Compare Across Texts

Illustration of the title page of the selection, “The Legend of the Yakwawiak”

Compare Themes and Symbols

Listen to your teacher read “A Legend of the Great White Buffalo.” This legend and “The Legend of the Yakwawiak” contain symbols that stand for the theme they share. Find another legend with the same theme. Compare the themes and symbols in all three legends.

How It Works

Organize Themes and Symbols To compare themes and symbols in both texts, organize them in a chart.

Comparison Chart
SelectionThemeSymbol
“The Legend of the Great White Buffalo”Respect all living things.The white buffalo symbolizes the harmony between all living things.
“The Legend of the Yakwawiak”Respect all living things.The cranberry stands for the blood that was lost because of the Yakwawiak.

Practice Together

Compare Themes and Symbols Use the chart to compare the legends. Here is the beginning of a summary comparing the themes and symbols.

Comparison

Many legends across cultures have similar themes and contain symbols that stand for these themes. “The Legend of the Yakwawiak” and “The Legend of the Great White Buffalo” tell about the importance of respecting all living things. The Yakwawiak don’t respect other creatures, so they are killed. In the buffalo legend, …

Try It!

Finish the chart by adding information from the legend you found. Use this frame to help you.

“The Legend of the Yakwawiak” and _______ have a similar theme. They also each have a symbol that stands for the theme. “The Legend of the Yakwawiak” tells about _______. The main symbol is _______, which stands for _______. _______ tells about _______. The main symbol is _______, which stands for _______.

Academic Vocabulary

  • • symbol (sim-bul) noun A symbol is an object that represents something else.