Reading Notes: Native American Hero Tales, Part B
Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians, by Stith Thompson.
The Son-In-Law Tests
The plot of this story consists of Wemicus (the animal-trickster) trying to trick his son-in-law. Wemicus has previously killed all of his daughter's many previous husbands, so she knows of his tricks and is able to warn her current husband. Because of this, her husband avoids the traps and manages to trick Wemicus instead. Wemicus appears to perish and/or turns into a Pike.
I think the plot of this story was pretty straight forward; we expect the husband to keep avoiding the traps and it seems likely he will win in the end, which he does. The most important event in the plot is when the wind upsets Wimicus's canoe and he falls into the water. This concludes the story. I think it would be interested to read this from the daughter's point of view because it seems like she has gone through a lot with a crazy father like Wemicus. I think it would be interesting to write it from her point of view and/or make her more involved in the story.
Another interesting idea would be to change the genders of Wemicus and the husband so that it was the mother and wife of the daughter.
One thing that wasn't explained was the use of magic by the husband to widen and close the gap between two cliffs. We don't know from just reading this story if magic is something everyone has or not.
I think the best character in this story is the daughter of Wemicus even though she is not in it much. Wemicus is certainly an interesting character though, and it would be fun to try and write this story from his (evil) point of view. Nefarious characters are sometimes the most fun, and I am considering writing more about Wemicus because of this.
The Son-In-Law Tests
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| (Image Information: Pike Fish, Blogspot) This story reveals the origin of the Pike. Naughty Wemicus dies when one of his evil schemes goes wrong and where he was there was seen a Pike fish. So it is implied that he was turned into the fish. |
I think the plot of this story was pretty straight forward; we expect the husband to keep avoiding the traps and it seems likely he will win in the end, which he does. The most important event in the plot is when the wind upsets Wimicus's canoe and he falls into the water. This concludes the story. I think it would be interested to read this from the daughter's point of view because it seems like she has gone through a lot with a crazy father like Wemicus. I think it would be interesting to write it from her point of view and/or make her more involved in the story.
Another interesting idea would be to change the genders of Wemicus and the husband so that it was the mother and wife of the daughter.
One thing that wasn't explained was the use of magic by the husband to widen and close the gap between two cliffs. We don't know from just reading this story if magic is something everyone has or not.
I think the best character in this story is the daughter of Wemicus even though she is not in it much. Wemicus is certainly an interesting character though, and it would be fun to try and write this story from his (evil) point of view. Nefarious characters are sometimes the most fun, and I am considering writing more about Wemicus because of this.
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