Native American and Early Native American and Early Colonial LiteratureColonial Literature

The first people…The first people…Native Americans immigrated over the Native Americans immigrated over the

land bridge from Asia in 35,000 BCland bridge from Asia in 35,000 BCThe first Europeans settle in North The first Europeans settle in North

America in 1600’s.America in 1600’s.The last colonies were settled in 1732.The last colonies were settled in 1732.

Colonial American LiteratureColonial American Literature

American literature begins with the orally transmitted myths, legends, tales, and lyrics (always songs) of Indian cultures. There was no written literature among the more than 500 different Indian languages and tribal cultures that existed in North America before the first Europeans arrived. As a result, Native American oral literature is quite diverse.

Oral Tradition. . .Oral Tradition. . . Before European colonization, Before European colonization,

hundreds of nations of Native hundreds of nations of Native Americans existed. Americans existed. Oral tradition Oral tradition began began approximately 40,000 years ago-. approximately 40,000 years ago-.

Each culture developed its own stories Each culture developed its own stories and mythology-each had a unique and mythology-each had a unique culture and heritage culture and heritage

• • Stories embodied the tribe’s past and Stories embodied the tribe’s past and told of its close relationship with the told of its close relationship with the natural world natural world

• • No single author – created by an No single author – created by an entire peopleentire people

Characteristics of Native Characteristics of Native American LiteratureAmerican Literature

Native American literature, emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with the natural world. Elements of nature are seen as alive and aware. To Native Americans, human beings do not have dominion over nature; they are part of nature and must act to maintain a right relationship with the world around them.

Native American storytelling is characterized Native American storytelling is characterized by its by its sense of a ceaseless or circular sense of a ceaseless or circular movement of time. movement of time. (Just like the natural world (Just like the natural world itself---- such as changing seasons and cycles itself---- such as changing seasons and cycles of birth, death, and rebirth.)of birth, death, and rebirth.)

For example: the yearly Sun Dance of the For example: the yearly Sun Dance of the Plains Indians. This ceremony celebrates the Plains Indians. This ceremony celebrates the concept of sacrifice by having dancers endure concept of sacrifice by having dancers endure a ritual ordeal in honor of their religion.a ritual ordeal in honor of their religion.

Contributions from the Native Contributions from the Native AmericansAmericans

The Indian contribution to America is greater than is often believed. The hundreds of Indian words in everyday American English include "canoe," "tobacco," "potato," "moccasin," "moose," "persimmon," "raccoon," "tomahawk," and "totem."

Native Native American American Literature:Literature:

MythsMyths

Myth Myth

A traditional story, passed down through A traditional story, passed down through generations, that explains why the generations, that explains why the

world is the way it is. world is the way it is.

Events usually result from the actions of Events usually result from the actions of supernatural beings. supernatural beings.

Four functions of Four functions of myth:myth:

1. Creation Myths1. Creation Myths::To awaken us to the mystery and To awaken us to the mystery and

wonder of creation.wonder of creation.

Explain how the universe, the earth, Explain how the universe, the earth, and life on earth began.and life on earth began.

2. Origin Myths:2. Origin Myths:explain how aspects of the world explain how aspects of the world

such as landforms, animals, bodies such as landforms, animals, bodies of water, etc., came into being.of water, etc., came into being.

Origin myths also explain the Origin myths also explain the beginnings of societal beliefs and beginnings of societal beliefs and customscustoms

3. Moral Myths:3. Moral Myths: To pass down the moral To pass down the moral

and ethical codesand ethical codes that that support and validate social support and validate social customs.customs.

4. 4. To teachTo teach::

to guide the people through the to guide the people through the trials of livingtrials of living

Quick WriteQuick Write

What different accounts of creation- biblical, What different accounts of creation- biblical, scientific or stories from family or other scientific or stories from family or other cultures have you heard or read? Write a cultures have you heard or read? Write a brief response to what you believe and brief response to what you believe and how you came to know it…how you came to know it…

What is an archetype?What is an archetype?

An archetype is an pattern that has appeared over and over again in literature throughout the ages. Archetypes can be:

plots (boys wins girl, good vs. evil), characters (the trickster, the hero), or images (golden cup, hoarded treasure).

Archetypes in Native American Archetypes in Native American LiteratureLiterature

In Iroquois myth, Sky Woman gives birth In Iroquois myth, Sky Woman gives birth to twins, one good, and one evil. This to twins, one good, and one evil. This explains the eternal struggle between light explains the eternal struggle between light and dark and between order and chaos. and dark and between order and chaos.

Trickster TalesTrickster Tales The coyote is another common archetype: the The coyote is another common archetype: the trickster trickster

herohero.. The trickster hero breaks the rules and causes trouble The trickster hero breaks the rules and causes trouble

while also often saving the day in the endwhile also often saving the day in the end

Will sometimes find wisdom through their curiosity.Will sometimes find wisdom through their curiosity.

Colonial PeriodColonial Period

The first migration to the Americas The first migration to the Americas was not by the British.was not by the British.

The first migration occurred 20 – The first migration occurred 20 – 40,000 years ago when Ice Age 40,000 years ago when Ice Age

Hunters traveled from Siberia to Hunters traveled from Siberia to Alaska. Alaska.

Slowly these people and their Slowly these people and their descendents migrated south. descendents migrated south.

When European exploration began, When European exploration began, these were the people who were these were the people who were

living in the “New World.”living in the “New World.”

In 1492, In 1492, Columbus Columbus

“discovered” “discovered” America. America.

Taking Native Taking Native Americans with Americans with him to Spain, him to Spain, stories began stories began to circulate to circulate about the about the

wonders of the wonders of the New World, New World,

about its about its exoticism and exoticism and bountifulness. bountifulness.

Spanish and French Spanish and French explorers wrote about explorers wrote about

this new world in this new world in over-exaggerated over-exaggerated styles, praising its styles, praising its beauty, making it beauty, making it

appear as Al Dorado appear as Al Dorado (the place of hopes (the place of hopes

and dreams). and dreams). America was viewed America was viewed as the land of plenty, as the land of plenty, the land of peace and the land of peace and hospitality, the land hospitality, the land

of richesof riches

This brought hope for those who This brought hope for those who were being prosecuted across the were being prosecuted across the

world. world.

When Europeans began voyaging to When Europeans began voyaging to this world, they unleashed diseases this world, they unleashed diseases such as smallpox, measles, typhus, such as smallpox, measles, typhus, and so on, on the Natives, who were and so on, on the Natives, who were

also enslaved and mistreated. also enslaved and mistreated.

In the face of this, Native American In the face of this, Native American population began to decline rapidly, population began to decline rapidly, and thus, Spain introduced African and thus, Spain introduced African

slavery in 1501slavery in 1501

The period of European The period of European exploration brought with it a exploration brought with it a

huge body of literature that is huge body of literature that is referred to as a literature of referred to as a literature of

witness or exploration narratives witness or exploration narratives The early settlers brought with The early settlers brought with them their knowledge of written them their knowledge of written

communication with its communication with its particular style and content. particular style and content. They wrote about their new They wrote about their new

experiences in forms that were experiences in forms that were familiar to them – letters, factual familiar to them – letters, factual records, sermons, and poems.records, sermons, and poems.

Captain John Smith: A Description of New England (1616)

The Landing of the Pilgrims, 1620, relief by Enrico Causici on doors of U.S.Capitol Rotunda (1825)

RememberRemember::This passage to the New World was This passage to the New World was filled with memories of the violence filled with memories of the violence of the old country and the fear of the of the old country and the fear of the unknown terrors of the new one: the unknown terrors of the new one: the

loss of home, of kinship loss of home, of kinship (relationships, connections), of (relationships, connections), of

worldly possessions, of cultural and worldly possessions, of cultural and personal identitypersonal identity

Captain John Smith: Captain John Smith: The General History of Virginia, New England, and the The General History of Virginia, New England, and the

Summer IslesSummer Isles (1624) (1624)The Generall HistorieThe Generall Historie is Smith’s most comprehensive discussion is Smith’s most comprehensive discussion of conquest and exploration and stands today as an exemplary of conquest and exploration and stands today as an exemplary text in the text in the exploration literatureexploration literature of the 16th and 17th century of the 16th and 17th century

William Bradford: William Bradford: Of Plymouth PlantationOf Plymouth Plantation (1650): a journal comprising the story (1650): a journal comprising the story

of the Pilgrims and the early years of the founding of their colony of the Pilgrims and the early years of the founding of their colony (from 1608 to 1647) (from 1608 to 1647)

Christopher Columbus:Christopher Columbus: From Journal of the First Voyage to America (1492): From Journal of the First Voyage to America (1492):

a journal written nine days after Columbus Arrived in the a journal written nine days after Columbus Arrived in the AmericasAmericas

Exploration LiteratureExploration Literature

Pocahontas

Your Homework tonightYour Homework tonight

Directions:Directions: Write an origin myth that is Write an origin myth that is at leastat least one page typed one page typed

(Double Spaced), 1” margins, 12 pt. Font)(Double Spaced), 1” margins, 12 pt. Font)

or two pages (front and back written)or two pages (front and back written) Your myth Your myth must must includeinclude the following elements: the following elements:

Explain the origin of a phenomenon in nature (refer to Explain the origin of a phenomenon in nature (refer to examples discussed in class)examples discussed in class)

Creation of man, animals, or the earthCreation of man, animals, or the earth Must include an Immortal BeingMust include an Immortal Being