I’m looking for a folktale or fable that gives an example of someone trying to help, but their help only ends up making things worse for the person they’re trying to help (that sentence seems a little weird, but does accurately portray what I’m looking for).
Any ideas?
March 6, 2012 at 9:19 pm
http://www.bartleby.com/17/1/62.html
This is it!! The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey
Years ago I assigned different Aesops Fabels and my kids worked in groups to create visuals and/or act out the stories. I remember this one so WELL because the group cut out what amounted to paper dolls and used an old overhead projector to “act out” the story. They used a pencil to show the donkey being hogtied and carried. Very effective and well done. The rubric included scoring for effective use of visuals as well as using inflection and appropriate emphasis in “reading” their story aloud, which was part of the requirement.
I had MANY good projects from these fifth graders back then (more than fifteen years ago). They were very creative. So low tech, but so much fun.
March 6, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Cathy Jo,
Thanks. Great suggestion!
Larry
March 7, 2012 at 11:40 am
The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey is what first came to mind, but I’m sure there are so many out there.
One of my favorite bands, CAKE, has a song called “Tougher Than It Is” that I always think of when I find myself doing something to try and avoid one problem only to create another.
Might be worth incorporating into a class? I find that listening to music in a language I am learning is very helpful, although undoubtedly one of the hardest parts of learning a language.
March 7, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Thanks, John!
March 7, 2012 at 2:02 am
It isn’t a fable, but if you want a fun version of this idea from video, there is a scene in Mulan where the grandmother gives her a lucky cricket, which then causes a disaster in the match-maker’s house. This is a perfect example of someone trying to help, but just making things worse for the person they are trying to help.
Hope that helps!
March 7, 2012 at 6:56 am
Thanks, Karissa!
Larry
March 7, 2012 at 8:59 am
Check out Gary Larson’s “There’s a Hair in My Dirt”. The main “heroine” does things that are seemingly helpful, but ultimately lead to multiple environmental “tragedies”.
March 7, 2012 at 10:43 am
Thanks, Ryan, I’ll check it out.
Larry
March 7, 2012 at 1:01 pm
It Could Always Be Worse – a Yiddish folktale. It is available as a picture book.
March 7, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Thanks, Sue!
March 9, 2012 at 9:44 am
I am thinking of the story of Streganona and Big Anthony. He wants to help her cook the spaghetti and winds up making a big mess.
March 9, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Thanks, Barbara, I’ll check it out.
Larry