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Focus on the Genre
Trickster TalesWhat is a trickster tale?
What is the purpose of trickster tales?
How do you read a trickster tale?
Who writes trickster tales?
Features of a Trickster Tale
The main characters are usually animals.
The trickster has a problem or helps
someone with a problem.
The trickster outwits another character to solve the problem.
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© 2010 Benchmark education company, LLc • GWP036
The trickster may
have a flaw.The story is short and usually funny.
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The crocodile’s wife spied a
monkey in a tree and thought
he would make a tasty meal.
“Bring me that monkey,” she
told her husband. “I haven’t
had a bite to eat for days and
monkeys’ hearts are delicious!”
“Monkeys live in trees,” her
husband said. “I can’t climb
a tree to get him.”
“Use your intelligence!” his
wife said.
The crocodile left the swamp
and devised a plan on his
way to the monkey’s tree.
“Hey, Monkey!” the crocodile
called. “Aren’t you tired of
eating bananas? Ride on my
back across the river and you
can eat mangos and figs on
the other side.”
Forgetting danger and
thinking only of sweet
mangos and figs, the monkey
leaped heedlessly onto the
crocodile’s back.
With the monkey on his back,
the crocodile dove underwater
in the middle of the river.
“What’s going on?” the
monkey asked.
“When you drown, I’m going
to bring you to my wife so
she can dine on your heart,”
the croc said.
“I wish you told me earlier,”
the monkey said. “I left my
heart in my tree. Take me
back and I’ll get it for you.”
Returned safe to his tree,
the monkey laughed at
the crocodile.
The Monkey and the Crocodile
The main characters are animals.
The crocodile’s wife is hungry and he wants to help her get food.
The crocodile tricks the monkey.
The monkey tricks the crocodile.
The tale is short and funny.
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© 2010 Benchmark education company, LLc • GWP036
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Anansi and the TurtleAnansi the spider sat down to a delicious
dinner of yams.
“Your yams smell scrumptious,” a
passing turtle called. “May I join you?”
Anansi wasn’t the most generous of
spiders, but he invited the hungry turtle
to dinner.
“Wait a minute,” Anansi said. “Your
hands are covered with mud. Dinnertime is
a time for manners. Go wash your hands.”
When the turtle returned from washing
his hands in the river, he saw that the
spider had eaten all the yams.
“Thanks anyway,” the disappointed turtle
said. “If you’re ever in my neighborhood,
stop by for dinner. I’d like to return your
hospitality.”
The next week Anansi met the turtle
on the riverbank. “I’m here to take you
up on your offer,” the spider said.
“Let’s go then,” the turtle said and
dove into the river.
The spider followed but could not
reach the bottom of the river. He was
not heavy enough to sink so he filled
his coat with rocks.
“You’re wearing a coat,” the turtle
said at the table. “Dinnertime is a time
for manners. Please take your coat off.”
Anansi took his coat off. It fell to
the riverbed. Anansi floated back up
to the riverbank.
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© 2010 Benchmark education company, LLc • GWP037Illustration: Bill Greenhead
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Make Connections Across Texts
The Monkey and
the CrocodileAnansi and the Turtle
Describe the trickster(s).
Describe the other characters.
Describe the problem.
How is the problem solved?
How does the tale end?
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© 2010 Benchmark education company, LLc • GWP037
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