Unit 6: Comparing Literary Works
Tall Tales and Myths
“Pecos Bill: The Cyclone” by Harold W. Felton (pp. 1218-1224)
“Perseus” by Edith Hamilton (pp. 1225-1232)
Name______Hour ______Date______
Vocabulary Builder
Word List
mortified revelry skeptics usurped
A. DIRECTIONS: Revise each sentence so that the underlined vocabulary word is used logically. Be sure not to change the vocabulary word.
1. After the tyrant usurped the king’s throne, most people acclaimed him as the legitimate ruler.
______
2. The professor’s arguments were so convincing that many skeptics questioned her conclusions.
______
3. When Eugene made such diplomatic comments to our hosts, we felt mortified.
______
4. The sounds of revelry from the party next door were low and soothing.
______
B. DIRECTIONS: On the line, write the letter of the choice that is the best synonym for each
numbered word.
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Grade 9 Unit 6
___ 1. revelry
A. slow improvement
B. agile maneuver
C. early departure
D. noisy merrymaking
___ 2. usurped
A. researched
B. incorporated
C. seized power
D. reorganized
___ 3. skeptics
A. allies
B. doubters
C. forecasters
D. inventors
___ 4. mortified
A. buried
B. embarrassed
C. disguised
D. deceived
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Grade 9 Unit 6
Literary Analysis: Tall Tale and Myth
A tall tale is a type of folk tale that contains some or all of the following features:
• a larger-than-life central hero
• far-fetched situations and amazing feats
• humor
• hyperbole, or exaggeration
Tall tales are a particularly American form of story. Many tall tales originated during the American frontier period and reflect the challenges and values of that place and time. A myth is an anonymous story that explains the actions of gods or human heroes, the reasons for certain traditions, or the causes of natural features. Every culture has its own mythology, or collection of myths, which express the central values of the people who created them. Mythic heroes often share three characteristics: they have at least one divine parent, they gain special knowledge or weapons, and they face seemingly impossible tasks. In general, myths tell how gods shape human life while tall tales tell how humans make things happen.
DIRECTIONS: Write your answers to the following questions on the lines provided.
1. How would you compare and contrast Pecos Bill and Perseus as heroes?
______
______
______
2. What elements of exaggeration or fantasy can you identify in each tale?
“Pecos Bill: The Cyclone”:______
______
______
“Perseus”:______
______
______
3. Mood is the overall atmosphere or feeling created by a literary work. Tone is the author’s attitude toward the subject, the characters, or the audience. How would you compare and contrast “Pecos Bill: The Cyclone” with “Perseus” in mood and tone?
“Pecos Bill: The Cyclone”
Mood:______
Tone:______
“Perseus”
Mood:______
Tone:______
4. In their original versions, many tall tales and myths were oral literature—or works that were passed down by word of mouth from one generation to the next. What qualities in “The Cyclone” and “Perseus” would lend themselves especially well to oral storytelling?
______
______
Compare Literary Works
Use the chart below to compare and contrast the values that Pecos Bill and Perseus represent.
Values / Pecos Bill / PerseusRespect
Fears
Goals
Achievements
Motivations
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Grade 9 Unit 6