the Turkey

Role: animal · First appears: Myth 37 · How the Turkey Got His Beard

In Myth 37, the Terrapin agreed to give the Turkey his scalp, which the Turkey fastened around his neck before running off with it. When the Terrapin called for it back, the Turkey ran faster; the Terrapin then shot cane splints into his leg to cripple him. Myth 40 also refers to the Turkey stealing the Terrapin’s scalp.

In Myth 38, the Turkey asked the Grouse to teach him to halloo, promising feathers for a collar in return. He learned quickly, but when tested could only gobble; he gave the Grouse the promised feathers, “That is how the Grouse got his collar of turkey feathers.”

Relationship record

Life events

• The Turkey tricked the Terrapin into giving him the scalp and fastened it around his neck.(Myth 37 · How the Turkey Got His Beard)
  • With: the Terrapin
  • “The Terrapin agreed and gave the scalp to the Turkey, who fastened it around his neck.”
• The Turkey ran away with the scalp, and the Terrapin never caught him.(Myth 37 · How the Turkey Got His Beard)
  • With: the Terrapin
  • “But the Turkey kept on walking, and when the Terrapin called to him to bring back the scalp he only walked faster and broke into a run.”
• The Terrapin shot cane splints into the Turkey's leg, crippling him so he could not run.(Myth 37 · How the Turkey Got His Beard)
  • With: the Terrapin
  • “Then the Terrapin got out his bow and by his conjuring art shot a number of cane splints into the Turkey's leg to cripple him so that he could not run”
• The Turkey asked the Grouse to teach him to halloo, and the Grouse agreed for payment of feathers.(Myth 38 · Why the Turkey Gobbles)
  • With: the Grouse
  • “The Turkey had not a good voice, so he asked the Grouse to give him lessons. The Grouse agreed to teach him, but wanted pay for his trouble, and the Turkey promised to give him some feathers to make himself a collar.”
• The Grouse taught the Turkey, who learned quickly but could only gobble when tested.(Myth 38 · Why the Turkey Gobbles)
  • With: the Grouse
  • “They began the lessons and the Turkey learned very fast until the Grouse thought it was time to try his voice. ‘Now,’ said the Grouse, ‘I'll stand on this hollow log, and when I give the signal by tapping on it, you must halloo as loudly as you can.’ So he got upon the log ready to tap on it, as a Grouse does, but when he gave the signal the Turkey was so eager and excited that he could not raise his voice for a shout, but only gobbled, and ever since then he gobbles whenever he hears a noise.”
• The Turkey stole the Terrapin’s scalp.(Myth 40 · How the Partridge Got His Whistle)
  • With: the Terrapin
  • “the loss of his scalp, which the Turkey stole from him”

Myth 37 · How the Turkey Got His Beard

• enemies with the Terrapin “But the Turkey kept on walking, and when the Terrapin called to him to bring back the scalp he only walked faster and broke into a run.”

Myth 38 · Why the Turkey Gobbles

• mentor: the Grouse “The Grouse agreed to teach him, but wanted pay for his trouble, and the Turkey promised to give him some feathers to make himself a collar.”
• recipient: the Grouse “That is how the Grouse got his collar of turkey feathers.”

Myth 40 · How the Partridge Got His Whistle

• enemies with the Terrapin “which the Turkey stole from him”

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Extracted from the original text of Myths of the Cherokee. Made with Rho MD.