Part II. Compare and contratst "Jack and his Lump of Silver" and "Jack and the Robbers"

Suggested Time Allowance: Three or Four 50-minute class periods

Objectives:

  • Students will compare and contrast two different Jack Tales.
  • Two different full text versions of "Jack and his Lump of Silver" available at: 

http://www.ferrum.edu/applit/texts/JackSilver.htm

http://www.ferrum.edu/applit/texts/JackLump.htm

Text for "Jack and the Robbers" at:

http://www.ibiblio.org/bawdy/folklore/robbers.html

Jack is best known for climbing that famous beanstalk, but he had many other adventures and encounters with giants and the Devil too.

1 class period:

  • Have students pair up for shoulder to shoulder reading
  • Distribute copies of "Jack and his Lump of Silver"
  • Have students take turns reading the story aloud

2nd class period:

  • Repeat the process with "Jack and the Robbers"

Venn Diagram:

Explain that a Venn Diagram represents the similarities and differences between two conditions. It represents and conveys ideas and information in a visual, graphic form.

    • What are the common themes to each tale?
    • What are the differences?
    • Where do the tales connect?

Students collect information about the two tales and develop a Venn diagram. For this assignment, students add at least five points showing similarities in the tales. After that, they enter at least five differences. Make sure that the differences are aligned opposite one another.

Questions for discussion:

  1. How does each person and animal Jack encounters persuade him to trade what he has? Does Jack have good reasons for giving up any of the things?
  2. Have you ever traded something and then wished you hadn't made the trade? How did your trade compare to Jack's "swapping"?
  3. How are the relationships between Jack and the animals different in this tale and in "Jack and the Robbers"?
  4. Does Jack appear to be more foolish in this tale than in other Jack Tales we've read?
  5. Do you know any other stories about silly or gullible people? 
  6. Why do you think people like to tell stories about foolish behavior?

Review Exercises:

For each of the stories listed above, answer the following questions. Write your answers on notebook paper in your own handwriting.

  1. Write a paragraph summary of the story's plot line.
  2. List the main characters and identify each as protagonist, antagonist, or supporting.
  3. Identify the initial problem, situation, or conflict that starts the action of the story.
  4. What is/are the conflict/s that has/have to be resolved for the story to end successfully?
  5. What is/are the morals/themes of the story?

  6. To what extent does Jack manipulate his own success? Is the Jack successful because of:

    • Miracles, magic?

    • Stupidity, gullibility?

    • Trickery, cunning, wit?

    • Intelligence, cleverness?

  7. If story was partnered with other story/stories, identify differences/similarities.

Synthesis/Analysis Questions:

  1. Is there a moral/theme that could apply to these stories?

  2. Which story is your favorite? Why?

Resources:

 

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