The Force Of Luck by Rudolfo A. Anaya Folktales Often folktales are told to reinforce the traditions and values of the culture that preserves them. The characters in folktales can be animals, people who have extraordinary powers, or ordinary people who have unusual or seemingly impossible experiences.

Text page 599 Literary Elements question 1 and 2

Answers The miller’s story reinforces the values of hard work, honesty, and helping your neighbors. In a more realistic story, the miller would not be robbed by a hawk. He also would not find a diamond in the belly of a fish.

January 13, 2012 Homework Do Now Vocabulary pg 94-95 Grammar quiz Tuesday! Grammar pg 239 Review C Finish Worksheet Spelling quiz

January 17, 2012 Homework Journal #4 Quiz tomorrow Vocabulary pg 95 Literature pg 732 #1,2, and 5 Test Monday! Why do you think cats are great at catching rats? Write a cat and mouse story.

Setting: Conflict: small village some time in the past Two wealthy men are trying to prove whether it is luck or money that makes a man prosperous. Miller is given $200 twice and loses it twice by outside forces, a hawk and his wife selling the jar he hid the money in.

Characters Miller- Two wealthy men- Miller’s wife- a good test case for two reasons, he is an honest man and he is poor until a series of events occur to change his luck. Two wealthy men- one man believes that it is luck that makes a person prosperous and the other man believes that it is money that makes a person prosperous Miller’s wife- a woman who does not get upset when her husband loses the money the wealthy man gave him. She accepts that she is poor and has faith that their luck will change someday. She finds a piece of glass in a fish’s belly that changes her family’s life.

Fishermen Neighbors- Jewelers- Servant- miller’s neighbors who ask to borrow lead to go fishing and in turn gave the miller’s the first fish he caught which held a shinny piece of glass in it’s belly. Jewelers- miller’s other neighbors who were upset about the noise the miller’s children were making over a piece of glass. They soon realized that the piece of glass was actually a diamond. They try to buy it for $50.00 but in the end paid $100,000 Servant- servant to the now wealthy miller who opened his own mill shop. The servant is very loyal and honest to his employer. Very much like typical character in a folktale

Plot for “The Force of Luck” Two wealthy men argue whether it is luck or money that makes a man prosperous. They come across an honest but poor miller and decide to use him to test their theory. The wealthy man gives $200 to the miller to see whether it is luck or money that makes a man prosper. The miller loses the money. The man who believes in money gives him another $200. He loses that, too. Then the man who believes in luck gives the miller a worthless piece of lead. It leads the miller to a valuable diamond that allows him to start his own business and become wealthy. Months later the miller comes across the two men again. Together events happen and all the money turns up. The story ends and the argument is still not resolved. Is it luck or is it money? YOU DECIDE!

January 18, 2012 Homework Do Now Vocabulary pg 96 Quiz Friday! Literature pg 732 #3, 4, 6, and 7 Test on Monday!!!!! Grammar quiz Literature pg 725 vocabulary preview