The Creation Myth
"The World on the Turtle's Back" is a creation myth from this Indigenous tribe of New York State.
Who are the Iroquois?
Far above the unpeopled world, there was the Sky-World where these people-like beings lived.
Who are the Gods?
In the Iroquois creation myth “The World on the Turtle’s Back,” the woman’s fall from the Sky World most clearly symbolizes
A. the punishment of human pride
B. the beginning of life on Earth
C. the destruction of the gods’ realm
D. the end of harmony between humans and animals
B. the beginning of life on Earth
A struggle between a character and an outside force. This can be another character (often an antagonist), a force of nature, or societal beliefs and laws.
What is external conflict?
What is imagery?
This celestial woman fell from the Sky World and landed on the back of a giant turtle, beginning the creation of the Earth.
Who is the Sky Woman?
In the story, this great animal becomes the foundation for the Earth, symbolizing the stability and support of the natural world.
What is the turtle?
The actions of the animals in the story primarily reflect which value of Iroquois culture?
A. Competition among species
B. The power of individual achievement
C. Cooperation and respect for nature
D. The dominance of humans over nature
C. Cooperation and respect for nature
It is a traditional story that explains the origins of the world, humanity, and life itself, often involving supernatural events or divine beings.
What is creation myth?
It's the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman. Like, go figure!? Muskrats can talk?
What is personification?
The animals in the story "The World on the Turtle's Back" dove into the ocean to retrieve this substance, which was placed on the turtle’s back to form land.
What is soil (earth)?
From the Sky Woman’s planting of bits of things, all vegetation including corn, beans, and squash—came to grow on Earth.
What is the clod of soil from the Sky World?
The purpose of this Iroquois myth is mainly to
A. entertain with a story of divine conflict
B. describe the origins of Earth and natural order
C. criticize human greed and disobedience
D. provide instructions for performing rituals
B. describe the origins of Earth and natural order
It's the quality or condition of being double or dual.
What is duality?
It's the academic terminology for imagery that gives the sensation of touch.
What is tactile imagery?
These two opposing twin brothers represent the balance of good and evil, life and death, in the natural world.
Who are the Right-Handed Twin and the Left-Handed Twin?
The Right-Handed Twin created prey animals, while the Left-Handed Twin created predators, explaining this natural cycle.
What is the balance between predator and prey?
The Left-Handed Twin and the Right-Handed Twin represent, A,B,C, or D?
A. good and evil in constant struggle
B. the triumph of good over evil
C. the conflict between gods and humans
D. the cycle of life and death
A. good and evil in constant struggle
It's the void or state of nothingness that comes before the creation of the world.
What is chaos?
A struggle that takes place within a character's own mind. This can include a battle with their conscience, personal doubts, or a difficult decision they must make.
What is internal conflict?
This animal successfully brought up the bit of earth from the ocean’s depths after others failed.
What is the muskrat?
This function between the twins explains the harmony and struggle found in nature, much like the coexistence of life and death or day and night.
What is the balance?
Which detail from the story best supports the theme of balance in nature?
A. The woman creates land by throwing soil on the turtle’s back.
B. The Right-Handed Twin kills his grandmother in anger.
C. One twin creates gentle creatures while the other creates fierce ones.
D. The animals dive into the ocean to find soil.
C. One twin creates gentle creatures while the other creates fierce ones.
A manifestation or an event attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.
What is supernatural?
The Sky Woman’s fall from the Sky World represents this theme of change and creation from disorder. It's not quite the end, but...
What is the beginning of life or the creation of the natural world?