Homefun On True Proverbs:image of girl and irish proverb: You'll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind.

As you are required to submit this Homefun in the "Tasks, Tests and Surveys" area for a grade, be sure to provide clear and complete answers. In other words, really try to show your knowlege of the folklore topic in question, your personal insights about the topic, and some critical thinking skills. If you can't answer a specific question after you have consulted the Brunvand text, please discuss the question with a friend, ask another student for help in the Chat area, or post your question on the Student Lounge in the "Discussions and Private Messages" board. You might also be sure to visit all the links I've offered to other relevant sites on the Internet.  Only after such a reasonable effort should you write "attempted to complete."
  1. How would you define "true proverb"? Include what they are, their function, and how they might originate.
  2. How do true proverbs differ from proverbial phrases?
  3. Would you agree that a minimum knowledge of and about proverbs is an asset? Why?
  4. What's a proverb that you believe contains some folk wisdom worth remembering. Why exactly do you value this particular proverb.
  5. What's a proverb that you disagree with? What exactly do you find to be the problem with the proverb?
  6. What are the benefits, if any, of proverb use? Offer examples in support of position.
  7. What are the potential liabilities in proverb use? Offer examples in support of position.
  8. Ask a couple children and adults to complete the incomplete proverbs below. Write down the responses and tell me what their answers might tell us about proverbs, children, adults...?
The pen is mightier than___________________________________________________

A bird in the hand is_______________________________________________________

Fools rush in where_______________________________________________________

You can't get blood out of a_________________________________________________

Man does not live by_______________________________________________________

A rolling stone____________________________________________________________