Native American: 40,000-20,000 B.C.
Period Characteristics:
I. Genre/Style
A. Oral Literature - myths, legends, epic narratives, and poems
B. Repetition and terse style
C. Specific structure
1. Introduction: harmonious situation
2. Thesis: one or more episodes convey a disruption of harmony
3. Antithesis: describes the measures taken to restore harmony
4. Conclusion: harmony is restored in cycles of four or by some power of four (four songs, four nights, etc.)
D. Earth-diver myths
1. Flood that occurred after creation of the universe
2. The earth-diver (muskrat or waterbird) recreates the present world out of mud brought up from under the water
E. Emergence myths
1. Ascent of beings from under the surface of the earth to its surface
2. Ascent from a series of underworlds
II. Functions
A. Express beliefs about the nature of the physical world
B. Express beliefs about social order and appropriate behavior
C. Express beliefs about human nature and the problem of good and evil
III. Themes
A. Formation of the world through struggle and robbery (Pacific Coast)
B. Movement from a sky world to a water world by means of a fall (Iroquoian)
C. Creation story; a fall
Famous Authors and Works:
"The Earth on Turtle's Back" - Onondaga-Northeast Woodlands Indians myth
"The Navajo Origin Legend" - Navajo Indians myth
"When Grizzlies Walked Upright" - Modoc Indians myth
I. Genre/Style
A. Oral Literature - myths, legends, epic narratives, and poems
B. Repetition and terse style
C. Specific structure
1. Introduction: harmonious situation
2. Thesis: one or more episodes convey a disruption of harmony
3. Antithesis: describes the measures taken to restore harmony
4. Conclusion: harmony is restored in cycles of four or by some power of four (four songs, four nights, etc.)
D. Earth-diver myths
1. Flood that occurred after creation of the universe
2. The earth-diver (muskrat or waterbird) recreates the present world out of mud brought up from under the water
E. Emergence myths
1. Ascent of beings from under the surface of the earth to its surface
2. Ascent from a series of underworlds
II. Functions
A. Express beliefs about the nature of the physical world
B. Express beliefs about social order and appropriate behavior
C. Express beliefs about human nature and the problem of good and evil
III. Themes
A. Formation of the world through struggle and robbery (Pacific Coast)
B. Movement from a sky world to a water world by means of a fall (Iroquoian)
C. Creation story; a fall
Famous Authors and Works:
"The Earth on Turtle's Back" - Onondaga-Northeast Woodlands Indians myth
"The Navajo Origin Legend" - Navajo Indians myth
"When Grizzlies Walked Upright" - Modoc Indians myth