Question
A Kindergarten Story Book: Dunny
Jane L. Hoxie
The grammatical errors in this passage are intentional.
1 Once there were three brothers, who played together in the sunshine about their father's door. Now the youngest was not as large and strong as his brothers; and for that reason they often teased him, saying, "(1)You are not as tall as we. You cannot run as fast. See! We can jump farther and swing higher than you." If ever they wrestled together, the youngest was the first to be thrown to the ground; and no matter what he tried to do, the others always laughed, and called out, "Oh! You are so stupid. That is not the way. Let me show you how, you dunny!" So after a while they (2)called him nothing, but Dunny. One day a traveler, with a wonderful pony, stopped at the door of the cottage. His little animal not only could perform all manner of curious tricks, but he was the most gentle little beast in the whole world and, withal, as sleek and pretty a creature as one could wish to see. The three brothers were (3)wild with delight at the ponys antics and gave their father no peace until at last he consented to buy the little animal. At first they were very happy, but soon they quarreled.
2 ‘He is my pony!" said the eldest. "He is not!" said Dunny. (4)"Father bought him for me,", said the second brother, "and neither of you shall play with him at all!" "It is not so! He is all mine!" said the first as he caught the little beast by the rein and tried to drag him away. But his brother snatched the bridle also. "You shall not have him!" he cried. "Boys! Boys! (5)What does this mean?" said there father. "Why are you quarreling? The pony belongs to all three." But the boys would not have it so; and, at last, the father said, "He shall be given to the one of you who will bring this basket to me filled full with the water of yonder pond." Now the basket was very (6)old and full of holes, but the three brothers eagerly consented to the plan. "You shall be the first to try your luck," said the father, placing the basket in the hands of his eldest son. As the boy walked quickly (7)toward the pond a little bird hopped along the path in front of him and in a sweet voice sang, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away."
3 The boy did not know what the bird was saying. "Out of my path, you stupid creature!" he cried, flinging a stone at it. When at last the boy reached the pond, there sat a great green frog who croaked in a great hoarse voice, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away." But the boy did not know what the frog was saying. "Out of my way, you ugly creature!" he cried, flinging a stone at it. The eldest boy covered the bottom of the basket with sand, thinking that that would keep the water from running out; then he filled it to the very brim. But, though he ran all the way home, not a single drop of water was left inside the basket when he reached his father. (8)Then it was the second son's turn. As he walked quickly toward the pond, the same little bird hopped along the path in front of him and in the same sweet voice sang, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away."
4 The boy did not know what the bird was saying. "Out of my path, you stupid creature!" he cried, flinging a stone at it. When at last the boy reached the pond, there sat the same great green frog who croaked in the same great hoarse voice, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away." But the boy did not know what the frog was saying. "Out of my way, you ugly creature!" he cried, flinging a stone at it. The second boy (9)covered the bottom of the basket with leafes, thinking that they would keep the water from running out; then he filled it to the very brim. But, though he too ran all the way home, not a single drop of water was left inside the basket when he reached his father. Now, at last, it was Dunny's turn; but the two elder brothers teased him, saying, "Of what use is it for such a stupid as you to try, when we, who are so much more clever than you, have failed?"
5 As Dunny walked quickly toward the pond, the same little bird hopped along the path in front of him and in the same sweet voice sang, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away." Now Dunny was very fond of all the wild creatures of the woods and fields and often spent long hours in their company; and he knew what the little bird was saying. And he was never happier than when playing with the frogs and fishes in the pond; so when the great green frog, in his great hoarse voice, croaked, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away." Dunny knew what he was saying, and, gathering moss and clay from the bank of the pond, he carefully (10)stopped all the wholes and cracks in the basket. Then filling it with water to the very brim, he carried it safely home to his father and did not lose even a single drop. So the pony was given to him, and his brothers never called him Dunny again.
Question
What traditional mythic tropes occur in this story?
Responses
A a cruel father who abuses and oppresses his childrena cruel father who abuses and oppresses his children
B cruelty to animals that is rewarded with a happy endingcruelty to animals that is rewarded with a happy ending
C the use of three brothers, a trial to pass, and helpful animalsthe use of three brothers, a trial to pass, and helpful animals
D a natural setting that creates positive emotions in all the characters
Jane L. Hoxie
The grammatical errors in this passage are intentional.
1 Once there were three brothers, who played together in the sunshine about their father's door. Now the youngest was not as large and strong as his brothers; and for that reason they often teased him, saying, "(1)You are not as tall as we. You cannot run as fast. See! We can jump farther and swing higher than you." If ever they wrestled together, the youngest was the first to be thrown to the ground; and no matter what he tried to do, the others always laughed, and called out, "Oh! You are so stupid. That is not the way. Let me show you how, you dunny!" So after a while they (2)called him nothing, but Dunny. One day a traveler, with a wonderful pony, stopped at the door of the cottage. His little animal not only could perform all manner of curious tricks, but he was the most gentle little beast in the whole world and, withal, as sleek and pretty a creature as one could wish to see. The three brothers were (3)wild with delight at the ponys antics and gave their father no peace until at last he consented to buy the little animal. At first they were very happy, but soon they quarreled.
2 ‘He is my pony!" said the eldest. "He is not!" said Dunny. (4)"Father bought him for me,", said the second brother, "and neither of you shall play with him at all!" "It is not so! He is all mine!" said the first as he caught the little beast by the rein and tried to drag him away. But his brother snatched the bridle also. "You shall not have him!" he cried. "Boys! Boys! (5)What does this mean?" said there father. "Why are you quarreling? The pony belongs to all three." But the boys would not have it so; and, at last, the father said, "He shall be given to the one of you who will bring this basket to me filled full with the water of yonder pond." Now the basket was very (6)old and full of holes, but the three brothers eagerly consented to the plan. "You shall be the first to try your luck," said the father, placing the basket in the hands of his eldest son. As the boy walked quickly (7)toward the pond a little bird hopped along the path in front of him and in a sweet voice sang, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away."
3 The boy did not know what the bird was saying. "Out of my path, you stupid creature!" he cried, flinging a stone at it. When at last the boy reached the pond, there sat a great green frog who croaked in a great hoarse voice, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away." But the boy did not know what the frog was saying. "Out of my way, you ugly creature!" he cried, flinging a stone at it. The eldest boy covered the bottom of the basket with sand, thinking that that would keep the water from running out; then he filled it to the very brim. But, though he ran all the way home, not a single drop of water was left inside the basket when he reached his father. (8)Then it was the second son's turn. As he walked quickly toward the pond, the same little bird hopped along the path in front of him and in the same sweet voice sang, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away."
4 The boy did not know what the bird was saying. "Out of my path, you stupid creature!" he cried, flinging a stone at it. When at last the boy reached the pond, there sat the same great green frog who croaked in the same great hoarse voice, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away." But the boy did not know what the frog was saying. "Out of my way, you ugly creature!" he cried, flinging a stone at it. The second boy (9)covered the bottom of the basket with leafes, thinking that they would keep the water from running out; then he filled it to the very brim. But, though he too ran all the way home, not a single drop of water was left inside the basket when he reached his father. Now, at last, it was Dunny's turn; but the two elder brothers teased him, saying, "Of what use is it for such a stupid as you to try, when we, who are so much more clever than you, have failed?"
5 As Dunny walked quickly toward the pond, the same little bird hopped along the path in front of him and in the same sweet voice sang, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away." Now Dunny was very fond of all the wild creatures of the woods and fields and often spent long hours in their company; and he knew what the little bird was saying. And he was never happier than when playing with the frogs and fishes in the pond; so when the great green frog, in his great hoarse voice, croaked, "Fill it with moss and fill it with clay and carry a basketful away." Dunny knew what he was saying, and, gathering moss and clay from the bank of the pond, he carefully (10)stopped all the wholes and cracks in the basket. Then filling it with water to the very brim, he carried it safely home to his father and did not lose even a single drop. So the pony was given to him, and his brothers never called him Dunny again.
Question
What traditional mythic tropes occur in this story?
Responses
A a cruel father who abuses and oppresses his childrena cruel father who abuses and oppresses his children
B cruelty to animals that is rewarded with a happy endingcruelty to animals that is rewarded with a happy ending
C the use of three brothers, a trial to pass, and helpful animalsthe use of three brothers, a trial to pass, and helpful animals
D a natural setting that creates positive emotions in all the characters
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct response that identifies the traditional mythic tropes in the story is:
**C** the use of three brothers, a trial to pass, and helpful animals.
This option highlights the common elements often found in mythic narratives, including the presence of three siblings (the brothers), a challenge or trial they must overcome (bringing water in the basket), and the assistance of animals (the bird and the frog) who provide guidance, even if the brothers do not understand their messages at first.
**C** the use of three brothers, a trial to pass, and helpful animals.
This option highlights the common elements often found in mythic narratives, including the presence of three siblings (the brothers), a challenge or trial they must overcome (bringing water in the basket), and the assistance of animals (the bird and the frog) who provide guidance, even if the brothers do not understand their messages at first.