Anastasia Williams
Mrs. Sauer
Am. Lit/ 4th hour
23 January 2012
Turtle’s Creation
It is human nature to want to have questions answered. The creation of the Earth is a discovery that many want to make, and because of this there are many theories and stories to describe creation. Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac found one explanation from the Onondaga-Northeast Woodlands and rewrote the story into “The Earth on Turtle’s Back”. In this story a woman’s curiosity and the helpfulness of animals create Earth with a small handful of dirt and determination (18-19). Many Americans have told stories similar to this to try and explain creation.
Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac’s retelling of “The Earth on Turtle’s Back”, shows how stories were used to tell the people of discoveries and ideas. In this book, Skyland’s queen has a dream that the Great Tree is uprooted, and once it is she falls through the hole left by it’s roots (18). If the queen did not want to find what was “glittering like water,” (18) she would not have fallen through the hole, but it is human nature to find answers. Throughout her fall the animals create Earth.
As the queen falls, a pair of swans catch her and all of the animals decide that she is not able to live in the water and that they need to help her. The animals do this by trying to bring up soil from below the water, but only “tiny Muskrat” (19) is able to swim to the bottom and bring forth part of Earth. Muskrat places the soil onto Turtle’s back and Earth begins to grow along with trees as the queen plants seeds (19). This story shows the discovery that the little people in life make a difference, as out of all the animals only the smallest was able to swim to the bottom of the water world to get the Earth. This story also explains the idea of how Earth came to be by Muskrat’s journey (19). Discovering how Earth was created is a large mystery that many have tried to answer and this is only idea.
A human mind is always wondering and creating questions and discoveries, a question shared by many is how the Earth came to be. Every story on creation is different and is found in every culture(Sauer) and Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac’s story of “The Earth on Turtle’s Back” shows just one of many theories. I found that this story seemed unlikely because I was raised to believe that God created Earth and the universe, but as we have not found proof, Earth may have been created in any way even by the brave Muskrat (19). After reading this story and talking to Mrs. Sauer I have discovered that one must keep an open mind as there are many stories in America to explain Earth’s creation.
America is a country known to many as the “melting pot”and this is true about the theories used to find the truth behind Earth. In Prentice Hall’s “The American Experience”, a compilation book of American stories, there is a whole unit for written stories of the creation. This shows American’s yearning to discover how the Earth was created. Often in these stories another discovery can be made, like in Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac’s story “The Earth on Turtle’s Back”, besides the story of Earth they show that the small can be mighty and that curiosity brings change.
America has come to showcase compilations of ideas on creation and many other subjects that Americans want to discover. Often these stories represent the culture’s life as in Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac’s retelling of the Onondaga-Northeast Woodland’s “The Earth on Turtle’s Back”. The many findings in these tales help fill the void of not knowing until a new discovery is made.
Anastasia Williams
Mrs. Sauer
Am Lit/ 4th hour
11 February 2013
Yertle’s Big Discovery
Discoveries are found in different ways. Some are from monumental moments, others from the smallest happenings. Dr. Seuss’ “Yertle the Turtle”, features a turtle named Yertle who learns lessons from gaining power. His ascent in power leads to his demise like my sister’s and General Patton’s. The discovery of power leads many to their end.
Yertle is a greedy turtle who rules over, as he says, “‘all that I see.’” (4) and discovers that this power he wields should not be abused. He starts by having power over the pond in Sala-ma-Sond, but soon realizes having a taller throne will allow him to rule more. To raise his throne he has the other turtles stand on each other and watches as his view includes more land; with each new height he reaches he gains an air of self-importance until the moon surpases him. Mack saves all the turtles from more pain when he burps and causes Yertle to tumble down into the mud. Ruling over the only thing he could see, mud, the king discovered that his great power led to his own destruction (4-8).
My sister Tori had a similar issue, she found that she gained power from crying to my mother. For years this tactic worked making me always do what she wanted, because she knew she could have her way no matter what. Because of this I always was seen as the one doing something wrong but eventually my mom realized the tears were fake and now she has little power over me. My sisters time at the top ended as did Yertle’s and left her the ruler of the “mud” (8).
Similarly, General Patton, one of America’s greatest generals, had his power taken away at the height of his time. General Patton lead many troops into battle and discovered his talent while moving up the ranks. As one of America’s greatest generals during World War II it was shocking for many to hear him claim that the trouble was not just oversea, but that communists were in the United States as well. Because of his success as a general people believed him causing America to fall into chaos until he was asked to step down from office. He discovered that having power requires more responsibility than just admiring it, as does Yertle when he ignores Mack as Mack cried out in hunger (7-8).
The discovery of power has led many to their end. Power has a way of bringing out the worst in people and turtles alike and without limit power can get out of hand quickly. General Patton, Tori, and Dr. Seuss’ Yertle can attest to the end of not so great reigns. Some discoveries are better left undiscovered.
On the far-away island of Sala-ma-Sond,
Yertle the Turtle was king of the pond.
A nice little pond. It was clean. It was neat.
The water was warm. There was plenty to eat.
The turtles had everything turtles might need.
And they were all happy. Quite happy indeed.
They were… until Yertle, the king of them all,
Decided the kingdom he ruled was too small.
“I’m ruler”, said Yertle, “of all that I see.
But I don’t see enough. That’s the trouble with me.
With this stone for a throne, I look down on my pond
But I cannot look down on the places beyond.
This throne that I sit on is too, too low down.
It ought to be higher!” he said with a frown.
“If I could sit high, how much greater I’d be!
What a king! I’d be ruler of all that I see!”
So Yertle the Turtle King, lifted his hand
And Yertle, the Turtle King, gave a command.
He ordered nine turtles to swim to his stone
And, using these turtles, he built a new throne.
He made each turtle stand on another one’s back
And he piled them all up in a nine-turtle stack.
And then Yertle climbed up. He sat down on the pile.
What a wonderful view! He could see ‘most a mile!
“All mine!” Yertle cried. “Oh, the things I now rule!
I’m the king of a cow! And I’m the king of a mule!
I’m the king of a house! And, what’s more, beyond that
I’m the king of a blueberry bush and a cat!
I’m Yertle the Turtle! Oh, marvelous me!
For I am the ruler of all that I see!”
And all through the morning, he sat up there high
Saying over and over, “A great king am I!”
Until ‘long about noon. Then he heard a faint sigh.
“What’s that?” snapped the king,and he looked down the stack.
And he saw, at the bottom, a turtle named Mack.
Just a part of his throne. And this plain little turtle
Looked up and he said, “Beg your pardon, King Yertle.
I’ve pains in my back and my shoulders and knees.
How long must we stand here, Your Majesty, please?”
“SILENCE!” the King of the Turtles barked back.
“I’m king, and you’re only a turtle named Mack.”
“You stay in your place while I sit here and rule.
I’m the king of a cow! And I’m the king of a mule!
I’m the king of a house! And a bush! And a cat!
But that isn’t all. I’ll do better than that!
My throne shall be higher!” his royal voice thundered,
“So pile up more turtles! I want ’bout two hundred!”
“Turtles! More turtles!” he bellowed and brayed.
And the turtles ‘way down in the pond were afraid.
They trembled. They shook. But they came. They obeyed.
From all over the pond, they came swimming by dozens.
Whole families of turtles, with uncles and cousins.
And all of them stepped on the head of poor Mack.
One after another, they climbed up the stack.
Then Yertle the Turtle was perched up so high,
He could see forty miles from his throne in the sky!
“Hooray!” shouted Yertle. “I’m the king of the trees!
I’m king of the birds! And I’m king of the bees!
I’m king of the butterflies! King of the air!
Ah, me! What a throne! What a wonderful chair!
I’m Yertle the Turtle! Oh, marvelous me!
For I am the ruler of all that I see!”
Then again, from below, in the great heavy stack,
Came a groan from that plain little turtle named Mack.
“Your Majesty, please… I don’t like to complain,
But down here below, we are feeling great pain.
I know, up on top you are seeing great sights,
But down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights.
We turtles can’t stand it. Our shells will all crack!
Besides, we need food. We are starving!” groaned Mack.
“You hush up your mouth!” howled the mighty King Yertle.
“You’ve no right to talk to the world’s highest turtle.
I rule from the clouds! Over land! Over sea!
There’s nothing, no, NOTHING, that’s higher than me!”
But, while he was shouting, he saw with surprise
That the moon of the evening was starting to rise
Up over his head in the darkening skies.
“What’s THAT?” snorted Yertle. “Say, what IS that thing
That dares to be higher than Yertle the King?
I shall not allow it! I’ll go higher still!
I’ll build my throne higher! I can and I will!
I’ll call some more turtles. I’ll stack ‘em to heaven!
I need ’bout five thousand, six hundred and seven!”
But, as Yertle, the Turtle King, lifted his hand
And started to order and give the command,
That plain little turtle below in the stack,
That plain little turtle whose name was just Mack,
Decided he’d taken enough. And he had.
And that plain little lad got a bit mad.
And that plain little Mack did a plain little thing.
He burped!
And his burp shook the throne of the king!
And Yertle the Turtle, the king of the trees,
The king of the air and the birds and the bees,
The king of a house and a cow and a mule…
Well, that was the end of the Turtle King’s rule!
For Yertle, the King of all Sala-ma-Sond,
Fell off his high throne and fell Plunk! in the pond!
And today the great Yertle, that Marvelous he,
Is King of the Mud. That is all he can see.
And the turtles, of course… all the turtles are free
As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be.
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