Two Wolves Human Nature and Personal Choices

Objective: Students will respond to questions regarding the duality of human nature and the choices we make that form our characters. ALLEGORY –Allegory is a form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance, and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas as charity, greed, or envy. Thus an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning.metaphorpersonificationssymbolic

A Motivational Story with Wisdom - Two Wolves Cherokee Wisdom One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Writing Assignment What is the underlying message or moral of this story and do you agree or disagree with the writer’s assessment? Recall a time where you chose to “feed” one of your wolves more than the other. What was the situation and what were the results and/or consequences for you personally? (How did this choice make you feel?)