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ORIGIN(S) AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCE: EUROPEANS
ENCOUNTER
NATIVE AMERICANS
Texts to read:
1) ”Talk Concerning the First Beginning“ (Heath 1, pp 26-39)
2) King James Bible: Genesis, Chapters 1-3
http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
3) Roger Williams, from A Key into the Language of America (Norton 1,81-89), OR
Roger Williams, by Edwin S. Gaustad), pp 46-347
http://books.google.hu/books?id=sjmeBMAiyNMC&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=roger+w
illiams+leaven+mighty+lump&source=bl&ots=1jq2FccOHa&sig=jrNbL1_cMJ_DTzssS3Jp_f1cpw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=02wAVNmNOo3Y4QT_7IHwBw&ved=0CCEQ6
AEwAA#v=onepage&q=roger%20williams%20leaven%20mighty%20lump&f=false
***
From now on, throughout the whole WorkBook, please use automatic (black) for
characters when giving your answers on your computer. This helps the reader (me) and the
writer (you) alike to do our jobs more efficiently.
1. In the “Talk Concerning the First Beginning,” the Zuni emergence myth
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explains the origin of the world for the Zuni (like the Bible`s Genesis explains the origin of the
world for Christians).
a) Read the Zuni myth and the first 3 chapters of Genesis and compare the 2 texts as 2
narratives of origin. First, make note of the similarities, considering commonalities in
 themes (first people, sin, God/Sun Father, the emergence of law and order, role of
families and privileged groups, etc.):
 narrative mode (repetitions, characterization or the lack thereof, etc.):
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b) Then, make a list of the major discrepancies between the two narratives of origin,
highlighting discernable differences between the Zuni/Native American culture and the
Judeo-Christian culture. Think about the following:
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the lack/presence of an autonomous and supernatural being
the relationship between God/Gods and humans
the presence/absence of a protoworld (~ Eden)
the relationship between humans and non-humans (coyote, spider, owl, water bug,
snake, corn, trees, etc.)
the presence/absence of the story of fall from grace (~ the fall from the grace of God)
and the significance of contract
the presence/absence of an evil precondition or harmony or chaos or balance
the status of sin in either narrative (Adam-Eve-Snake-Apple vs. Zuni brother and
sister committing incest)
the description of change (development, evolution, ascendence, degradation, etc)
3. Whereas the Bible exists in canonized (i.e. legitimized forms of) written texts, the Zulu myth
is a typical oral narrative transcribed (and, to some degree, truncated) into English. As such, it
demonstrates specific peculiarities that might even be experienced as obstacles in the way of
enjoying the narrative as “smoothly” flowing.
What were your difficulties? Make a list of your anxieties. Most probably they derive from the
fact that your way of thinking and feeling is embedded in a different culture.
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4. Briefly define the role of the following “characters” and specific “episodes” in the Zuni myth:
 Mother Earth:
 Sun God:
 War Twins:
 war priests (=bow priests):
 first Pekwin:
 coyote:
 raven:
 owl:
 katcinas:
 water bug:
 breaking the incest taboo:
 the first murder:
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 Contest for Daylight story:
 yellow corn clan:
 black corn clan:
 the sacred number of FOUR (four fetishes, priests, birds, rows, worlds, ladders, etc.):
5. In A Key into the Language of America (1643), Roger Williams, a seeker, who himself was
persecuted by Massachusetts Puritans for his radical views, shows an exceptionally tolerant view
of the natives he met, and their culture he sought to understand.
http://books.google.hu/books?id=wOfpAPRxlVYC&printsec=frontcover&hl=hu&source=gb
s_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
Yet his approach to the Narragansett Indians shares some basic similarities with the
prevailing (less tolerant) view of his times like that of Stradanus (see below).
What are these culture-based biases? Focus, especially, on the following key words and
phrases from his book:
 I present you with a key
 One candle will light ten thousand
 Leaven vs. Mighty lump
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Check out the context here (Roger Williams, by Edwin S. Gaustad), pp 46-347
http://books.google.hu/books?id=sjmeBMAiyNMC&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=roger+williams
+leaven+mighty+lump&source=bl&ots=1jq2FccOHa&sig=jrNbL1_cMJ_DTzssS3Jp_f1cpw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=02wAVNmNOo3Y4QT_7IHwBw&ved=0CCEQ6AEwA
A#v=onepage&q=roger%20williams%20leaven%20mighty%20lump&f=false
6. By Columbus’ time, Native Americans had been living on the American continent for
30,000 years, comprising about 2000 independent tribes with distinct cultures and languages,
speaking about 300 to 500 different languages, which belonged to about 50 different language
groups.
Now, check out the 2010 Census Briefs at
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-10.pdf
and give 3 important pieces of information about the American Native population today that
struck you or you find interesting.
1)
2)
3)
7. The discovery of the American continent by Europeans was the beginning of a long history
of (oftentimes dramatic) cultural encounters.
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This engraving entitled America was made by Stradanus (Jan van der Straet), an established
artist in the Netherlands, about 1600. Entitled America, the picture renders the man on the left as
Amerigo Vespucci. Study the engraving as closely as possible, also trying to figure out all the
details in the background.
a) What are the assumptions of civilization/culture versus nature in this
engraving? Who represents civilization and who represents nature? How?
b) How does this dramatic encounter between female America and male Europe play
out in a gendered scene? What are the percievable (hetero)sexual messages that have
further repercussions in the mindset that set the conquest of America going?
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c) How are the natives of America represented?
8. The Zuni myth of origin demonstrates Zuni exceptionalism, the Zunis regarding themselves
unique, indeed, chosen people. Americans, Jews, etc. have also been associated with
exceptionalism. How about Hungarian identity politics in this regard? Do Hungarians describe
themselves and their traditions as exceptional? (Think about the Holy Crown and Archangel
Gabriel or Virgin Mary and King Steven I).
What do you think of these exceptionalisms?
9. Travel agencies often use the word exotic for lands, people, culture, whatnot. Check out the
English and Hungarian ad below and think about them. Try to formulate your own take on what
exotic means to you. Remember to question yourself how you`d react if you yourself, your
family or your values you trust were called exotic by strangers/tourists.
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/virtuoso/dg_exoticlands_201305/
http://utazom.com/utazas/ajanlat/egzotikusutazasok
Write a short essay (of 2 pages, double spaced) about your findings. The mini essay is due on
November 23, midnight. Send it attached to federmayer.eva@gmail.com
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