Favorite Folktales from Around the World Chapter Summary & Analysis - Death and the World's End Summary

Death and the World's End Summary

The Duration of Life comes from Germany. God creates the world and gives each thing its allotted time on earth. He gives each thirty years but it is too much for the ass, the dog and the monkey, who beg for less. When man comes along he wants more than thirty so God gives him the time the other three did not want. So the first thirty years of a man's life is easy, the next eighteen are with heavy burdens, like the ass' burdens, the next twelve years are the dog's and the man lies in a corner growling with no teeth. At the end are the monkey's ten years and man is weak-headed and foolish and does silly things.

Woman Chooses Death is a Blackfoot American Indian story. Old Man creates woman and child and lets her decide if people live or die. She does not know...
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