Creation Story & Symbolism
What were the People of Wood lacking that caused their destruction?
Gratitude and compassion
How would you describe Kimmerer’s overall writing style?
Reflective and meditative
Which device involves repeating words or ideas for emphasis?
Repetition
Giving human qualities to nature is called what?
Personification
What does postcolonial criticism examine?
The impacts of colonization on Indigenous peoples
Which group represents balance, humility, and gratitude?
The People of Corn
Why does Kimmerer use accessible vocabulary?
To make complex ideas easier to understand
What stylistic device asks questions to provoke thought rather than give answers?
Rhetorical questions
Which figurative device creates vivid sensory images?
Imagery
What is an allegory?
A story that represents deeper social or political meanings
Why did the gods limit the vision of the People of Corn?
To prevent arrogance and maintain balance
What value is reflected by the non-authoritative tone of the writing?
Humility
Why does Kimmerer use repetition of words like “relationship” and “story”?
To show that these ideas are continuous and interconnected
How does personification portray nature in the story?
As living, reactive, and responsive to human behaviour
Why is the creation story treated as knowledge rather than myth?
It holds cultural, ethical, and scientific understanding
Which group symbolizes colonial societies due to their power and arrogance?
The People of Light
How does the writing style encourage reader participation?
By using questions and reflection rather than direct instruction
What device compares opposing traits to highlight ethical differences?
Juxtaposition
What does the metaphor “light transformed by relationship” represent?
Balance and interdependence
How does the text challenge Western ideas of power?
By critiquing domination and extraction
What larger idea do the different “people” represent in the creation story?
Different ways of living and relating to power, land, and responsibility
Why is shared knowledge emphasized over intellectual hierarchy?
Because Indigenous knowledge is relational, not dominant
How do stylistic devices support the theme of accountability?
They encourage reflection instead of passive reading
Why is figurative language important to Indigenous storytelling?
It connects science, spirituality, and lived experience
Why is People of Corn, People of Light considered an extended allegory?
Because the characters symbolize larger societal values throughout the story