Views #1017 | Intermediate (B1)

Paul Bunyan

Jakes tells Shirley about a popular folk hero to American school children.


 

Shirley: Hi Jake, how are you today?

Jake: Good. How are you Shirley?

Shirley: Not too bad thanks. I thought we might talk about folk heroes today. I don’t really know much about American folk heroes, are there any that you have a favorite or...?

Jake: Actually my hometown in the United States happens to be known as one of the hometowns for Paul Bunyan.

Shirley: I think I’ve heard of that name but I don’t know anything about him.

Jake: Paul Bunyan was a lumberjack. Like, he would cut down trees and he was supposedly a very giant man. He was huge. And I don’t know if he ever actually lived sometime in the past, but maybe he was just a very large man but somehow the stories have been passed down to say that he was as large as a house or as large as a skyscraper. It completely depends on who you ask.

Shirley: Wow, so not sure whether he’s a mythical character or a real character.

Jake: No one really knows for sure.

Shirley: What did he do?

Jake: Well, some people say that he took his ax and he dragged it behind his back across the United States and he made the Mississippi river.

Shirley: So it’s a kind of story to explain why something exists.

Jake: That’s part of it. And also, he had a pet too. His pet is very famous.

Shirley: And what kind of pet?

Jake: His pet was an ox, but it wasn’t just an ordinary ox. It was a blue ox. And it was also oversized to fit with his size.

Shirley: What did his pet do?

Jake: Well his pet I think would just carry lumber for him or something...

Shirley: So about when did this story start? When did Paul Bunyan become famous? Or when did people know about that story?

Jake: Well, I’m not exactly sure, but like your country, the United States is a very young country and has a very young history since the European settlers came there so I think it’s maybe from a couple hundred years ago, maybe at the most.

Shirley: Hmm. Ok.

 

Related articles

The Joy of Airports

Tony talks about what he thinks planes and airports.
ADV C1
Tony Steph
Flag America Flag America

Vacation at the Beach

Two people share their ideal way to spend time in surf and sand.
ADV C1
Tony Steph
Flag America Flag America

Musical Talents

Two people discuss what musical instruments they can play.
IINT B1
Adriana Julen
Flag America Flag America

Music Genres

Two people discuss the types of music they like to listen to.
IINT B1
Adriana Julen
Flag America Flag America

Robots and AI

Two people share their feelings about AI and the rise of robots.
IINT B2
Patricia John
Flag America Flag America
Top Sidebar

Bottom Sidebar