Objectives What am I doing today? Go over expectations and syllabus Writing sample Creation Myth - The World on the Turtle’s Back Why? So I understand what to do in this class for the trimester So I can start thinking about the unit So I can see an example of a creation myth and start thinking about good vs. evil

Writing Using conventional spelling and punctuation, write a short piece on the nature of good and evil. Do you believe anything is purely good or purely evil? What are your thoughts about these concepts? This is an opinion paper, but when you can, please back up what you think with examples.

“World on the Turtle’s Back” an Iroquois Creation Myth

PREVIEW: Read p. 32 and 33. Turn and talk to a neighbor about what you think a creation myth is. Creation Myth: story of origin, explains how the natural world works, reflects social customs and traditions, serves as a guide/teaches lessons, involves supernatural beings or events

Why are people so eager to understand the origin of their world?

Cause and Effect Relationships Cause Pregnant woman wants forbidden roots Falling, she clutches at roots Muskrat gets dirt from the ocean bottom Woman walked as the sun moves Arrows – one sharp, one blunt Unnatural birth Animals molded out of clay Duels Grandma is killed Effect Husband makes a hole, she falls Seeds in her fingernails Woman plants seeds and grows plants Earth grew (origin of ritual dances) Birth of twins – truth and lies Mother dead Competition – prey and predators Ruler of the Sky (victor) and Ruler of Night and Shadows Her head becomes the moon

Balance Meat eaters and vegetarians Medicine and disease Population control World needs “good” and “evil” to function properly Why did the “evil” twin create medicine? Why did the “good” twin kill his brother and grandmother? Nothing is ALL “good” or ALL “evil”; people are a mix of good and bad.

Re-read the first three paragraphs. How is this myth similar to and different from other myths? Details.

Lines Consider the role that “all creatures” play in this myth. What does this suggest about the Iroquois’ attitude toward nature? Nature helps and supports the woman Animals are wise and resourceful Nature is revered and respected Woman takes care of nature and ensures that plants grow

Symbolism The Great Tree – tree of life/growth and knowledge, roots/ancestry, they reach in the earth and toward the sky (links all life), bridge between heaven and earth, wisdom Twins – balance; NOT good and evil, but right and left Woman – Mother Earth Do you know of any important mythological trees or twins from other cultures?

What did you learn about Iroquois beliefs and culture? World needs balance Respect for nature See themselves as part of nature, not superior to it (circle of life) Nature is sacred The ocean – always existed; eternal and godlike; unknown Why do you think the grandmother preferred the left handed twin?

Is this an effective creation myth? Does it explain everything? Which parts were interesting? Why?