Cain+and+Abel

=Summary:=
 * Title: || Book: || Summary: ||
 * The First Murder || Genesis || Cain and Abel are working outside. Cain is tending to his garden while Abel tended to the flock. When the brought had to bring offerings to God, Cain would bring his vegetables and Abel would bring his fresh meat. When the did this the Lord praised Abel for his offerings, but not for Cain's offerings. After they gave their offerings to the Lord, Cain suggested to his brother that they should go into the country. Once there Cain attacked and killed Abel. When the Lord finds out that Cain has killed his brother, he banishes him and puts a mark on him so that anyone who meets him cannot kill him. ||
 * Cain || Nemerov || This is a short play that describes the relationship between Cain and Abel. It includes conversations between the family and also between Cain and the God. Cain and Abel are working outside. Cain is tending to his garden while Abel tended to the flock. When the brought had to bring offerings to God, Cain would bring his vegetables and Abel would bring his fresh meat. When they did this the Lord praised Abel for his offerings, but not for Cain's offerings. Cain wondered why things are as they are and he killed Abel to change the things but found that they were still the same. ||

Discussion Questions:
 
 * Why do you think did God reject Cain's offerings?
 * This story suggests a competition between two ways of living: herding (Abel) and farming (Cain). Can you think of examples where people are set against each other because of their different livelihoods?
 * Which do you think is worse about the murder, a planned act of revenge or an angry, thoughtless attack? Why?
 * Why do you think the Lord gives Cain a guarantee of protection? ( Think about if you committed a crime, would you prefer to have a mark that protect you from others, or to have no mark at all?)
 * How does the first version of the story differ from the second version?
 * How does Cain feel about killing at the beginning of the play?
 * Why do you think that God speaks only to Cain?
 * Cain is often thought to be completely evil, yet in this play God calls him"one of my holy ones." How could you explain God's words?
 * Cain wanted to change "the way things they are." Was he successful?

Supplementary Material:
//Cain// by Howard Nemerov This is a poetic playlet that gives reasons and details about the conflicts between Cain and Abel. It also provides more details about the murder.


 * Interesting Facts:**


 * ** In the Muslim version of the story it is said that Abel did not resist when Cain tried to kill him. It is looked upon as a symbol of pacifism. **
 * ** No one is quite sure where Cain's mark was or what it was. **

Outside Material:

 * [[image:http://static.artbible.info/large/titiaan_kain_abel.jpg caption="Cain and Abel by Titan" link="@http://static.artbible.info/large/titiaan_kain_abel.jpg"]] ||
 * [[image:http://s2.hubimg.com/u/3872593_f520.jpg caption="Cain and Abel" link="@http://s2.hubimg.com/u/3872593_f520.jpg"]] ||

media type="youtube" key="TdJrZpNCHWA" width="425" height="350"

Study Guide/Quiz Questions:

 * Who are Cain and Abel's parents?
 * What were Abel's offerings to the God and what were Cain's offerings?
 * Who was the serpent in the Garden? Who told Cain about the truth?
 * Where did Cain settle after God found out that he had killed Abel?
 * What part of Cain's body did the God put the mark on?