# Zuni Version explained — Zuni Folktales

> Chapter companion for Zuni Folktales by Frank Hamilton Cushing.

## What happens

An old woman of the Italia-kwe keeps a Tâkâkâ Cock in a corral. A mouse, stealing food, has its tail bitten off by the cock. The mouse feigns friendship, tricks the cock into escaping, then drops a nut on his head, knocking him out, and gnaws off his bristles. The story explains the origin of cocks' combs, missing breast bristles, and field mice's short tails.

## Themes in this chapter

### Transformation and Identity

The story explains how cocks lost their breast bristles and gained combs, and how field mice got short tails, marking a transformation of identity.

### Folklore vs. Science

The tale uses folklore to explain natural phenomena (cocks' combs, mice's tails) in a mythic rather than scientific framework.

### Sacrifice and Consequence

The Cock's injury and the Mouse's revenge illustrate the theme of consequence and the need for payment or recompense.

## Character check-ins

### The Cock

A Tâkâkâ Cock kept by an old woman; proud and gullible, he is tricked by the Mouse and loses his bristles.

### Friend Mouse

A mouse who steals food, has his tail bitten off by the Cock, and later takes revenge by tricking the Cock and gnawing off his bristles.

### The Old Grandmother

The old woman who owns the Cock; she is poor and feeds him refuse.

## Key lines

> Hah! By the Grandmother of Substance, it is a worm!

The Cock mistakes the Mouse's tail for a worm and pecks it off.

_This moment triggers the Mouse's desire for revenge._

> Té mi thlo kô thlo kwa!

The Mouse exclaims triumphantly that he has done to his foe what his foe tried to do to him.

_The Mouse's revenge is complete after dropping the nut on the Cock._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/zuni_folktales_se/chapters/zuni-version
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/zuni_folktales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/zuni_folktales_se/chapters