English III Lecture on Native American Lit

1. Native American Origin
Stories/Myths and Early Colonial
Literature
OH, NO
HE
DIDN’T?!?!

2. Native
American
Literature:
Myths &
Legends

3. Myth - Legend
A traditional story, passed down through generations.
Events usually involve the actions of an archetypal hero and
supernatural beings.

4. 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.

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

6. Four functions of
the Myths and
Legends:

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

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

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

10. 4. Educational - to guide the
people through the trials of living.
Tying stories to knowledge of how
to survive and live.

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

12. 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…

13. Essentials of the Myths Legends

14. 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

15. Trickster Tales
• Trickster- a mischievous character – unapologetically exhibiting impish
and double-dealing behavior

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. Pre-Read for Colonial Period

20. 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.