UNIT 1 Fire Text 1F
Cherokee myth: The First Fire Every animal that could fly or swim was anxious to go and collect fire from the hollow sycamore tree on an island. The Raven, who was very confident, was sent first. He flew high and far across the water and alighted on the tree. While he was wondering what to do next, the heat scorched all his feathers black, as they are to this day. He was scared and went back without the fire. The Screech Owl volunteered to go next and reached the place safely. While he was looking down into the hollow tree, a blast of hot air came up and nearly burned out his eyes. He just managed to fly home, but it was a long time before he could see well, and his eyes are red to this day. No more of the birds would venture, and so the Racer Snake said he would go through the water and bring back the fire. He swam across to the island and crawled through the grass to the tree, and entered it through a small hole at the bottom. The heat and the smoke were too much for him too, and his body was charred black, as it still is to this day. The animals held another council, because there was still no fire and the world was cold, but birds, snakes and four-footed animals all had some excuse for not going because they were all afraid of the burning sycamore, until at last the Water Spider said she would go. But the question was, ‘How could you bring back the fire?’ Water Spider said, ‘I’ll manage.’ She crossed over to the island and through the grass to the fiery tree. She put one small burning coal into a bowl attached to her back with her own thread, and returned with it, and ever since we have had fire.
11 a Discuss in class:
• the role of myths in a culture • the definition of a myth • the difference between a myth and a legend.
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