English III: American Literature Early American Literature (Beginnings to 1800) Part One: Native American Literature

Overview: Why come to America? Ice Age travelers Beringia Theory Crossed the Bering land bridge (now submerged under the Bering Strait) Migrated south and developed in various places Occurred more than 40 thousand years ago http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/bering.htm

Overview: Why come to America? Adventurers looking for land – nobility Feudal system restricted land ownership to the first born son Wanted land of their own – wealth

Overview: Why come to America? Religious freedom Great move to simplify religion Catholic Church - Pope Anglican Church – king of England Protestant Reformation begins in 1517

Overview: Why come to America? Slaves and indentured servants. Indigenous persons Convicts Bonded servants for payment of passage

Native American Literature The Sacred Earth and the Power of Storytelling

How do stories motivate curiosity? Essential Questions How do stories motivate curiosity? What are the advantages and disadvantages of oral literature? How has the Native American legacy affected the development of American culture?

Native American Beliefs The Earth is sacred. Time flows in a circle. Animals, plants, and natural forces are part of this sacred cycle and must be respected. Spirits inhabit all living things.

Native American Beliefs Dreams and visions connect people to the spirit world. Land belongs to all (people, plants, animals) who inhabit it. There is no concept of private ownership. Sacred stories are important in transmitting culture and in upholding religion and spiritual beliefs.

Native American Literary Elements Stories were “created by no one author but by the people as a whole.” They serve to preserve beliefs. Each tribe has its own language, culture, and mythology.

Native American Literary Elements Stories are created and preserved in the oral tradition. Later, stories were also preserved in pictures carved in clay or stone. Contemporary authors now also preserve these stories in written form.

Native American Literary Elements “When you write things down you don’t have to remember them. But for us it is different… [A]ll that we are, all that we have ever been , all the great names of our heroes and their songs and deeds are alive within each of us… living in our blood.” – Native American Holy Woman

Native American Literary Elements Ancient hieroglyphic and pictographic writings

Native American Literary Elements Extensive set of folktales, myths, and oral histories that were transmitted for centuries by storytellers Myth: a traditional story, one that concerns the early history of a people, or explains a social or natural phenomenon, typically involving supernatural beings or events There are many myths, including: creation myths (stories about the beginnings of Earth and how humans came into existence) origin myths (stories that explain natural phenomenon, such as earthquakes, mountains, caves, why dogs and cats don’t get along, etc.)

Native American Literary Elements Archetypes (a symbol, story pattern or character type) are common and help us understand our world. The Quest, the Journey, the Initiation, the Battle Between Good and Evil, Nature vs. Mechanical World (story patterns) Light vs. Dark, Water vs. Desert, Heaven vs. Hell, etc. (symbols) The Hero, the Damsel in Distress, the Earth Mother, the Mentor, the Devil Figure, the Scapegoat, the Evil Figure with a Good Heart (the Trickster), the Temptress, the Creature of Nightmare, etc. (characters)

Native American Literary Elements Stories combine timeless myth and reality. Themes include strong spiritual bond between Creator, humanity, and nature; humans’ responsibility to maintain that balance; and tribal ancestry.