THE WISE OLD WOMAN Pages 207-212 Elements of literature

1. A traditional Japanese, retold by Yosiko Ucida THE WISE OLD WOMAN Pages 207-212 Elements of literature All Clipart was provided by Microsoft

2. What is the universal theme of The Wise Old Woman? Folktale The universal theme is to respect old people and appreciate their wisdom. Identify the parallel episodes in The Wise Old Woman? The three riddles are the parallel episodes. What do these parallel episodes contribute to the folktale? They add to the complications and help rise the action to reach the climax of the story.

3. Characterization

4. Plot The Lord asks the young farmer who helped him and he says the truth about his mother. The mother answers the three riddles and saves the village The Lord admits his mistake and changes the decree. The Lord and his men fail to answer the riddles. Lord Higa threatens the village He hides his mom in the kitchen. Young farmer Mother Cruel Lord Long time ago in a village The villagers lives happily and prosper. He must save his mother

5. What is the decree announced by the village lord? Comprehension check The decree is any person over seventy must be taken to the mountains and left o die. How did the villagers react to that decree? The villagers said that it was a dreadful decree and that the lord was cruel. What is the farmer forced to do with mother? Could you do it? He was forced to take her to the mountain and leave her to die. I would never do such a thing to my mom.

6. What was the mother doing while going up the hill? Why? Comprehension check The mother was breaking twigs to mark the road for her son to be able to go back to the village after dark. How did the young farmer solve his problem temporarily? He dug a room under the kitchen and hid his mother their. What where Lord Higa’s demands? Lord Higa demanded that they solve three riddles before three moons are up and three suns are down.

7. What are the three riddles? Comprehension check The three riddles are: to make a drum that sounds without beating, to pass a thread of silk through a log, and a rope of ashes that doesn’t crumble. How did the lord of the village try to solve the riddles? He asked the gods and his wise men, then he finally asked the people of the village How did the old woman solve the riddles? First she socked the rope in salted water , dried it, then burnt it; so it didn’t crumble. Next she tied a silk rope to the leg of an ant and place some sugar at the end of the crooked log and the ant passed the thread through the log. Finally she placed a bumblebee in side a paper drum.

8. How did the Lord of the village reward the young farmer? Comprehension check He gave the young farmer three bags of gold and saved his mom from dyeing. How did the Lord of the village change his mind about his decree? Now he understands that old people are useful and important and that we should teat them with respect .

9. What is the relationship between the young farmer and his mother? Literary analysis They love and care for each other. They have a close relationship. Do you think the young farmer could be a real person? Why? Yes he could because many people would refuse to get rid of their parents and many have strong relationships with them. What do the characters in The Wise Old Woman symbolize? The young farmer symbolizes honesty. The mother symbolizes wisdom. The lord of the village symbolizes cruelty. The village is saved.

10. What is the point of view of the story? Literary analysis The point of view is third person point of view. In what why did the old woman affect her society? She helped save the society and keep the people free. She was able to show the cruel Lord how important old people are and to make him change his decree.