Let’s talk Do you know any traditional stories or myths? Who are the characters? What happens in them? Reading Read the first paragraph. When and where is this story set? Who is the main character? Unit 11 The Tree of Life
This story is a myth . Myths often explain how something in the natural world began. In many traditional stories or myths the characters don’t have names. They are called ‘the old man’ or ‘the little girl’.
The Tree of Life A long time ago, when people ate only leaves and berries, a young boy found a fabulous tree in the forest. Its branches were full of every kind of fruit – bananas, mangoes, pawpaws, soursops and more.
* The boy ate greedily. “I won’t tell anyone about this tree,” he decided. “I will keep the fruit for myself.”
He went back often to the tree and ate his fill. Soon, his sister noticed that he was getting fat. She became suspicious and, one day, she followed him into the forest. When she saw the tree, she shouted, “This is the tree of life! We can’t keep it to ourselves.” Her brother objected but she ran quickly back to the village to share the good news. Immediately, the villagers raced to the tree and climbed up into its branches. There was plenty for everyone but, still, they fought over the biggest and ripest. More and more people scrambled up the tree.
Predict the outcome
What do you think will happen next?
• Pause occasionally during reading to check students’ understanding. Can they retell the story so far or provide a synonym for a word? • Extension: Ask students to practise reading part of the story (from * to **) aloud with feeling and expression. • Alternatively ask students to work in groups and dramatise that section, improvising and adding words and actions of their own.
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