How the Corn-Pests Were Ensnared explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Folklore vs. Science

  The sacred Foam-dance and the trickery of the Owl represent traditional folklore explanations for natural phenomena and social behavior.

• Sacrifice and Consequence

  The Coyote's willingness to sacrifice his grandmother and his own legs for the dance leads to grief, shame, and a desire for revenge.

• Nature and the Supernatural

  The dance, the foam, and the trickery blur the line between natural animal behavior and supernatural ritual.

Characters to notice

• Coyote

  Tricked by the Owls into killing his grandmother and breaking his legs to join their dance, then humiliated and seeking revenge.

• The Owl

  The old master of ceremonies who deceives the Coyote into harming himself and his grandmother.

• The Owls

  The Burrowing-owls who perform the Foam-dance and mock the Coyote after his humiliation.

• The Old Grandmother

  The Coyote's grandmother, killed by him on the Owl's advice.

• The Horned-Toad

  Crawls into the Coyote's throat and sings a song, tormenting him further.

Key passages

• “You see, my friend," said the Owl, turning toward the Coyote, "we hold this to be a very sacred performance⁠—very sacred indeed.”

  The Owl explains to the Coyote that the dance is a sacred ritual.

  Highlights the sacred nature of the dance and the Owl's deceptive explanation.

• “The Coyote looked sick and groaned occasionally and kept looking around at his feet, as though he would like to lick them.”

  The Coyote is in pain and discomfort after breaking his legs.

  Shows the physical consequence of the Coyote's gullibility.

• “Alas! alas! that it should have come to this! You little devils! I'll be even with you! I'll smoke you out of your holes.”

  The Coyote laments his situation and threatens to smoke the Owls out of their burrows.

  Demonstrates the Coyote's anger and desire for revenge after being tricked.