Origin Myths and Early Origin Myths and Early Colonial LiteratureColonial Literature
Colonial American LiteratureColonial American Literature
Native American LiteratureNative American LiteratureLiterature of Exploration - VirginiaLiterature of Exploration - VirginiaNorthern ColoniesNorthern ColoniesSouthern & Middle ColoniesSouthern & Middle Colonies
The first people…The first people…
Native Americans immigrated over the Native Americans immigrated over the land bridge from Asia in 35,000 BCland bridge from Asia in 35,000 BC
The first Europeans enter North America The first Europeans enter North America in 1600’s.in 1600’s.
The last colonies were settled in 1732The last colonies were settled in 1732
Native Native American American Literature:Literature:Creation Creation
MythsMyths
Myth Myth
A traditional story, passed down through A traditional story, passed down through generations, that explains why the generations, that explains why the
world is the way it is. world is the way it is.
Events usually result from the actions of Events usually result from the actions of supernatural beings. supernatural beings.
MythsMyths
Contain supernatural elements Contain supernatural elements Often explain the unexplainable Often explain the unexplainable Have also been told in order to teach a Have also been told in order to teach a
moral lesson. moral lesson. All cultures have myths, though often do All cultures have myths, though often do
not see their stories myth but as fact.not see their stories myth but as fact.
Oral traditionOral tradition Native American Native American myths originated myths originated as as oral traditionoral tradition: : stories passed stories passed down verballydown verbally
Oral Tradition. . .Oral Tradition. . .
Native American creation myths were not Native American creation myths were not written down until just a few hundred years written down until just a few hundred years ago.ago.
It was passed down It was passed down
by storytelling and by storytelling and
performances.performances.
Examples:Examples:
lullabies, bedtimelullabies, bedtime
stories.stories.
Four functions of Four functions of myth:myth:
1. 1. To awaken us to To awaken us to the mystery and the mystery and wonder of creationwonder of creation
2. 2. To explain the To explain the workings of the workings of the natural worldnatural world: every : every corner, every rock, hill, corner, every rock, hill, stone, and flower has stone, and flower has its place and its its place and its meaning.meaning.
3. 3. To pass down the moral To pass down the moral and ethical codesand ethical codes that that support and validate social support and validate social customs.customs.
4. 4. To teachTo teach::
to guide the people through to guide the people through the trials of livingthe trials of living
Creation mythsCreation myths
Explain how the universe, the Explain how the universe, the earth, and life on earth began.earth, and life on earth began.
Quick WriteQuick Write
What different accounts of creation- biblical, What different accounts of creation- biblical, scientific or stories from family or other scientific or stories from family or other cultures have you heard or read? Write a cultures have you heard or read? Write a brief response to what you believe and brief response to what you believe and how you came to know it…how you came to know it…
Essentials of Creation Essentials of Creation MythsMyths
1.1. To instill aweTo instill awe
2.2. Explain the workings of the natural worldExplain the workings of the natural world
3. 3. To support customsTo support customs
4. Guide people through the trials of living4. Guide people through the trials of living
Creation Myths…
Trickster TalesTrickster Tales
Trickster- some one is creative curious and often Trickster- some one is creative curious and often gets into trouble. Will sometimes find wisdom gets into trouble. Will sometimes find wisdom through their curiosity.through their curiosity.
More About Native American More About Native American LiteratureLiterature
Oral TraditionsOral Traditions Integration of the natural world with the human Integration of the natural world with the human
worldworld No separation of spiritual and physicalNo separation of spiritual and physical Importance of ancestorsImportance of ancestors Trixter figure – often a coyoteTrixter figure – often a coyote Rich literary tradition – developed mythologyRich literary tradition – developed mythology Extremely diverseExtremely diverse Native American legacy today – Sherman AlexieNative American legacy today – Sherman Alexie
Native American LiteratureNative American Literature
The Lesson of the BirdsThe Lesson of the BirdsThe Earth on Turtle’s BackThe Earth on Turtle’s BackThe Fox, Coyote, & WhaleThe Fox, Coyote, & Whale
Colonial PeriodColonial Period
The first migration to the Americas The first migration to the Americas was not by the British.was not by the British.
The first migration occurred 20 – The first migration occurred 20 – 40,000 years ago when Ice Age 40,000 years ago when Ice Age
Hunters traveled from Siberia to Hunters traveled from Siberia to Alaska. Alaska.
Slowly these people and their Slowly these people and their descendents migrated south. descendents migrated south.
When European exploration began, When European exploration began, these were the people who were these were the people who were
living in the “New World.”living in the “New World.”
In 1492, In 1492, Columbus Columbus
“discovered” “discovered” America. America.
Taking Native Taking Native Americans with Americans with him to Spain, him to Spain, stories began stories began to circulate to circulate about the about the
wonders of the wonders of the New World, New World,
about its about its exoticism and exoticism and bountifulness. bountifulness.
Spanish and French Spanish and French explorers wrote about explorers wrote about
this new world in this new world in over-exaggerated over-exaggerated styles, praising its styles, praising its beauty, making it beauty, making it
appear as Al Dorado appear as Al Dorado (the place of hopes (the place of hopes
and dreams). and dreams). America was viewed America was viewed as the land of plenty, as the land of plenty, the land of peace and the land of peace and hospitality, the land hospitality, the land
of richesof riches
This brought hope for those who This brought hope for those who were being prosecuted across the were being prosecuted across the
world. world.
When Europeans began voyaging to When Europeans began voyaging to this world, they unleashed diseases this world, they unleashed diseases such as smallpox, measles, typhus, such as smallpox, measles, typhus, and so on, on the Natives, who were and so on, on the Natives, who were
also enslaved and mistreated. also enslaved and mistreated.
In the face of this, Native American In the face of this, Native American population began to decline rapidly, population began to decline rapidly, and thus, Spain introduced African and thus, Spain introduced African
slavery in 1501slavery in 1501
The period of European The period of European exploration brought with it a exploration brought with it a
huge body of literature that is huge body of literature that is referred to as a literature of referred to as a literature of
witness or exploration narratives witness or exploration narratives The early settlers brought with The early settlers brought with them their knowledge of written them their knowledge of written
communication with its communication with its particular style and content. particular style and content. They wrote about their new They wrote about their new
experiences in forms that were experiences in forms that were familiar to them – letters, factual familiar to them – letters, factual records, sermons, and poems.records, sermons, and poems.
Captain John Smith: A Description of New England (1616)
The Landing of the Pilgrims, 1620, relief by Enrico Causici on doors of U.S.Capitol Rotunda (1825)
RememberRemember::This passage to the New World was This passage to the New World was filled with memories of the violence filled with memories of the violence of the old country and the fear of the of the old country and the fear of the unknown terrors of the new one: the unknown terrors of the new one: the
loss of home, of kinship loss of home, of kinship (relationships, connections), of (relationships, connections), of
worldly possessions, of cultural and worldly possessions, of cultural and personal identitypersonal identity
Captain John Smith: Captain John Smith: The General History of Virginia, New England, and the The General History of Virginia, New England, and the
Summer IslesSummer Isles (1624) (1624)The Generall HistorieThe Generall Historie is Smith’s most comprehensive discussion is Smith’s most comprehensive discussion of conquest and exploration and stands today as an exemplary of conquest and exploration and stands today as an exemplary text in the text in the exploration literatureexploration literature of the 16th and 17th century of the 16th and 17th century
William Bradford: William Bradford: Of Plymouth PlantationOf Plymouth Plantation (1650): a journal comprising the story (1650): a journal comprising the story
of the Pilgrims and the early years of the founding of their colony of the Pilgrims and the early years of the founding of their colony (from 1608 to 1647) (from 1608 to 1647)
Christopher Columbus:Christopher Columbus: From Journal of the First Voyage to America (1492): From Journal of the First Voyage to America (1492):
a journal written nine days after Columbus Arrived in the a journal written nine days after Columbus Arrived in the AmericasAmericas
Exploration LiteratureExploration Literature
Pocahontas
Your Homework tonightYour Homework tonight
Directions:Directions: Write an origin myth that is Write an origin myth that is at leastat least one page typed one page typed
(Double Spaced), 1” margins, 12 pt. Font)(Double Spaced), 1” margins, 12 pt. Font)
or two pages (front and back written)or two pages (front and back written) Your myth Your myth must must includeinclude the following elements: the following elements:
Explain the origin of a phenomenon in nature (refer to Explain the origin of a phenomenon in nature (refer to examples discussed in class)examples discussed in class)
Creation of man, animals, or the earthCreation of man, animals, or the earth Must include an Immortal BeingMust include an Immortal Being
