Native American Literature
Did you know that the Native Americans created the very first literature? Theytold stories that used very consistent ideas. They used a lot of personification, andanthropomorphism. In almost every story they told, animals or gods portrayed humancharacteristics. Many of their stories explained some type of natural phenomenon. Theirstories also included a happy ending, and the theme of good over evil. These three ideasare the most important characteristics of Native American oral literature. First, personification and anthropomorphism are heavily used in Native Americanliterature. A good example of this is in "Why Possum's Tail is Bare". " 'Oh yes,' Possumreplied. 'I cannot miss the dance. I must show off my beautiful tail so everyone canadmire me!' "(Possum, 53). The possum clearly acts and talks like a human. In "Coyoteand Buffalo", the Buffalo and Coyote are smoking a pipe. This is an obvious human
Then the woman began to walk in a circle around it, moving in the direction thatthe sun goes. Every time shebaked a cake it came out larger and larger with smaller and smaller amounts of dough. The theme good over evilis portrayed in each of these stories. The three most important characteristics of Native American literature are naturalphenomenon's, good over evil, personification and anthropomorphism. Second, the Native Americans explained many natural phenomenon's. Another natural phenomenon is why the possum's tail is bare. By including the above characteristics, Native American oralliterature is quite entertaining. Then she added the root to start theplants. Theytricked her and cut off all the hair on her tail. In the story, "The World on the Turtle's Back",the people who lived in the sky world were gods. That story explains how woodpeckers cam to be.
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