Q1.

How can you tell from the title that “The Carabao and
The Shell” is fictional rather than factual ?

Rev
iew
A It has an element of fantasy.

B It is a fact story.

C It is a folktale from the Africa.

D It has horrible ending.

 Q2. Knowing that “The Carabao and The Shell” is
a folktale like “The Hare and The Tortoise”,
what do you expect it to be about ?
Rev
iew
Q3. Knowing that “The Carabao and The Shell” is a
Philippine version of “The Hare and The
Tortoise” , what do you expect to be different
about it?
LESSON 3

Comparing
Narratives
 Most Essential Learning
Competencies
The learner will:
 Use appropriate reading strategies to meet
one’s purpose (e.g., scanning, skimming,
close reading, etc.) EN7RC-IV-b-10
 Use direct and reported speech
appropriately in varied contexts EN7G-III-
e-3
 Discover literature as a tool to assert one’s
unique identity and to better understand
other people EN7LT-III-b-5
 of
Word
Difficulties
Language Practice Match the words and their meaning by paring column A with
column B.

Column A Column B
Bathe A. Strong – minded, will not give up
Carabao B. Wash or just lie around in the
water
Bank C. A domestic swamp-type water
buffalo. It likes to cool itself by lying
in a waterhole or a river. It is native
to the Philippines.
determined D. The sides of a river
Read.
 Carabao
 bank
 bathe
 determined
What is a folk tale?
Are these statements about folk tales true or false?
TRUE FALSE
A folk tale is a legend or myth.
A folk tale is a story that parents pass
onto their children.
A folk tale has a moral or lesson about
life.
A folk tale usually belongs to a
particular cultural group.
 The Carabao
and The Shell

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

A Filipino Folktale
 Q1. What sets off the sequence of events? (What
Questions
event and/or character sets the action
going/causes the problem?)
Q2. How does the shell beat the carabao in the
race?
Q3. Find evidence that the shell is smarter than
the carabao?
 Text 1- The Carabao and The Shell
One very hot day, when a carabao went into the
river to bathe, he met a shell and they began talking
together.
“You are very slow,” said the carabao to the shell.
“Oh, no,” replied the shell. “I can beat you in a race.”
“Then let us try and see,” said the carabao.
So they went out on the bank and started to run.
After the carabao had gone a long distance he
stopped and called, “Shell!”
And another shell lying by the river answered,
“Here I am!”
By and by he stopped again and called, “Shell!”
Again another shell answered, “Here I am!”
The carabao was surprised that the shell could keep
up with him. But he ran on and on, and every time he
stopped to call, another shell answered him. But he
was determined that the shell should not beat him, so
he ran until he dropped dead.

[Cole, M. C. (1916/2008). The Carabao and The Shell. Philippine Folk

Tales. A.C. McClurg & Co.]
Text 2 – The Hare and The Tortoise

There was once a hare who was friends with a tortoise.

One day, he challenged the tortoise to a race. Seeing how slow
the tortoise was going, the hare thought he would win this
easily. So, he took a nap while the tortoise kept on going.
When the hare woke up, he saw that the tortoise was
already at the finish line. Much to his chagrin, the tortoise
won the race while the hare was busy sleeping.
Use the self-check column to decide how well you will
answer the questions.
Questions Self-check
1. What set off the sequence of events in I got it!

the story, The Carabao and The Shell? I need more practice.

I need help.

2. How did the shell beat the carabao in I got it!

the race? I need more practice.

I need help.

Find evidence that the shell was

3. I got it!
smarter than the carabao? I need more practice.
I need help.
 Q4. On the worksheet, list the similarities and
differences between “The Carabao and The
Questions
Shell” and “The Hare ang The Tortoise”.
Q5. What difference does it make in changing the
ending of the tale from tortoise living to the
carabao dying?
Q6. Which version do you prefer? Give reasons for
your answer.
Lesson Conclusion!
Q1. The focus of the lesson was on learning the
Questions
different versions of the same sort of plot. How
did the lesson helped you understand the
differences?
Q2. Which questions were easy to you?
Q3. What strategies did you use to answer harder
questions?