A Northwest Coast Indian Legend
by Carol Ottolenghi Raven stars in many stories of the Northwest Coast tribes. According to some stories, Raven brought the sun to the world and salmon to the Northwest.
Raven is also a greedy practical joker. Although he can fly and fish well, Raven is lazy. He would rather trick other animals out of their food than hunt for his own, and if he can stir up some trouble at the same time—as he does between Heron and Gull—that’s fine with him!
1
Raven flew near the ocean. His stomach grumbled, and he wondered where he would find a meal.
2
Hearing voices below, he quietly landed in a tall pine tree. From his perch, Raven could see long, thin Heron standing in the waves. She was complaining to Gull, who was pacing the shore, guarding a large pile of herring.
3
“I work harder than you,” said Heron. “This water is cold and deep. Without the fish I catch, you would not eat today.”
4
“Hah!” said Gull scornfully. “I can catch herring as well as you, but I must stand guard. If a bear should try to steal our fish, I would fly at him to drive him away.”
5
“Hmmm,” said Raven to himself. “If I am clever, I will have a fine meal of herring–and some fun while I’m at it!”
6
Just then, Heron spotted a fish. She became silent and still so that it would swim closer. Raven flew to Gull.
7
“It is wrong, what Heron does,” Raven told Gull.
8
“What?” demanded Gull. “What does Heron do?”
9
“While you are busy guarding the pile,” said Raven, “Heron gulps herring. I do not like to see a noble bird like you tricked by a scrawny-legged heron.”
10
Gull looked at Heron standing still in the water. Perhaps she isn’t sharing all the fish, thought Gull. Well, I will eat, too.
11
Gull snatched a fish from the pile and swallowed it.
12
Raven flew to Heron.
13
“I do not like to see what is happening,” he said to her. “While you freeze your graceful legs in the cold water, Gull takes his ease on the shore, eating herring.”
14
Heron looked to the shore. She saw Gull stuffing a fish into his mouth.
15
“You were supposed to wait!” Heron shrieked, flying over to Gull.
16
“I should wait while you eat?” screeched Gull.
17
Heron and Gull argued noisily, shrieking and screeching and flapping their wings.
18
Raven’s plan had worked. While Heron and Gull fought, Raven stole the entire pile of fish. Then he flew to the pine tree and ate and laughed, and ate and laughed some more.
19
To this day, Heron and Gull still scold each other whenever they meet, and neither of them has been foolish enough to trust Raven again.
“Heron and Gull: A Northwest Coast Indian Legend” by Carol Ottolenghi, from Highlights for Children, March 2005, copyright © 2005 by Highlights for Children, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Highlights for Children, Inc. 8.
Read these quotations from different parts of the story.
“I do not like to see a noble bird like you tricked by a scrawny-legged heron.” Why does the author introduce the story with two italicized paragraphs?
In the first two paragraphs, the author gives background for readers today; the rest tells the story as it might have been told long ago.
In the first two paragraphs, the author is writing in the first person; the rest is told in the third person.
In the first two paragraphs, the author describes the three characters; the rest focuses on one character.
In the first two paragraphs, the author is trying to make the reader laugh; the rest becomes more serious in tone.
1 answer
The correct reason the author introduces the story with two italicized paragraphs is:
In the first two paragraphs, the author gives background for readers today; the rest tells the story as it might have been told long ago.
These introductory paragraphs set the stage for the cultural context and characteristics of Raven, Heron, and Gull, which helps readers understand the significance of the story in the tradition of Northwest Coast Indian legends.
