Native American Literature
Tricksters and Folk Heroes
Name that Author
The Crucible
Miscellaneous
100
"The World on the Turtle's Back" is a story that explains how the universe came to be. This is an example of what kind of story?
A creation myth
100
The central trickster figure in many Native American traditions has the qualities of a human, an animal, and sometimes a god. What is the name of this central Native American trickster figure we examined?
Coyote
100
Who is the author of "The Crucible"?
Arthur Miller (for a bonus 200 points, what events did he write "The Crucible" in response to?)
100
What is the name (the vocabulary term) for the kind of government that existed in Salem during the time when the play is set?
Theocracy (For a bonus 100 points, define this term)
100
We've looked at several traits of poetry this semester, especially as we examined the works of Anne Bradstreet and Maya Angelou. One trait we looked at is repetition. What is the definition of repetition in poetry?
The recurrence (repeated use) of words, phrases, or lines
200
"The Song of the Sky Loom" and "Hunting Song" are both examples of what kind of Native American text? (Hint: they are both a specific kind of song)
Sacred song (for a bonus 100 points, define what a sacred song is)
200
Trickster tales and folk tales often describe how something came to be the way it is. What is a vocabulary term we give to the description of how something came to be the way it is or where something came from? (Hint: we discussed this term in relation to our own lives)
Origin (or origin story)
200
Who is the poet who wrote "To My Dear and Loving Husband" and "Verses Upon the Burning of Our House"? (Hint: this was the first significant poet in America)
Anne Bradstreet
200
What is the major conflict between John and Elizabeth Proctor?
John had an affair with Abigail Williams while she was still a servant in their home. Elizabeth fired Abigail, but she still fears that something may be between them. As a result of this, Abigail wants Elizabeth dead, thinking that she and John would be together if only Elizabeth were out of the way.
200
What is the definition of a slave narrative?
A first-hand written account of the horrific experiences of slavery (a form of autobiography) (For 200 bonus points, describe the basic story that Olaudah Equiano tells in his slave narrative)
300
"Coyote and the Buffalo" and "Coyote Kills a Giant" are both examples of what kind of Native American story?
Trickster Tales
300
We looked at a few different trickster figures and folk heroes (you'll remember they have many of the same characteristics). Name one characteristic they all have in common.
Possible Answers: clever (though sometimes foolish), resourceful, bold (though sometimes timid), arrogant/boastful, helpful (though sometimes uncaring), larger-than-life
300
Who is the author of "My Sojourn in the Lands of My Ancestors" and the poem "Still I Rise"?
Maya Angelou (For a bonus 300 points, tell me where she traveled to and for what reason in "My Sojourn in the Lands of My Ancestors")
300
Name on of the key themes (main ideas or messages) of "The Crucible" that we discussed in class.
- truth vs. falsehood - the power of the mob and mob mentality - the importance or power of one's reputation - the danger of combining religion and government (For a bonus 400 points, explain one of these themes with an example or examples from the play)
300
What is the definition of meter in poetry?
The repetition of a regular rhythmic unit (or I will accept "the beat of a poem")
400
The Native American texts we studied were not written down until long after they were first created. What is the specific name for these shared cultural tales that are told and remembered only in spoken words?
Oral Traditions (folk tales or folklore would also be acceptable)
400
Name the three tricksters/folk heroes we looked at in class, and tell one thing about what they did in the stories we read.
Coyote - killed a giant (volcano), gave the buffalo his horns, ate the calf he wasn't supposed to eat Anansi - created a garment that let him fly to heaven, went to the place where the sun and the moon rested, tricked God Paul Bunyan - figured out a way to cut down all the trees in South Dakota; had his blue ox, Babe, get rid of all the stumps by flooding the land and having him step from stump to stump
400
Who is the author of the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"?
Jonathan Edwards (For a bonus 400 points, tell me some of the persuasive methods he uses in his sermon to convince others to change their thinking or behavior)
400
You took notes on a Power Point presentation that discussed the culture and beliefs of the Puritan people--the people who made up Salem. Name one of their central beliefs about God, the Bible, or humanity.
- God gives salvation by grace, not because of human effort - the Bible is the ultimate authority on earth - humans are inherently evil--they are born into sin
400
What is the purpose of persuasive writing?
To convince (persuade) a reader to believe or behave a certain way (the way that the speaker believes or behaves) (For a bonus 400 points, explain how persuasive writing is different from comparative writing)
500
"The World on the Turtle's Back" ultimately reveals the balance and order in the universe. What characters together represent this balance?
The Right-Handed Twin and the Left-Handed Twin
500
Tricksters--especially those in Native American stories--are often full of contradictions (they show contradictory behavior). What is the definition of contradictions?
Inconsistencies or irregularities in behaviors or actions
500
Who is the author of "Of Plymouth Plantation"?
William Bradford (For a bonus 500 points, state William Bradford's title or position, as well as the kind of text that "Plantation" represents)
500
"The Crucible" is a play about trials, and not just the kind held in courthouses. Explain how Rebecca Nurse, Giles Corey, and John Proctor all face their trials and overcome them at the end of the play.
Rebecca Nurse - will not confess to witchcraft and is hanged; she maintains her integrity Giles Corey - will not give up the name of his informant and chooses to be crushed by stones rather than betray others; he also secures his land for his children John Proctor - tears up his confession and keeps his good name (reputation); he hangs, but his sons can grow up as good men
500
We focused for some time at the beginning of the semester on the ways that culture affects literature. What are five different aspects of culture that we looked at, and give an example of how at least one of these aspects has had an impact on a text we've read this semester.
- food - music - clothing - customs - traditions - beliefs/religion - values - ideals
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