Activity 1, part II

Tall Tales: an insight into American folklore.

Now that you have read a Paul Bunyan’s tall tale, and that you know the vocabulary that probably you did not know, fill in this chart with the information from the text, write his place of birth, occupation and then write two examples for each category, recognizing what elements characterize tall tales (already explained in the chart at the beginning of this activity), this information will be useful in the writing activity, since you will be asked to write your own tall tale.

Heroic character: Paul Bunyan
Amazing Childhood events
Superhuman abilities or amazing characteristics
Place of birth: Maine, USA
Helped by powerful animals or objects
Amazing Adventures and feats related to the origin of natural places
Occupation: Lumberjack
Problem or obstacle to solve
Problem solved
He was so big that it took five storks deliver him to his parents.
While sleeping he turned over causing an earthquake.
When he was in his cradle in the sea he turned over again creating a huge wave that almost covered the coastal towns of Maine.
He was very tall (less than a stadium but taller than a house)
He was very fast, he could cut ten tress down with just one ax blow.
He never got tired: he worked non-stop
He was very brave
He was very skilled in use of the ax.
His dearest ax always accompanied him since his father gave it to him, when he was left in the woods to live by himself.
Babe, his ox pet, was always with him in most of the feats he accomplished.
Just by dragging his ax he carved a mountainous area creating the Grand Canyon
Babe, in turn, with his footsteps created a big ditch, where later, water run through it forming the actual Colorado River
Bunyan tears created Mississippi River.
He cut down incredible number of trees
People needed wood to build houses, churches, bridges, roads
Dense, wild forests to tame
Paul Bunyan provided the people in town with the wood to build houses, churches, bridges, farms
He cleared the forest in Iowa so people could sow wheat and maize
(prepared land for agriculture)