Reading Notes: Myths of the Cherokee, Part A

Fire
Source: Wikipedia

For this weeks unit I am reading Myths of the Cherokee and focusing on the story "The First Fire." In this story it talks about the first time fire was created in the world. It was first created from a strike of thunder hitting a hollow sycamore tree. All the animals in the forest could see the fire from afar because of the smoke building up in the air. The animals wanted a fire of their own so they tried to decided on a plan to grab the fire and bring it over to their side of the land. At first the idea was to have the birds fly over and bring it back, but it did not work out as planned. The first bird to fly over was a raven and when he flew over to the fire all his feathers got scorched black so he had to fly back. Up next a screeching owl tried but when he went to the fire the heat burned out his eves causing his eyes to be red. After a hooting and horned owl went together but the fire had ground so much that the smoke was blinding them before they could get close.
After all this the animals decided to try ground animals to get over to the fire. At first a snake called the black racer went over through water that was near by. He got to the fire through a small hole he found but the heat and smoke were too much which turned his skin black so he had to go back. After the great blacksnake tried but when he got to the fire he was being choked out by the smoke and couldn't get any farther. The animals were all out of hope until a water spider said she will go get the fire. The spider ran on top of the water easily getting to the fire. At the fire she put one of the hot coal that was still on fire in a tusti bowl she weaved and was able to bring it back to the animals. So because of the small little water spider all the animals were able to have fire.
I thought the story was a fun read and I am thinking about adding new animals that try to go and obtain the fire.

Bibliography: "The First Fire" by James Mooney