So I am going to focus these notes on a specific story from Alaskan Legends, Part B. This story is called Tricks of the Fox. After reading all of the stories in part B (which I HIGHLY recommend because they are short, sweet, and super good) I found I enjoyed this one the most. All of the stories had a very historical mood about them. The were written in third person, but they were told as if they actually happened. It was like a direct retelling from someone who watched it. It is kinda difficult to explain, but if you read the stories it may make more sense.
Anyways, I picked this story because it was a trickster story! It also had fox as the main character and if you know anything about me, you should know I am a sucker for stories about cute furry animals. Here is actually a link for 14 cool fox facts! One of the facts is that arctic foxes don't shiver until it is -94 degrees F! Also look how dang cute they are.
(Arctic Fox Pup by Wiki Commons)
They also change color with the season!
(Another Arctic Fox Pup by Wiki Commons)
Lets start with a brief run down and my thoughts while reading the story:
In the beginning there is a male fox with his pups. He leaves to go get Eagle eggs.
- Pups are also called kits or cubs. Male foxes are also called tons.
- What kind of foxes is the story talking about? I think it is arctic foxes since the story is from the Koryak (Siberia). Here is a list of mammals in Alaska though. There are red foxes and arctic foxes.
The first trick is done by the fox to get the eagle eggs down. Essentially he put grass stalks on his ears and pretended like he was going to knock the tree down where the eagle and her eggs were. He said he would knock it down if she did not throw an egg down. The eagle through an egg down to the fox. He then demanded another, she was frightened to lose all her eggs so she threw another. The fox laughed and insulted the eagle. The eagle picked him up and flew the fox to a deserted island.
The second trick is done by the fox to get off the island. He sings a song to get the attention of the animals in the water. They ask what the song is about and the fox ask if they think there are more animals in the water or on land. They say the water. The fox ask them to prove it by making a bridge from the island to the land so he can count. They do as the fox says. The fox uses this bridge to escape this island and return home.
- I wonder what song he sang?
- Why did the sea animals not eat the fox?
- Do you think the fox learned his lesson to not ask of too much?
Bibliography:
Alaska Legends Part B edited by Katharine Berry Judson. Website: Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook
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