Tortoise is hungry and hears about the birds and their feast, he convinces them to come and give him one of their feathers. He then said they will take names and his name will be all of you. In the end he asks who the feast is for and the man tells him all of you, he eats all the food. The birds take back their feathers. The tortoise tells parrot to tell his wife to ring all the soft things out, the parrot tells all the hard things. The tortoise falls and his shell cracks into tiny pieces.
A medicine man restores his shell but that is why a tortoise shell isn’t smooth. Throughout the book you notice the differences of the culture and how it is very different. ; They pray to ancestral spirits; they hold ancestral feasts;peg. 4. ; Instead of telegrams or mail they have a messenger who comes throughout the village beating a drum and giving messages;peg. 7 ; At funerals for village celebrities men drink palm wine from their first human head that they killed;peg. ; They have an Oracle named Cabala;peg 3; the oracle reminds me of Greek mythology. Many wives and children;peg 6; they have many wives like Morons ; They have a week of peace in honor of the earth goddess before they start planting;peg. 27 ; They have a Feast of New Yam giving thanks to Ann.; drawing on walls and bodies is a preparation for the festival;peg. 31 ; When someone calls they answer “Is that me? ” instead Of yes for fear that it may be an evil spirit;peg. 35 ; When a suitor comes they have a process where they decide a bride price with broomsticks;peg. 63 ; Eggs are a delicacy, rare DOD, said to tempt children to steal;peg. 7 ; Suicide is a grave sin and his clansmen can’t touch Ginkgo’s body, only a stranger can; peg 179. Cultural Differences ; Summary: It was an introduction of the Chapter One: characters. We learn about Awoken, and how he is a great wrestler and defeated ; Quote: “The ill fated Mammalian The Cat. The chapter talks about lad was called how Awoken doesn’t get along with his Shameful. “; This father Knock. Lagoon is a pitiful man in debt quote is significant who loves music. One day Kooky a man because it’s Lagoon owes money to comes to his house. Foreshadowing and it
Kooky asks for his money, and Knock uses a gives a hint of how important this proverb and tells him no. We learn that character will be. Awoken is very successful unlike his ; Individual Ambition: deceased father, and earns his right to eat with Awoken is a very the elders and kings. Ambitious person and ; Reaction: feel like Knock is wise but he you see that in the simply doesn’t care. In the chapter you really beginning of the get how music is a big part of their culture. I chapter he tries to make a name for feel that Awoken is scared that he will himself because of his become like his father.
Who is Shameful, fear of being like his is he ill-fated? Peg. 6 father Chapter two ;Quote: “And so for three years Shameful lived in Ginkgo’s household. ” ; this quote is significant because it’s foreshadowing and it makes us wonder what will happen in those three years, and what will be the relationship between Awoken and Shameful. ;Strength of society: page show the physical strength of Jamaica ; Summary: Awoken is going to bed when a town messenger comes and tells everybody to meet in the marketplace in the morning.
Awoken goes to the market and Gouge; an orator tells the people that a daughter of Muffin as killed going to the market in Ambition. So for compensation the choices were to go to war or offer up a lad and a virgin. The people offer a lad and a virgin in fear of war with Jamaica. Awoken takes them to Muffin and we learn the lads name is Shameful. The elders decide the virgin will go to Dud to replace his killed wife, and Shameful will stay with Awoken. Shameful is confused about the situation. ; Reaction: This chapter was an introduction of Shameful and why he’s in Jamaica and such.
The chapter had lots of cultural differences and I learned things about Awoken. How is Shameful going to adjust to Jamaica? Awoken? Chapter three ;Quote: “Do not despair. Know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride. It is more difficult and more bitter when a man fails alone. ” this quote is significant because Knock says it to Awoken when the weather is harsh. ;Individual Ambition: Awoken really has an ambition and sets out to achieve his goals.
We learn why he is so ambitious because of his fear of becoming like his father. ; Summary: This chapter was a flashback telling us about Awoken in his early years. ; Awoken was not born into a great family. ; knock goes to the oracle Cabala to find out why his harvest is always miserable. The oracle tells him to work like a man. Knock has a bad chi, and when he dies he dies of swelling which was an abomination to the earth goddess; so he was carried to the evil forest and left there to die. ; Awoken goes to Necktie’s house, there he drinks wine with the wealthy man & his family and they pray.
Awoken asks Nagasaki for yam seeds and Nagasaki gives him a generous amount because he says that he is ambitious and not lazy. ; Awoken plants amass & the year’s weather is hard & the crops are not successful but he perseveres. ; Reaction: This chapter gave me a better understanding of Awoken, and why he is the way he is. Awoken is a really ambitious person. He is so tough because he has a fear of being a failure like his father, and that fear is his drive. He strives so hard to be nothing like Knock. If Knock was successful would Awoken still be so hard on himself and ambitious.
Chapter four Quote: “Your wife was at fault, but even if you came into your Obi and found her lover on top , you would still have committed a great evil to beat her. ‘ This tote is significant because it shows how seriously they take the week of peace, and shows a cultural difference ; Summary: In this chapter we learn about customs and Ginkgo’s temper. We learn how Shameful adapts to Ginkgo’s household, Awoken grows fond of Shameful & Annoy enjoys him too. At first Shameful is sad but he grows use to it. From time to time Shameful grows ill but he gets better in the week of peace. The week of peace that year is broken by Awoken. He comes home searching for Gouge; who is his youngest wife. He waits for her and learns that she left to go plait her hair carelessly leaving her children Enid. When she returns in a fit of anger Awoken beats her forgetting that it’s the sacred week. ; Cezanne the priest Of the earth goddess talks to Awoken and tells him to bring an offering to the shrine of Ann.. ; After the incident the people of Muffin talked about the last time it had happened. ; They start planting yams & there’s a big rain that makes it hard to plant.
Annoy and Shameful get close and finally the rain stops and the children run out and play. ; Reaction: Awoken isn’t open about his feelings toward Shameful, Awoken is also very short-tempered. Chapter five Quote: “Awoken was especially fond of Eczema. This quote is significant because it lets us know about Schnooks emotions besides anger. Female roles: Females aren’t as highly as males, the wives make a meal for husband everyday. Eczema asks Awoken can she bring his chair to the wrestling match, and he tells her that’s a boys job. Summary: The people of Muffin are preparing for the Feast of New Yam, the are all talking and celebrating, everyone is in a festive mood. ; Awoken is upset he doesn’t like waiting for feasts, so he finds an outlet asking who killed the banana tree then shooting at her( but not killing her). ; His wives start joking and Kefir and Eczema are introduced. Eczema helps Noose’s mom make a fire. ; Eczema and Baggie bring their mother’s dishes to Awoken. We learn that soon a wrestling match will begin. Reaction: Ginkgo’s temper is bad, I was really shocked he shot at Kefir. What influence and contribution will Eczema have on thee story and Awoken? Eczema seems like a nice character. Chapter six Quote: ” The drummers took up their sticks and the air shivered and grew tense like a tightened bow’ this quote symbolizes the mood of this chapter with the wrestling matches. ; Summary: Wrestling begins everyone is there. There are dancers , drummers, and elders. Teenagers wrestle first, Madam throws a boy which grabs the elders & Ginkgo’s attention. Chisel is introduced, she is the priestess of the Oracle Cabala ; The real wrestling competition begins everyone is loud, the captains fight. Kafka & Kikuyu, Kafka wins and his town rejoices. ; Reaction: It was a very lively chapter it gave me a good feel of their culture. What is Chisels and Zinnias relationship? Their festivals are very lively. Chapter seven Reaction: This chapter made me really angry at Awoken because thought his actions were those of a coward. His fear of seeming weak caused him to kill and innocent child, and that just didn’t sit right with me.
This chapter certainly makes me question his character. Felt sorry for Annoy, and it made me mad because not only did Awoken murder Shameful he caused his son to feel broken. This chapters tone drastically changes from a calm sentimental happy one to a sad frightening one. I think Awoken shouldn’t have had any part in Snakeskin’s death. ; Summary: Awoken, Annoy, & Shameful are becoming close. Awoken tells them stories of his greatness and of him killing men. Annoy listens but he prefers his mothers stories. Awoken is proud of Noose’s development and he knows it’s because Of Shameful. Awoken is working on the walls when locusts come. The people were excited and waited for the locusts to land for them to cook and eat them. ; Gifted Queued tells Awoken that they have decided to kill Shameful because the oracle has pronounced it. ; Shameful thinks he is going home when Awoken and the men take him walking. On the journey Shameful thinks about his family. Shameful then notices how strange everything is and one of the men frighten him and strikes him with a machete breaking his pot Shameful runs to Awoken cared and Awoken kills him. When Awoken returns Annoy knows Shameful is dead. Annoy doesn’t cry he just hung limp, he recalls the last time he felt like this during the last harvest season when he heard the cry of infant twins that had been thrown away in the forest. Annoy describes this feeling as a snapping. Chapter eight ;Reaction: I like Beriberi he seems more open-minded and wiser than Awoken. I’m glad that Awoken does have a guilty conscience about murdering Shameful. This chapter touched on a lot of cultural differences in clans and women and men roles and values. Need for broadening an individual’s views about other cultures- in this chapter the men criticized neighboring clans for their differences in culture. Awoken himself is very judgmental and close-minded. They talked about how in some clans women have belonging of the children, and the differences in how the bride price is in some clans. ;Male and female roles and values- peg. 64 women aren’t viewed as being on the same level as men, they are thought of as housewives. ; Summary: Awoken is mournful of Snakeskin’s death and his crime consumes his thoughts to the point where he hasn’t eaten in three days, ;
Beriberi is introduced. Awoken goes to Beriberi’s Obi to talk and get his mind off of Shameful. Beriberi tells him that he shouldn’t have killed him, and that if he was in the situation he wouldn’t have gone to see his chilled murdered. Beriberi tells Awoken about the strange things that have been taking place and the cultural differences in neighboring clans. Beriberi tells Awoken to come back for the meeting with his daughters suitor. ; Awoken comes back to Beriberi’s and the suitor and his family is there. Quake, Beriberi’s daughter comes to greet them then she cooks with her mother. ;
They all talked and finally they began to discuss the bride price of Quake with broomsticks, after that they talked about cultural differences in neighboring clans and the white man. Chapter nine ;Reaction: This chapter was bittersweet. It told the sad backstops’ of Kefir and her struggle, but it also told of her special bond and love for Eczema. I think Awoken is very fond of Eczema. It made me sad when Kefir thinks about the naming ceremony and she talks about the meaning of their names and how she had become bitter. ;Quote: “The relationship between them was not only that of mother and child.
There was something in it like musicianship of equals,… ” This quote describes their relationship ; Summary: This chapter was about Kefir and Eczema and their relationship. ; Kefir bangs on Ginkgo’s hut saying Eczema is dying. Awoken goes to take a look and says she has bib and goes to get stuff for medicine. ; Kefir by herself thinks about Eczema and their relationship and how close they are and how much she loves her, she thinks of how she is the center of her world. Keel. Wife has such strong feelings her because of all of her ten children she has gave birth to Eczema is the only one to live.
Kefir thinks of all the hardships he has faced with giving birth, and how she learned her children were a Cabbage. Kefir remembers how Eczema was determined to live, Kefir had grown bitter but as time passed she grew to love Eczema. ; Kefir scared she might die but she doesn’t think she will because she recalls in the memory of when Awoken had brought a medicine man to find and destroy Eczema’s iii- away. ; Awoken returns makes the medicine and in the end Eczema sleeps peacefully. Chapter ten ; Summary: Gewgaws come to Muffin to settle a case between Zulu and Duke, about Soulful beating his wife Magmas. Reaction: This chapter was really short. I learned about the gewgaws and how they are spirits and they’re like a court system the solve cases. Chapter eleven ;Reaction: This chapter was very suspenseful, felt sorry for Kefir because she is always so worried about Eczema. I wonder why Chisel/ Cabala wanted Eczema, and what is going on? I’m glad Awoken came to see if everything was k. Summary: All the wives are sitting with the children telling stories. Kefir tells her story about the tortoise and the birds and their feast in the sky.
Eczema starts her story when everyone hears a loud pitched scream. Its Chisel but as the priestess of Cabala, prophesying. She says Eczema’s name and Kefir gets scared. She comes to their home and Awoken tells her she is asleep and to come in the morning. She ignores him and says my daughter and goes into their room and tells Eczema to come with her and she would carry her in her back. Eczema is scared but she agrees. As they walk away Kefir hears them and how they become faint. Kefir starts to follow them it’s dark and she can’t see but she continues to follow them, following Cabala’s voice.
As she follows them she notices that they have passed the caves and guesses they are going to Munich. Cabala calls out and says whoever is following should stop, Kefir is scared but she continues to follow. They get to Munich and they are in an ill. Cabala passes her and they head towards the caves. Kefir says the light is more scarier then the dark. Cabala crawls into the caves and Kefir stops and sits outside, but she swears to enter if she cries. While sitting there she hears something she sees its Awoken. He tells her to go home she says no, so they wait together.
Kefir remembers how things started with Awoken ; Summary: Its the next morning and everyone is about for Beriberi’s daughters URI. Kefir is tired and has Chapter twelve been told to rest, we earn that Chisel ;Reaction: I’m glad returns Eczema to their house asleep, Awoken and Kefir followed her that Eczema got back returning home. Everyone is out safely. This chapter preparing for Beriberi’s . The women are cooking people have gotten goats was laid back from the Junkie market, they talk about considering what just how popular the market is.
A cow gets loose and the women choose people to Ft happened with get it Chisel. ; The men arrive & talk about how her suitor should bring more than 25 pots of wine. They bring 45 and they are satisfied, they drink talk and sing. Chapter thirteen ;Reaction: This chapter is sad. It turned sour really quick. I think that some of their customs go overboard, to think if you kill someone on accident you have to flee and not return for 7 years, to me that is kind of harsh. Beriberi really questions customs a lot, and it makes me wonder what are his views on their customs? Summary: A messenger & comes wake up people saying that Queued has died. ; They have a big celebration for the deceived warrior. Everyone is wearing raffia skirts. People from the underworld came. Men were shouting the drums were beating. People from the underworld come, and a spirit of the gewgaws comes to talk to Queued. After the spirit leaves everyone starts dancing again. Everyone is loud shooting, and dancing, and in the midst of the crowd Sedum’s sixteen year old son gets shot. It turns out Awoken accidental shot Sedum’s son. ; Awoken flees & can’t return for 7 years because that is the custom.
People go destroy his belongings to cleanse the land because that is also custom. Beriberi who was one of the men that destroyed Ginkgo’s belongings questions customs. Chapter fourteen: PART TWO ;Reaction: This chapter was just about Awoken and how he is starting a new life in his mother’s land. I think this 7 year exile has hit hard with Awoken he finitely feels lost. In this chapter we meet Quenched, which is Ginkgo’s uncle. Feel that Quenched is going to help Awoken realize things, because I feel that Quenched . Is really wise ; Summary: Awoken and his family go to his mother’s land his uncle Quenched receives him.
Awoken starts his new life with his family. He builds new huts and his Obi, his family gives him land and yam-seeds. There of course is weather problems and after they cease Awoken and his family begin farming. ; Through the days Awoken becomes saddened & Quenched notices how much despair he is in. ; While Awoken is there his uncles son, Maximum is having the final bridal ceremony with his new wife. In this ceremony they asked the bride to answer truthfully has she laid sown with anyone before Maximum sought her, the girl swears she hasn’t. ; On the second day after that everyone gets together.
While everyone is there Quenched talks about his motherland and how in their custom a common name is Neck which means mother is supreme. He says that when people grieve they run to the comfort Of their mother. Lichenin lets Awoken know that others have suffered more than he has. Chapter fifteen ;Reaction: This chapter was really sad when it talked about Beam & how the white men destroyed their clan. Think this has foreshadowing, like maybe other clans will fall apart because of these white men. I’m glad that Awoken has Beriberi who in my eyes is a very loyal friend. Summary: It’s Ginkgo’s second year in exile, and Beriberi comes to visit him. Lichenin , Awoken,& Beriberi talk. Lichenin says he knows all the clans, he mentions the clan Beam. ; Then Beriberi tells them the fall of Beam. He says the white man came on an iron-horse, and that the people didn’t know what to make of it so they consulted their oracle, which told them that this man would break the clan. So they killed the man and tied his iron, horse to the sacred tree. He tells them of how one morning three white men came with people like them, looked at the sacred tree and went away.
During oaf which is a big market day, during that day the white men came in and killed all who were there which excludes elderly, sick, and people whose chi was alive that day. Quenched says they were fools & to never kill a man who says nothing, then he tells them the story about it. ; They eat and Beriberi gives Awoken money telling him he has sold his crops and will continue to do so until he returns. Chapter sixteen Reaction: This chapter was sad and annoying. It made me mad how they just came in their and blatantly just said their religion was right and the people of Mamba’s religion was wrong.
I’m not surprised that Annoy became a convert. He was always lost and searching for something, so it didn’t shock me. I was upset when he said Awoken wasn’t his father. I know that this religion and these white men are going to be the death of Awoken, story is so realistic because stuff like this has happened before on history, and to African- Americans. ; Summary: Beriberi comes to visit Awoken again two years later but things aren’t happy. Missionaries have come to Muffin with their religion and have built a church and earned some converts.
Beriberi has come to visit because one day he saw Annoy among them, and asked him what was going on; to which Annoy tells him he is one of them and that Awoken is not his father. So Beriberi goes to Ambulant to see what is going on, he hears what has happened from Noose’s mother because Awoken has refused to talk about it. ; The missionaries had came to Ambulant, and how there was six Of them; one a white man. The white man speaks through an interpreter who speaks Bio but his dialect is harsh, and he says my buttocks instead of myself. The interpreter talks about how the all our brothers because they are sons of god.
He tells them that there is only one god and that all of their gods are false NC powerless because they don’t exist. He tells them that when you die you go to him for judgment, he says that they should join them and saved so that they don’t go to hell. The people question him and laugh. He then sings a hymn about brothers lost in the dark ignorant of gods love. He then tells them about the holy trinity and Jesus. The people question him again about Jesus’ mother. Annoy becomes captivated by the hymn that makes him question about the twins and Shameful.
