Mar
2
Motif &/or Folk Tale
March 2, 2008 | Tagged allusion, American history, folk tale, hero, legend, motif, mutability, myth, sci fi | Leave a Comment
*Note: All three of these lessons could be done separately (to keep them as “mini” as possible). This lesson covers three days; the first day focuses on the first song in the series & “Folk Tale,” where the kids’ application usually involves a quick write reflecting the elements of the genre study. The next day covers “motif” & the next song; application involves revision by considering pre-existing motifs that might enhance their draft. Day three focuses on purpose/audience & application of their draft towards some end.
Day 1:
Objective: Know what a folk tale is.
Warm-up:
In your own words, tell how “folk tale” is different and similar to “myth” and “legend.” Try to think of specific examples to support your argument.
Mini-Lesson:
Discuss their ideas regarding their definitionsGenerally, folk tale include myth & legend, however…
- folk tale’s chief function it the transmission of culture/nationalism.
- folk tales serve to transmit the essence of a people group
- folk tales can be cautionary
Myth’s usually are religious/faith based
- they focus on creation/explanation
- have prehistoric roots (beyond the scope of culture/nation)
- but in as much as faith is a part of culture, they can be considered a sub-set of folk tale
Legends
- a known person
- a known area
- use exaggeration
- Legends usually talk about values, so they can overlap culture. For example, both China & Mongolia trace their foundation to Genghis Khan and probably have legends about his greatness, but they are still very different culturally.
Pass-out the lyrics to David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” and consider the following essential questions:
- What people group is this for?
- What lesson/value/message might be transmitted figuratively through this story?
- What might the purpose of such a song have?
- What elements of the previous genres does this story have?
Application: (according to your classroom/curricular needs)
Day 2:
Objectives:
- Figure-out the motif that was carried from yesterday’s song to today’s exemplar
- Notice how the use of motif reinforces the purpose/genre of folk tale
Warm-up:
Write a single paraphrase for the following definitions for “motif” into your learning log:
- A motif is an idea, a theme that is repeated or carried through an individual work as when John Steinbeck’s narrator constantly compares Lenny to an animal such as horse or bear throughout the novel Of Mice and Men. There are musical motifs as well. In Jaws, the approach of the shark is always signaled by a strumming of bass strings slowly as the music builds in pitch and speed.
- A motif is also an idea which is so powerful and recognizable that it will be used by many authors and artists in many different works in many different ages. Many writers will liken the ages of a person to the seasons of the year. In the spring of one’s life is youth and the winter is old age when older persons are said to have snow on the roof.
Mini-Lesson:
What was in common to both definitions?
How were they different?
Now that you know what motif is, lets see if you can see which motif(s) are carried from yesterday’s song to today’s, “Major Tom” by Peter Schilling. Here’s the lyrics.
Discuss
Application: (according to your classroom/curricular needs)
Day 3:
Objectives:
- Understand one way motif can be used to create meaning
- Understand the power of picking the proper from for your purpose and audience
Warm-up:
Considering the content of the previous two songs, what nations could this “folk tale” be serving?What value would such people find in this tale?
Mini-Lesson:
Background of space accidents:
- Deaths: Apollo 1, Challenger & Columbia for USA
- Near deaths: Apollo 13 for USA
- Soyuz 1 & 11 for USSR
Realms of Mutable/Mortal & Immutable/Immortal:
- Space as the heavens
- Motifs of Ascendancy or Transmutability or Deification of a hero
Listen (and follow the lyrics) to The Long Winters‘ “The Commander Thinks Aloud” and consider the guiding questions below:
- What point of view is it written from?
- Consider Columbia’s re-entry disaster, what purpose might the application of motif & folk tale play for this song’s purpose and audience?
Application (according to your classroom/curricular needs)
Does anyone reading this entry know of any other mini-exemplars that would work with this lesson? How about modifications to the lesson? Leave comments if you would like.
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