Native American Literature
How were Native American stories passed on?
Verbally. Native stories were passed from generation to generation through oral tradition.
According to the Biblical creation story, the world was created in a specific number of days and then God rested on the last day. What is the total number of days in this process?
Seven
What fell from the sky and began the creation of the earth?
The Sky Woman
This creature was once able to walk upright and speak, but was punished and made to walk on all fours.
The Grizzly Bear
What problem commonly occurs with stories that are passed down verbally?
What purpose did many Native stories serve?
They often taught a moral lesson.
What existed before the world was created?
Nothing was created yet, but God was always present.
For what reason did animals have to dive down into the water to retrieve the earth?
There was no land, and the Sky Woman could not survive in the water.
This person was responsible for creating Mount Shasta and shaped the world with his powers?
The Sky Spirit
The story "The Earth on the Turtle's Back" originated from which Native American Tribe?
The Iroquois
Native American Literature shows a great appreciation for what?
The natural world: Nature, animals, life, etc.
How did God create man?
Man was created from dust. God breathed the breath of life into him, and he became a living creature.
Which animal succeeded in bringing up the Earth from beneath the water?
The little muskrat
This person was blown off Mount Shasta and raized by the grizzlies.
The Sky Spirit's daughter
"When Grizzlies Walked Upright" teaches what lesson about family?
Children should honor and obey their parents.
Parents should protect their children.
What kind of language is often associated with Native American Literature?
Figurative language- Native stories use colorful, descriptive language.
How did God create woman?
God caused man to fall into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs, and made woman out of it.
The earth began to grow after what took place?
Earth began to grow after it was placed on the Great Turtle's back.
The Sky Spirit punished the grizzlies after they did this:
Raised his daughter as their own and ultimately created a new race (humans) with her.
The story "When Grizzlies Walked Upright" originated from which Native American Tribe?
The Modoc Tribe
Native American Literature presents a "cyclical world view". What does this mean?
Life is a circle of relationships- Everything is continuous, connected, and recurring. Everything is part of a cycle.
List the days of creation and what was created on each day
Day 1: Light and Darkness (Day and Night)
Day 2: Separation of heavens and waters
Day 3: Land, seas, and vegetation
Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars
Day 5: Sea Creatures and birds of the sky
Day 6: Land animals and Humanity
Day 7: God rested
What lesson is learned from the small muskrat succeeding when none of the other larger animals could.
Even the smallest creature or act can make a big difference.
Perseverance leads to results.
According to this origin story, this is how the first Native American people were created.
Through the marriage of the Sky Spirit's daughter and a grizzly bear.
Define anthropomorphism
Giving human attributes or characteristics to animals