Question

As a commentary on legal relations, this folktale is best described as

• A. an example of traditional practices
• B. an outline for social behavior
• C. a warning about ill-conceived assent
• D. a criticism of obsolete customs
• E. a parody of actual situations

Answer 1

The correct option is C a warning about ill-conceived assent

The passage explains through an interpretation of the folk tale that in the Tanaina culture the verbal communication between two people can be a legal contract. Through the beaver's complete assent and without any negotiation with the porcupine woman, the passage warns us about ill-conceived assent. This claim is supported by the following extract:

"A culturally attuned listener would notice, for instance, that when the porcupine woman proposed passage to the beaver, he agreed without any stipulations or clarifications of the terms. He gave a basically open-ended agreement made a contract and hence the porcupine woman was perfectly within her rights both in demanding that he return three times and in quilling him to death when he reneged."