Zuni Folktales · Chapter
How the Turtle Out Hunting Duped the Coyote explained
The old Turtle kills a deer but lacks a knife to skin it.
What happens
The old Turtle kills a deer but lacks a knife to skin it. He sings a magic song to find a flint, attracting a Coyote who helps skin the deer in exchange for the stomach and liver. The Coyote demands half, but the Turtle refuses, leading to a conflict. The Turtle outwits the Coyote and his family by hiding the meat in a tree, tricking them with a hot pudding filled with fire-ants, and ultimately causing the Coyotes' demise through clever deception.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the children’s joyful play turns to horror as the elder siste…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Folklore vs. Science
The Turtle's magic song to find a flint-knife and the Coyote's superstitious behavior contrast with the practical ingenuity of the Turtle's hunting and deception.
- Nature and the Supernatural
The story blends natural elements (deer, tree, ants) with supernatural elements (magic song, talking animals) in a traditional Zuni folktale.
Characters to notice
- The Turtle
The old Turtle uses ingenuity to kill a deer, outwits the Coyote, and ultimately retains the meat through clever tricks.
- Coyote
The Coyote helps skin the deer, demands half, and later returns with his family to retrieve the meat, but is repeatedly duped by the Turtle.
- Coyotes
The Coyote's family, including cubs and the old woman, are tricked by the Turtle with a hot pudding filled with fire-ants and later crushed by falling ribs.
Key passages
“In the times of the ancients, long, long ago, near the Highflowing River on the Zuni Mountains, there lived an old Turtle.”
A long time ago, an old Turtle lived near the Highflowing River in the Zuni Mountains.
Sets the setting of the folktale in ancient Zuni territory.
“He went out hunting, one day, and by means of his ingenuity killed a large, fine deer.”
One day, he went hunting and cleverly killed a big, healthy deer.
Highlights the Turtle's resourcefulness.
“Ingenuity enabled me to kill a deer. Ingenuity enabled me to retain the deer.”
My cleverness allowed me to kill the deer and keep it.
The Turtle's final reflection underscores the theme of wit over strength.
