Narrative Text

Why the Bat flies at Night

8 Nov, 2015  in Narrative / Adventure / Africa / Western Africa by Frans Timmermans 
Once upon a time, in the distant past, there was a great war between the animals

who live in the sky and those that live on the ground. 

Nobody now remembers how the war started or what it was about, but it was a terrible time. 

Many animals on both sides were wounded or killed, and eventually somebody said that

 if they carried on like this, there would be no animals left on the earth. 

So some of the sky animals and some of the ground animals had a meeting,

 and as nobody could recall what they were fighting each other for, 

it was agreed that a truce should be called, and peace declared.

For the sky dwellers, the heron was appointed to make the announcements,

 and for the ground animals, the hare would do this job, as he was able to get
 around the area very quickly. 

This was done the next morning, but as all animals settled down

realising they could now live in peace and rebuild their lives,

  some body found the body of Mr Bat. 

He was the last victim of the war, and must have been killed late the previous day. 

All the flying animals were very upset, and the decided to organise a big burial for their friend. 

But as they were preparing his body for the funeral,

 one of the birds noticed that Mr Bat had teeth in his mouth.

How was that possible? Flying animals don’t have teeth.

 They called a meeting, and they agreed that Bat can’t be one of them, 

as no other bird has teeth in his mouth. 

So they took bat’s body to the ground animals, 

and told them that as Mr Bat was not a bird, it was their responsibility to give him a decent burial.

The ground animals agreed to accept the body, but then, 

as they were preparing for the burial, one of them shouted: 

“Wait a minute, this bat may have teeth, but he definitely also has wings!

 How can he be one of us if he has wings?”

So now the ground animals had a meeting to consider the problem, 

and they decided that no ground animal can have wings, so therefore, 

Mr Bat can’t be regarded as one of them. So they too, refused to bury Mr Bat.

Poor Mr Bat, the flying animals refused to accept him because he has teeth, 

and the ground animals refused to accept him because he has wings. 

And that is why the bat is still flying around every night.

Found among the papers of John Fumey, my deceased father in law, in Madina, Accra.

source: http://fairytalesoftheworld.com/quick-reads/why-the-bat-flies-at-night/

TEXT ORGANIZATION		Language features
Orientation	Once upon a time, in the distant past, there was a great war between the animals who live in the sky and those that live on the ground. Nobody now remembers how the war started or what it was about, but it was a terrible time. Many animals on both sides were wounded or killed, and eventually somebody said that if they carried on like this, there would be no animals left on the earth. So some of the sky animals and some of the ground animals had a meeting, and as nobody could recall what they were fighting each other for, it was agreed that a truce should be called, and peace declared.	{if the color of the word is the same like below, than it is it’s language feature) Who                       when where Action verb Mental verb Specific participant Linkingverb(conjuctions)
Complication	For the sky dwellers, the heron was appointed to make the announcements, and for the ground animals, the hare would do this job, as he was able to get around the area very quickly. This was done the next morning, but as all animals settled down, realizing they could now live in peace and rebuild their lives, somebody found the body of Mr Bat. He was the last victim of the war, and must have been killed late the previous day. All the flying animals were very upset, and the decided to organize a big burial for their friend. But as they were preparing his body for the funeral, one of the birds noticed that Mr Bat had teeth in his mouth. How was that possible? Flying animals don’t have teeth. They called a meeting, and they agreed that Bat can’t be one of them, as no other bird has teeth in his mouth. So they took bat’s body to the ground animals, and told them that as Mr Bat was not a bird, it was their responsibility to give him a decent burial. The ground animals agreed to accept the body, but then, as they were preparing for the burial, one of them shouted: “Wait a minute, this bat may have teeth, but he definitely also has wings! How can he be one of us if he has wings?” So now the ground animals had a meeting to consider the problem, and they decided that no ground animal can have wings, so therefore, Mr Bat can’t be regarded as one of them. So they too, refused to bury Mr Bat.
Resolution	Poor Mr Bat, the flying animals refused to accept him because he has teeth, and the ground animals refused to accept him because he has wings. And that is why the bat is still flying around every night.

Questions

1. Why did the bat is still flying around every night instead of flyingt with the sky dwellers?

    a. Because the bat was shy

    b. Because he didn't want to

    c. Because he was left by other animals

    d. Because he didn't accepted by both ground animals and sky animals

    e. Because the sky dwellers and the ground animals hated Mr Bat

2. Who was appointed to declare peace for the sky animals?

    a. hare

    b. heron

    c. Mr. Bat

    d. hare and heron

    e. none of the above

3. Why the ground animals refused to bury Mr Bat?
    a. Mr Bat had teeth, but he had wings like the sky animals, so they demand the sky animals to bury Mr Bat

    b. Mr. Bat had wings, but they decided that no ground animal can have wings, and Mr. Bat can't be with them   

    c. Mr. Bat was already buried by the sky animals
    d. The sky animals refused to bury Mr. Bat because he has teeth
    e. None of the options are correct
4. Did the sky animals upset when they found out that Mr Bat was dead?
    a. Yes, they did, because they thought Mr Bat is one of them, then they decided to bury him
    b. No, they didn't because Mr. Bat had teeth
    c. Yes, they did, because Mr. Bat declared peace
    d. No, they didn't because Mr. Bat did nothing
    e. Yes, they did, because Mr. Bat is one of the ground animals
5. How was the end of the story?
    a. Mr Bat flies at night while other creatures live at daytime

    b. Mr Bat was not buried by both of the sky and ground animals
    c. Mr. Bat is one of the sky and ground animals
    d. Sky and ground animals were happy to have Mr. Bat

    e. The ground animals and sky animals declare peace