“The Earth on the Turtle’s Back”, originally written by Onondaga- Northeast Woodlands and retold by Michael Caduto and Joseph Bruchac is a definitely a story worth digging into. This Native American version of the creation of the Earth is very unique and interesting, but beyond the surface lies another story. The “Earth on the Turtle’s back” displays a distinct mood as well as a classic theme that will be broken down and analyzed below.
There were three moods that really stuck out throughout the story. The first is mystery. At the beginning, with the chief wife’s dream, there is an uncertainty (or mystery) of what it may mean but they follow through and make her dream become a reality. Also, when the tree is uprooted and the wife looks down the hole, this shows their lack of knowledge of what lies beneath them. They live in the skyland and the whole world below them is a mystery to them. The second mood expressed was whymsical. After the cheif’s wife falls, two swans flew up to catch her. Also, all of the animals speaking to one another and working together for her …show more content…
When the muskrat reaches the bottom of the water, while on the verge of death, and brings back a handful of earth he saves the wife’s life. Also, the turtle that comes along and allows the animals to place the earth on his back is a hero. Given the muskrat and the turtle’s outward appearance, one wouldnt expect them to be the heroes of this story, which is what makes them the “underdogs”. But the fact that their “underdogs” leads into the main, overwhelming theme, “you can’t judge a book by its cover”. Even though something may appear weak on the exterior it may be the stronger than anything else or completely different from what u may expect. Even the author’s tone and language of describing the muskrats appearence but acknowledging it’s determination shows his heroicness. Not only was the chief’s wife saved, a new world was
There were three moods that really stuck out throughout the story. The first is mystery. At the beginning, with the chief wife’s dream, there is an uncertainty (or mystery) of what it may mean but they follow through and make her dream become a reality. Also, when the tree is uprooted and the wife looks down the hole, this shows their lack of knowledge of what lies beneath them. They live in the skyland and the whole world below them is a mystery to them. The second mood expressed was whymsical. After the cheif’s wife falls, two swans flew up to catch her. Also, all of the animals speaking to one another and working together for her …show more content…
When the muskrat reaches the bottom of the water, while on the verge of death, and brings back a handful of earth he saves the wife’s life. Also, the turtle that comes along and allows the animals to place the earth on his back is a hero. Given the muskrat and the turtle’s outward appearance, one wouldnt expect them to be the heroes of this story, which is what makes them the “underdogs”. But the fact that their “underdogs” leads into the main, overwhelming theme, “you can’t judge a book by its cover”. Even though something may appear weak on the exterior it may be the stronger than anything else or completely different from what u may expect. Even the author’s tone and language of describing the muskrats appearence but acknowledging it’s determination shows his heroicness. Not only was the chief’s wife saved, a new world was