Reading Notes: How the Rattlesnake Learned to Bite, Part B

For Part B I chose to stick with the Southwestern and California Legends Unit. I liked part A, so I decided to continue reading part B. The stories of why things came to be spark my interest greatly because the stories that people create are well thought out. My favorite story was titled How the Rattlesnake Learned to Bite from Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest by Katharine Berry Judson (1912)

According to this story, the rattlesnake was once a gentle friendly creature. He started to become known as a mean creature only when he was bothered continuously by the other animals. I like that the storyteller started out by believing in the good of all creatures.

Retelling this story from my perspective, I would keep the general storyline, but change a few details.  First, I would keep the idea of the rattlesnake being a gentle creature. He only began to bite when he was bothered over and over. I would have the rattlesnake warn all of the others first though. He would explain that they were disturbing him at all hours and he wasn't getting any rest. He would continue saying if it didn't stop soon, something bad would happen. The other creatures didn't take him seriously and laughed at his statement.

Later on, when Rabbit decided to bother him, he bit him. The ridicule continued, and he bit two others. The result of the bites will eventually kill the animals. These three animals will be the first to die in the new world. From then on, no animals mess with the rattlesnake because they fear him. He spends the rest of his days nestled between rocks or in dark caves because he no longer has any companions.

Rattlesnake

Source: Wikimedia Commons