Native American Origin Stories/Myths and Early

Colonial LiteratureOH, NO HE DIDN’T?!?!

Native American Literature:Myths & Legends

Myth - Legend

A traditional story, passed down through generations.Events usually involve the actions of an archetypal hero and

supernatural beings.

Myths & Legends

• Contain supernatural elements • Often explain the unexplainable • Have also been told in order to teach a moral lesson • All cultures have myths. Contemporary cultures often do not see

their stories myth but as fact - think religious differences.

Oral tradition •Native American stories originated as an oral tradition: stories passed down verbally from generation to generation.

Four functions of the Myths and Legends:

1. Existential -To explain the mystery and wonder of creation. To answer the eternal question, “Why am I here?” (Why and How)

2. Explanatory -To explain the workings of the natural world and account for differences & variation in the natural world.

3. Ethical & Civic Knowledge - To pass down the moral and ethical codes that support and validate social customs & traditions.

4. Educational - to guide the people through the trials of living.

Tying stories to knowledge of how to survive and live.

Creation Stories

•Explain how the universe, the earth, and life on earth began. Unique to tribes and geographic regions.

Quick Write

What different accounts of creation - biblical, scientific or stories from family or other cultures - have you heard or read? Write a brief response to what you believe and how you came to know it…

Essentials of the Myths - Legends

1. To instill awe & explain the wonder of creation

2. Explain the workings of and reasons for the diversity of the natural world

3. To reinforce & support customs & culture

4. Guide people through the trials of living

Trickster Tales• Trickster- a mischievous character – unapologetically exhibiting impish

and double-dealing behavior

FINAL IMPORTANT FEATURES of Native American Literature:

• Oral Traditions – passed down through generations• Natural and human world interact seamlessly • No separation of spiritual and physical world• Importance of animals, ancestors, and culture• Trickster figures • Lacking in Puritan/European modesty• Rich literary tradition – highly developed, complex, consistent • Extremely diverse – Think about why & be ready to discuss• Extremely interesting – Think about why & be ready to discuss• Archetypal figures – see the next slide

ARCHETYPE

• CAN BE A CHARACTER, A PLOT, OR AN IMAGE• IS A PATTERN THAT IS REPEATED IN CULTURES AND LITERATURE

THROUGHOUT HISTORY• ARCHETYPAL PLOT: Boy wins Girl, Love is lost, A great voyage, etc…• ARCHETYPAL HERO: The savior, The trickster, The femme fatal, The

orphan, etc…• ARCHETYPAL IMAGES: The giving tree, The fountain of youth,

Supernatural sphere, The number three…

GOOGLE “ARCHETYPE” and find concrete examples for your notes.

Native American Literature

• OPEN TO PAGE 23 IN YOUR LIT BOOK• THE SUN STILL RISES – Info Text about Native American Literature• THE SKY TREE - HURON

• THE EARTH ONLY – TETON SOUIX

• COYOTE FINISHES HIS WORK – NEZ PERCE

Alternate assignment.: read the stories I handed out in class instead – EITHER WAY, be prepared to discuss what you read & emulate this

form of story telling for homework.

Pre-Read for Colonial Period

They’re here…and they won’t go away…

• The first Europeans with intent to establish long-term ties enter Americas in early 1600’s.

• The last of the “original” colonies were settled in early 1700’s• Original Colonies fell into two groups: 1.– Puritan Based or Quaker (one) here to create a perfect religious world

for themselves. – Profit Based here to explore and exploit the new world for the opportunities inaccessible to them in Europe.