TUESDAY AUGUST 26TH
• Journal:What is your view of how the world was
created???? (I know this can be sensitive, but go for
it)
• (Journals go in your comp book. Write the date!)
• You will be also taking notes in your comp book!
• Reminder essays DUE: A Day– Thursday BDAY
Friday!!!
NATIVE
AMERICAN
LITERATURE:
CREATION
MYTHS
WHAT IS A MYTH?
The word itself comes
from the Greek "mythos"
which originally meant
"speech" or "discourse"
SACRED NARRATIVES
• A more culturally sensitive term for “origin myths” or “creation myths”
• No culture appreciates their beliefs being called “myths”…
All cultures have their CREATION STORY
WHAT IS A MYTH?
A traditional story
explaining how
the world and the
things in it came
to be
ORAL TRADITION
•Native American
myths originated
as oral tradition:
stories passed
down verbally
FOUR FUNCTIONS
OF MYTH:
1. To awaken us to
the mystery and
wonder of creation
2. To explain the workings
of the natural world:
every corner, every rock,
hill, stone, and flower has
its place and its meaning.
3. To pass down the moral and
ethical codes that support and
validate social customs.
4. To teach:
to guide the people through
the trials of living
CREATION MYTHS
• Explain how the universe, the
earth, and life on earth began.
ESSENTIALS OF CREATION MYTHS
Creation Myths…
1. SHOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE TRIBE! (corn,
animals, rituals, etc.)
2. State the place and people of origin
3. Describe what existed before the “creation”
4. EXPLAIN the “creation” of things or the beginnings
of rituals
5. EXPLAIN who or what did the creating
STORY TELLING- NATIVE AMERICAN
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNY7L_RdObA
Brainstorm as a class elements in NATURE that could make for a good CREATION myth.
After you have selected one:
1. Write a myth explaining that element
- Write a practice
2. illustrate and color your myth book
AUGUST 28TH-29TH
Brainstorm- characterisitics of both
• Written Tradition
• Oral Tradition
ON A BLANK SHEET OF PAPER
• Copy down the sentences below:
Put your name in the upper right corner
• In the beginning darkness….
SEPTEMBER 3RD
Text Book Assignment
•
Read pg 15-16
•
1. What 3 generalizations does Bruchac make about American
Indian oral traditions?
•
2. Identify 3 comparisons Bruchac makes between American Indian
and Western views of the world.
Next look at the art on page 17.
1. How does the artist use the color and shape of the wolf’s tongue to
direct your attention?
2. Why has the artist chosen to make the trees so flat and simple?
Why is the wolf colored black?
3. What story or message about the wolf does the artist convey
through details of its face and other details in the artwork?
*** STUDY FOR QUIZ ***
10 minutes
NATIVE MYTH QUIZ
• 1. List the 4 functions of Myths.
• 2. Define the word Myth and its origin.
• 3. List the 5 characteristics of the CREATION MYTH
• When you are done, turn your paper over.
• Draw a picture (school appropriate).
OJIBWAY CREATION VIDEO
• Blackfeet Creation Story
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etn92Ms8plo