa-rize the events of the battle(lines 117–141).

“Then you will be rewarded generously, for I have

promised to give half my kingdom to the man who killed

Anodo and it is yours,” replied the king.

There was great rejoicing and dancing and the hunter

was carried to the king’s palace and feasted. A very bedrag-

gled figure then appeared; his clothes were torn and one of

his boots was missing. It was Oni.

“Ah,” said the king, “here is the stranger who calls him-

self Oni and who came yesterday to announce his intention

of killing the eagle. You come too late, my friend, I fear.”

“I killed Anodo. This man is an impostor and a liar,”

said Oni.

There was whispering between the king and his chiefs.

At last he said, “Very well, you claim to have killed Anodo.

What proof have you got to offer?”

“You see my condition,” replied Oni, “but if you

require further proof, send your men out to clear away the

dead eagle and the broken cotton tree. Somewhere under-

neath you will find one of my boots.”

The king ordered his men to go at once and search for

the boot. After some little time the men returned. They car-

ried Oni’s magic boot. “We found it underneath the dead

eagle’s wing,” they announced to the king.

“Now if you are still undecided and disbelieve my

story, will you ask everybody to try on the boot and see if it

fits,” said Oni.

The king ordered everybody to try to see if they could

fit the boot to their feet. Strange to relate, although it looked

a perfectly normal boot, nobody could manage to put it on.

When they had all tried without success, the boot was

placed before the king and Oni stepped forward and said:

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Pause at line 162. Will Onichallenge the person whoclaims to have defeatedAnodo? Give reasons foryour answer.

In lines 179–181, Oni pro-poses that the people of thekingdom try on the boot tosee who it fits—to see whoits rightful owner is. Can youthink of a popular fairy talethat shares this motif?

impostor (im·päs√t¥r) n.:person who pretends to besomeone or something thathe or she is not.

Boot from Heaven—boot from Heaven,

Go on to your master’s foot.

Immediately, the boot started to move from before the king

and fitted itself onto Oni’s foot of its own accord. The peo-

ple and the king were convinced of the truth of Oni’s

claims and marveled greatly and were very delighted and

grateful for his brave deed. The dishonest hunter was taken

out and executed, and Oni received the promised reward.

That night, for the first time for many years, the bells

of Ajo did not sound the curfew. Instead, the streets were

full of happy, dancing people.

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Summarize what has hap-pened in the story from theend of the battle to the endof the story.

This folk tale has a happyending for both Oni and thepeople of Ajo. What has Onigained through his deeds?What have the people of Ajogained?


Oni and the Great Bird

Motif Map Character types, events, and other features common tostories from around the world are called motifs. “Oni and the Great Bird”contains many motifs, among them the motif of the superhero. Thegraphic that follows lists several characteristics of the superhero. Locatestory details that relate to each characteristic, and write them in thecircles below.

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Literary SkillsAnalyze thesuperhero motif.

Strange

powers:

Superhero:

Oni

Feared by

ordinary

humans:

Mysterious

birth:

Magic tools

or clothing:

Skills ReviewSkills Review


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VocabularySkills

Clarify meaningsby usingcontrast.

Oni and the Great Bird

VOCABULARY AND COMPREHENSION

A. Clarifying Word Meanings: Contrast Fill in the blanks with the

correct Word Bank word. Use contrast clues to help you.

1. Impossible to defeat, the warrior triumphed over

his enemy.

2. Setting aside her pride, the starving woman the

town to provide hunger relief.

3. It was not over after all. The play had just when we

arrived.

4. Unlike most birds, which fly quickly by, this bird just

above my head.

5. “He’s not the real hero,” the people cried. “He’s an !”

B. Reading Comprehension Answer each question below.

1. Why is Oni forced to leave his village at the beginning of the story?

2. How does the king of Ajo react to Oni’s offer to fight Anodo?

3. Who wins the fight between Oni and Anodo?

4. How does Oni prove that the hunter who claims to have killed Anodo

is an impostor?

implored

commenced

invincible

hovered

impostor

Word BankWord Bank

Answer Key 23

Page 203PREDICTPredictions will vary. Possible predictions: Her planwill work because she is a goddess and has powerover mortals; her plan won’t work becauseMetaneira, Demophoon’s mother, will not allow him to be taken away.

IDENTIFYTo transform Demophoon into an immortal,Demeter anoints him with ambrosia, nourishes himwith her breath, and places him in the red-hot ashesof the fireplace to sleep.

Page 204IDENTIFY CAUSE & EFFECTMetaneira becomes suspicious because of Demeter’sstrange behavior. The effect is that one night,Metaneira leaves open Demeter’s door and watchesas Demeter places the baby in the hot ashes.

IDENTIFY CAUSE & EFFECTThe following details explain the effect of Demeter’sneglect of her duties as harvest goddess: “The greedybirds had a feast off the seed corn that season; or if itstarted to sprout, sun baked it and rains washed itaway. Nothing would grow”; “As the gods lookeddown, they saw threatening the earth a famine”;“Even the offerings to the gods were neglected bydespairing men who could no longer spare anythingfrom their dwindling stores.”

Page 205CLARIFYDemeter will resume her duties as harvest goddessonly if Persephone is restored to her from the king-dom of the dead.

INFERPossible response: Persephone has not come toaccept her fate. She is pale and sad, and she hasn’ttaken anything to eat or drink since coming to theland of the dead.

Page 206PREDICTPredictions will vary. Possible responses: Hades maybe trying to poison Persephone; Hades may be cast-ing a love spell on Persephone so that she won’t wantto leave him.

IDENTIFY CAUSE & EFFECTBecause Persephone ate seven pomegranate seeds,for seven months of the year the trees shed theirleaves, cold comes, and the earth lies still and dead.

IDENTIFYThis origin myth explains the causes of the earth’sseasons.

■ Possible Answers to Skills Practice

Cause-and-Effect Chart (page 207)Cause: Zeus agrees to let Hades take Persephone as

his wife. Effect: Demeter wanders the earth inmourning for Persephone.

Cause: Demeter neglects her duties as harvest god-dess. Effect: Nothing grows on earth.

Cause: Persephone eats seven pomegranate seeds.Effect: Persephone has to live with Hades forseven months of every year.

Answers will vary. Possible response: This mythexplains what causes the seasons on earth. It is not aconvincing explanation because we know that theseasons are caused by the earth’s position as itrevolves around the sun.

■ Possible Answers to Skills Review

Comprehension (page 208)A. 1. False

2. False3. True4. True5. False

B. Understanding Cause and Effect1. Hades gets Zeus to allow him to take

Persephone as his wife. Persephone isabducted by Hades while she picks flowerswith the maidens.

2. Nothing grows on earth.3. For seven months of each year, Persephone

must live with Hades. She can live withDemeter the other five months.

Oni and the Great Bird, page 209

Page 211IDENTIFYOni differs from the other boys because he was bornwearing a pair of boots that grew with him. He laterdiscovered that he couldn’t be killed. Arrows piercedhis body during battle, but they had no effect onhim.

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24 The Holt Reader: Teacher’s Manual

INFERPossible answer: Oni’s boots have magic powers thatprevent him from being killed.

Page 212IDENTIFYThe village people banished Oni because they wereafraid to have him near them. They feared himbecause he couldn’t be killed.

PREDICTAnswers will vary. Possible response: The peoplemay be in a hurry because they fear something evilthat comes out at dark. The bells are warning peopleto get in their houses before dark.

Page 213CONNECTAnswers will vary. Students may think of a Godzillamovie or the story of Count Dracula.

PREDICTAnswers will vary. Possible response: Oni is going toask the king if he can stay out at night and challengeAnodo. Oni isn’t afraid because he knows he can’t be killed.

Page 214COMPARE & CONTRASTThe old man is afraid that not only Oni but alsoeveryone in the old man’s house might be killed byAnodo. Oni isn’t afraid; he begins to examine hisweapons.

INTERPRETAnswers will vary. Possible response: Oni wantsAnodo to know that he is going to fight him. Oni isteasing Anodo, goading him into fighting.

Page 215IDENTIFYOni was thrown out of the old man’s house becausethe people in the house were terrified. They wereafraid Anodo would take vengeance on the entirehousehold because of Oni’s threat.

Page 216SUMMARIZEAnodo swoops down and grabs Oni, but Oni stabsAnodo, and Anodo drops him. Anodo returns againto grab Oni, and Oni shoots an arrow into him.Anodo knocks Oni down and pecks him severely.Then Oni stabs Anodo twice with his knife. As theeagle dives toward Oni one last time, Oni fires fourarrows into the bird. Anodo’s dead body slams intoOni and knocks him unconscious.

PREDICTAnswers will vary. Possible response: Oni will nolonger be invincible. He probably won’t get the bootback. Someone in the town might take the boot.

Page 217PREDICTAnswers will vary. Possible responses: Oni will beafraid to challenge the person because he has onlyone of his magic boots; Oni will challenge the per-son because he knows the truth—that he killedAnodo.

CONNECTThe fairy tale “Cinderella” shares this motif.

Page 218SUMMARIZEPossible summary: Oni loses one of his boots as hedrags himself from under the dead eagle. Meanwhile,an impostor claims to have killed Anodo. Oni callsthe person a liar and says the proof—his missingboot—can be found under the dead eagle. When theboot is found, everyone tries it on but no one canwear it. Oni makes the boot go back on his foot, andthe king gives Oni half his kingdom. The people ofAjo are grateful to Oni.

INTERPRETBesides gaining half the king’s kingdom, Oni hasgained the gratitude and friendship of all the peoplein Ajo. The people of Ajo have gained the freedom togo out at night without fear, and they’ve gained theprotection of Oni’s magic powers.


Motif Map (page 219)Strange powers—Oni can’t be killed; Mysteriousbirth—Oni was born with boots on his feet; Fearedby ordinary humans—Oni was banished from hisvillage because people were afraid to be around him;Magic tools or clothing—Oni had magic boots thatgrew as he grew and gave him special powers.


Vocabulary and Comprehension (page 220)A. 1. invincible

2. implored3. commenced4. hovered5. impostor

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Answer Key 25

B. 1. Oni is forced to leave his village because thepeople are afraid to have him around. Theyfear the magic power that prevents him frombeing killed.

2. The king allows Oni to try to kill Anodo. Hesimply warns Oni that all who have tried havebeen killed or carried away.

3. Oni wins the fight; he kills Anodo.4. Oni proves that the hunter is an impostor by

allowing his lost boot to be tried on by every-one, including the impostor. The boot fits noone but Oni.

Loo-Wit, the Fire-Keeper, page 221

Page 223INFERResponses may vary. Possible responses: God, Allah.

IDENTIFYThe problem that begins the story is that “twobrothers began to quarrel over the land. Each wanted to control it.”

Page 224CLARIFYThe brothers’ problem is solved when the Creatorgives each brother land where his arrow falls.

INTERPRETAnswers will vary. Possible response: A bridge is agood symbol of peace between nations because peo-ple can travel freely back and forth; a bridge over-comes a boundary.

Page 225TEXT STRUCTUREThe two quotations are “ ‘Their lands are better thanours.’ ” and “ ‘Their lands are more beautiful thanours.’ ”

RETELLThe people become greedy again, so the Creatortakes away fire and makes the skies dark.

IDENTIFYLoo-Wit is rewarded for being good, and she is madeyoung and beautiful because she agrees to share firewith all the people to remind them that they mustalso be good.

Page 226RETELLTo solve the brothers’ latest quarrel, the Creator pun-ishes the brothers by turning one into Mount Adamsand one into Mount Hood.

IDENTIFY The myth is explaining the origins of Mount Adamsand Mount Hood. The brothers’ quarrels explain thevolcanoes’ “behavior.”

Page 227INTERPRETPossible response: The “fire within herself” refers tothe lava inside the volcano.

INFER Answers may vary. Possible response: The myth tellersuggests that Mount St. Helens exploded becauseLoo-Wit and the Creator were unhappy with the waypeople were treating the land. The author might besuggesting that we need to be more careful about theway we treat the environment.


Author’s Purpose (page 228)Author’s purpose: to explain how two American

Indian peoples came to be and how MountAdams, Mount Hood, and Mount St. Helens came to be.

Details: One brother shot his arrow into the valleyof the Willamette River. He and his people becamethe Multnomahs. The younger brother shot hisarrow to the north of the great river. He and hispeople became the Klickitats.

Details: The brothers began to quarrel again, so theCreator turned one into Mount Hood and theother into Mount Adams.

Details: Even as mountains, the brothers continuedto quarrel, throwing flames and stones at eachother. The stones nearly blocked the river betweenthem, forming The Dalles in the Columbia River.

Details: Loo-Wit was sad that her beauty causedsuch pain, and she no longer wanted to be a beau-tiful young woman. The Creator pitied Loo-Witand turned her into the most beautiful of themountains, Mount St. Helens.


Vocabulary and Comprehension (page 229)A. 1. arched; “like a silver rainbow”

2. claim; “castle in the sky”3. aware; “like fighting the tide”

B. 1. The Creator is angry because the brothers arequarreling over control of the land.

2. He has each brother shoot an arrow; theplaces where the arrows land become theirland. The people soon begin to quarrel againbecause each group thinks the other’s land ismore beautiful than its own.

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