Unit 1Early American Literature:The Native Americans

Characteristics

● 17th century● Faced issues regarding politics and

finding food and shelter● To deal with hardships and celebrate

blessings, they created stories & applied religious beliefs to explain what was happening.

Storytelling Traditions

● At this time, there was no written language. Therefore, stories were told through oral traditions, or by word of mouth.

● There were various tribes across what is now the U.S., and all told stories this way.o Stories about different things depending on

location

Geographical Differences

● A tribe in Georgia might tell stories about rattlesnakes, while a tribe in Louisiana may have a story about alligators and a tribe in the Northeast would tell stories about snow.

Commonalities Among Tribes

● While all tribes may tell stories about different types of events, animals, or people, there are some common elements of all Native American stories:o A hero’s journeyo A trickster god interfereso Nature changeso Worlds are created

A Hero’s Journey

● Character experiences hardships and has to rise above them.

● Sometimes this character has to make sacrifices in order to succeed.

A Trickster God Interferes

● A trickster god causes turmoil or havoc in a community.

● Sometimes the tricks are harmless● Other times, a hero must save the tribe

from trouble

Nature Changes

● Examples: no rain or too much snow● The actions of characters in a story

often result in the weather changing

Worlds are Created

● Sometimes this can mean the creation of the world

● Other times, this is about a new season or generation.