1. Origins and Encounters
2000 B.C.- A.D. 1620

2. Native American Traditions
Their ways of life were dictated by their
natural surroundings.
Had complex religious beliefs, sophisticated political systems, and strong social values (as seen in their literature)
Stories were passed down orally from generation to generation.
Such as creation myths, tales of heroes and tricksters, ritual songs, and chants for ceremonies.

3. Native American Literature
Most emphasizes living in harmony with the natural world
Humans have kinship with animals, plants, the land, heavenly bodies, and the elements.
All things are seen as alive and aware.
Humans do not have dominion (power) over nature— they are part of nature and must act to maintain a relationship with the world around them.
Emphasize the cycle or circle of life: renewal and continuance

4. Common Elements of Native American Literature
Trickster tales- folk tales that feature an animal or human character who engages in deceit, violence, and magic.
Words are powerful and magical
Words can bring about physical change in the world.
Words are sacred and rare, and must be spoken with great care.
The speaker must be careful in choosing what is said, for it will be taken as a reflection upon him or herself.
There is a connection between the sacred and verbal. Careless use of language is a poor reflection on
character and breaks the ethical bond between
the sacred and the verbal.

5. Content Knowledge: Myth
A story should have the following qualities in order to categorized as a myth:
Emerges from a particular cultural group (without a specific author)
Explains the unexplained workings of the universe or passes along guidelines, morals, advice, wisdom, etc. for dealing with life
Must focus on the exploits of a god or an interaction of a mortal with a god (see epics for the opposite focus)
Originate in oral traditions, then are written down after many re-tellings (during which numerous changes occur to the story)

6. Creation Myth Motifs
A. Dominant Motifs: There are some “dominant motifs” that can appear in creation myths
Cosmic Egg
Primitive Chaos
Creation Ex-Nihilo
World Parents
Emergence from Earth
B. Creator: Is there one or many? (Monotheistic/Polytheistic/Humanlike (anthropomorphic)?
C. Creation: Was creation accomplished by word, act, or both?
D. Creation of humans: From what materials were humans created?
E. Evil/Death/Punishments: Was evil involved in the creation of the world and/or humankind?
Did humans bring evil into creation or was it brought in otherwise?
Was humankind punished for anything?

7. Content Knowledge: Archetype
The original or ideal, upon which later versions are based.
E.g.- The tree in “sky Tree” is the archetypal “world center”, the point from which life originated. Many ancient religions have a tree that is central to their creation story.
There are many different archetypes, including:
The hero (Neo, Odysseus)
The mentor (Morpheus, Gandolf)
The seducer (the One Ring, the Ice Queen)
The trickster (Hermes, Coyote, Aladdin)

8. First Encounters: Accounts of Exploration and Exploitation
Often came to seek out dangers and challenges, fame, adventure, and riches (i.e.- gold, land, and crops).
Others came to spread Christianity
Puritans came seeking religious freedom denied in their homeland.
Many brought through the African slave trade in the 1400s started by the Portuguese after Indian slaves became quickly diseased.

9. Recording the American Experience
Terms to know:
Historical narrative- Accounts of real-life historical experiences, given either by a person who experienced those events or observed them.
Vivid, sensory details
Primary Sources- Historical documents such as letters, diaries, journals, and autobiographies
Secondary Sources- These types of narratives provide indirect, secondhand knowledge (i.e.- histories and bios)
Slave narrative- American literary genre that portrays daily life of slaves as written by the slaves themselves— AFTER they become free.

10. As We Read… Determine the audience Determine the purpose
Is it a king or queen? Personal? Family or friends? Future generations?
Determine the purpose
A report? Remember heritage? Explain? Persuade?
Determine the conflict
External? (nature vs. society or another character)
Internal? (opposing thoughts or forces between a character)