Subjects:
told stories that used very consistent ideas. They used a lot of personification, and
anthropomorphism. In almost every story they told, animals or gods portrayed human
characteristics. Many of their stories explained some type of natural phenomenon. Their
stories also included a happy ending, and the theme of good over evil. These three ideas
are the most important characteristics of Native American oral literature.
First, personification and anthropomorphism are heavily used in Native American
literature. A good example of this is in “Why Possum’s Tail is Bare”. “ ‘Oh yes,’ Possum
replied. ‘I cannot miss the dance. I must show off my beautiful tail so everyone can
admire me!’ ”(Possum, 53). The possum clearly acts and talks like a human. In “Coyote
and Buffalo”, the Buffalo and Coyote are smoking a pipe. This is an obvious human
. . .
the sun goes. Every time she
baked a cake it came out larger and larger with smaller and smaller amounts of dough. The theme good over evil
is portrayed in each of these stories.
The three most important characteristics of Native American literature are natural
phenomenon’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 oral
literature is quite entertaining. Then she added the root to start the
plants. They
tricked 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.
Essay's Topics
All research is for reference purposes only.