Coyote and the Buffalo

1. “The Coyote and the Buffalo”
a trickster tale retold by Mourning Dove
DO NOW: Define a villain.
What characteristics does
a villain have to have to be
considered a villain? What
actions do they need to
take? Are there any
examples of sympathetic
villains (villains you feel
sorry for)? Describe.

2. Read the notable quote in the corner
of page 42. What does Mourning Dove
mean by what she says? After reading
her biography, what do you think her
purpose or mission is?

3. Trickster Tales
• Feature an animal or human
character that engages in deceit,
violence or magic
•Tricksters are mythic and explain
how some aspects of human nature
came to be
•Some trickster tales are about
weak people or tiny animals
outwitting their stronger enemies

4. Setting takes place in the distant past
or a timeless place.
desert
jungle
forest

5. There is usually a problem and
a solution to the problem.
"Coyote takes water from the Frog people...
because it is not right that one people have all the
water."

6. Trickster Characters in Different Cultures:
Greek: Eris (goddess of chaos), Hermes (god of thieves and
travelers), Prometheus (stole fire from the gods and gave it
to humans)
Eris is partly responsible
for the Trojan war.
Hermes played tricks on
the gods and mortals; ally
of the Greeks in the
Trojan war and “bringer
of luck” to the soldiers.

7. Nordic: Loki – sometimes assists the gods,
sometimes hinders; shape-shifter; his murder of
Baldr bring about the end of the world. Father of
Hel (goddess of the underworld), Fenrir (a wolf
beast), and the Midgard serpent.

8. Native American: coyote, raven (also associated with battle and
death), fox, Iktomi the spider
West Africa: Anansi the spider
Many of
Aesop’s Fables
deal with
trickster animal
characters, such
as the story of
the
“Fox and the Grapes”

9. Trickster Tales in the Library

10. Characteristics of Tricksters are
Contradictory
•Foolish and clever
•Greedy and helpful
•Immoral and moral
•Creative and destructive
Think of a movie or book where the villain is more
compelling than the hero. What qualities does such a villain
display? Which of these traits contribute most to his/her
appeal?

11. What is the difference between being
mischievous and being evil?
Why do these trickster characters appeal to so many
cultures? Why are they likeable and unlikeable at
the same time?

12. Coyote and the Buffalo
What does the Coyote find
in the second paragraph?
How does he respond?
What do you think about his
actions and motivation?

13. What do you think about Buffalo Bull and his
actions? Does he seem justified and reasonable?

14. What trickster qualities does the
Coyote exhibit in the story? Explain.
•Desecrates the dead body of
his enemies (immoral)
•Calls on his helper spirit to
grow some trees in his way to
climb (magic)
•Convinces Buffalo to le him
smoke before he dies (clever)
•Gives the Buffalo new horns
(creator, generous)
•Kills the cow (greedy,
destroyer)

15. Have you ever tried to talk your way out
of a difficult situation? Did it work? How
does this experience help you understand
how the Coyote feels?
How does the Coyote use his wiles
to try to maniupulate Buffalo Bull?
•Calls him “friend” and “uncle”
•Offers to share his pipe
•Makes new horns

16. What does Coyote receive from Buffalo Bull in
return for the horns? Will he listen to the
restrictions associated with the gift?
He is greedy
and selfish;
lives by his
own rules.

17. What happens when the Coyote breaks the rules
and eats attempts to eat the marrow bones? Is he
able to enjoy his meal? What lesson may this be
trying to teach the reader?
How would you characterize the old woman? Who does she remind
you of?
She is a trickster.
Flatters the coyote to get his
marrow-fat. Calls him “brave
warrior” and “great chief”
that should not do woman’s
work.

18. Which do you think is more of a villain,
the old woman or the Coyote? Why?
What are some lessons this
story teaches? Both the old
woman and the Coyote use
flattery to deceive. What
message about flattery is the
story conveying?

19. Stories give the reader insight into the culture
that they come from. What did you learn
about:
The traits and qualities the Okanogan
admire and disapprove of
Okanogan rituals and religious beliefs
Traditional role of women
Warrior culture (leaders displaced by stronger ones) – Buffalo.
Favored tricksters and taught their children the benefits of lies in
difficult situations. Respected intellect and cunning.
Smoking pipes, spirit helpers – both assist and scold Coyote (a
guiding force in life), reincarnation – Buffalo Bull comes back from
the dead
Women did the cooking and housekeeping – old woman’s comments

20. What do you have in common with
Native Americans?