• What are myths and archetypes?• Why are they important to Native

American literature?

Essential Question(s)

• “The Sky Tree” is a creation myth of the Huron, a Native American people of the eastern woodlands.

• “The Earth Only” is written as a poem that explains creation for the Sioux.

• “Coyote Finishes His Work” has been handed down through the tradition of the Nez Perce, a Native American people of the Plateau culture who lived in what is now Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

• “The Blackfeet Genesis” is also a creation myth for Native Americans of the northwestern plains.

Oral Traditions

Myth

A myth is an anonymous traditional story that is basically religious in nature and that usually serves to explain a belief, ritual, or mysterious natural phenomenon.

Myths are usually connected with religious rituals and explain the world the people live in and their traditions.

An archetype is a very old imaginative pattern that appears in literature across cultures and is repeated through the ages.

An archetype can be a character, a plot, an image, a theme, or a setting.• Examples• Plots- the death of the hero, boy wins girl,

the journey• Characters- the trickster, the savior, the

rescued maiden• Images- a place where people never die, a

golden cup, hoarded treasure

Archetype

It is important to recognize difference in literary traditions when reading works by members of different cultures.

Since American Indian literature was handed down orally by storytellers, these pieces lose some of their power in written form.

Understanding Cultural Characteristics

Read “The Sky Tree” on page 20.

Then, read “Coyote Finishes His Work” on page 22.

Finally, read “The Blackfeet Genesis” on page 24.

Answer the following questions.

Assignment

Restate question, Answer, Cite evidence or examples, Explain:

“The Sky Tree”1. What was the world like in the beginning?2. How does the myth explain the origin of the earth as we know it today?3. What aspects of the settings in this myth are archetypes? 4. What other stories have used the same archetypes?

“Coyote Finishes His Work”5. What aspects of life on earth are explained in this myth?6. Metamorphoses, or shape changes, are common in myths of all cultures. What metamorphoses take place in this myth?

“The Blackfeet Genesis”7. How does the repetition help the listener understand the story?8. From these myths, what can you conclude about how the Native American people view traditions, beliefs, or the natural world?9. How do these myths portray Native American belief about humankind’s place in the world?10. How does your own view of your place in the world shape your beliefs?

• The tree in the Huron myth is an archetype—that of the life-giving tree.

• Coyote in the Nez Perce myth is an archetype—that of the trickster hero.

What other archetypes did you find?