Introducing the Story The Nez Perce Literary Focus: Archetypes Reading Focus: Understanding Cultural Characteristics Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer Tech Focus Feature Menu Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work

The Granger Collection, New York How can people’s beliefs affect their actions? Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work

Click on the title to start the video. Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Introducing the Story

Passed on from generation to generation, this Nez Perce myth features Coyote in the role of the trickster hero. What does the myth promise for the future? Coyote’s adventures teach moral lessons and present alternate explanations for natural occurrences. [End of Section] School for Advanced Research, Catalog Number IAF.P201-18

Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work The Nez Perce The Nez Perce (nehz puhrs), whose name comes from the French term for “pierced nose,” were a people of the Plateau culture. They live in what is now Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. X X X

Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work The Nez Perce Fierce conflicts, fueled by the opening of the Oregon Trail and the nineteenth-century gold rush, erupted over ownership of their land. In 1877, the Nez Perce leader, Chief Joseph, surrendered to federal troops with the now- famous words “I will fight no more forever.” [End of Section] The Granger Collection, New York

An archetype is a pattern that appears in literature across cultures and is repeated through the ages. Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Literary Focus: Archetypes Archetypes include characters plots images themes settings The Granger Collection, New York

Most myths contain archetypes. The more myths you read, the more you’ll notice these recurring patterns, such as Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Literary Focus: Archetypes the hero who dies with honor ill-fated lovers the wise old man the trickster hero an initiation task a life-giving tree

Over time, archetypes change bit by bit, reappearing in slightly different forms across multiple genre, or types of literature. Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Literary Focus: Archetypes [End of Section] An initiation archetype, the Native American vision quest might appear today as a Bar Mitzvah. The Granger Collection, New York

Different cultures have different literary traditions. Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Reading Focus: Understanding Cultural Characteristics

Since American Indian literature was handed down orally by storytellers, these literary works may lose some of their power in written form. Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Reading Focus: Understanding Cultural Characteristics As you read, imagine each piece being spoken by a skilled storyteller to an eager audience... or, better yet, read each piece aloud. [End of Section] From “Coyote Finishes His Work” from Giving Birth to Thunder, Sleeping with His Daughter by Barry Holstun Lopez. Copyright © 1977 by Barry Holstun Lopez. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of Andrews McMeel Publishing.

Into Action: Record examples of archetypes. Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Reading Focus: Understanding Cultural Characteristics [End of Section] Into Action: Archetype Chart Archetype Coyote Finishes His Work Characteristics Culture The Earth Only The Sky Tree

Find It in Your Reading Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer Because “Coyote Finishes His Work” was originally passed down orally from generation to generation, its syntax, or sentence structure, has a unique quality. As you read, note the aspects of the syntax that seem to reflect an oral tradition. “From the very beginning, Coyote was traveling around all over the earth. He did many wonderful things when he went along. He killed the monsters and the evil spirits that preyed on the people.” From “Coyote Finishes His Work” from Giving Birth to Thunder, Sleeping with His Daughter by Barry Holstun Lopez. Copyright © 1977 by Barry Holstun Lopez. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of Andrews McMeel Publishing.

TechFocus Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer As you read this selection, think about how people today convey their own stories and myths.

Vocabulary

Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Vocabulary endures v.: keeps on; continues. revive v.: return to life. determined v.: decided; concluded. inhabited adj.: lived in.

Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Vocabulary If something endures, it keeps on or continues. Although Diana is a professional classical guitarist, her love of rock and roll endures. Is Diana still a fan of rock and roll? Explain.

Faced with multiple injuries and a losing season, the players boasted that their team spirit endures. Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Vocabulary Which of these scenes does not reflect the team’s spirit? AB

Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Vocabulary The word inhabited means “lived in.” The weary travelers, hungry and cold, hoped to find an inhabited cabin before nightfall. Do you think their search will end when they find this cabin? Why or why not?

Our tour guide insisted that we visit only the inhabited regions of the island. Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Vocabulary Which of these scenes might we visit? AB C

Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Vocabulary The word revive means “to return to life.” With speed and expertise, the emergency technicians will revive the unconscious man. Is the man dead or alive? Explain.

c. Offer tax breaks for stores opening in outlying malls The city council plans to revive the downtown shopping district of our city. Which of these strategies would not help revive downtown? a. Offer free parking b. Repair and widen the sidewalks Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Vocabulary

The word determined means “decided or concluded.” After lengthy deliberations, the school board determined that a school uniform policy would be adopted. How might this decision affect the teachers and student body?

Fatima determined that she could become her school’s top-ranked long distance runner. Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Vocabulary Which of these activities support her decision? A. practicing B. eating healthy food C. getting adequate sleep D. lifting weights They all do.

The End

QuickTalk

Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work QuickTalk When you were younger, did anyone tell you a story to address your curiosity about the world, perhaps to explain why the sky is blue or why it thunders during a storm? [End of Section] With a partner, share one of these stories or one that you made up yourself. Explain how it changed or reflected your view of the world.

Build Background

Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Build Background People have always asked questions about the origins of the world and about their place in the natural order of things. To answer their questions, people have told stories.

Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work Build Background The stories people told, called myths, were almost always connected to religious rituals. Myths help people explain the world they live in and their traditions. [End of Section]

Read with a Purpose

Read to discover what each myth explains about traditions, beliefs, or the natural world. [End of Section] Read with a Purpose Native American Myths: Coyote Finishes His Work