Please%20Copy%20Into%20Your%20Notes.%20.%20.%20Daily%20Objectives%20for%202/5/09

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Please Copy Into Your Notes. . . Daily
Objectives for 2/5/09

• Recognize the elements of Native American oral
  tradition.
• Define a creation myth.
• Analyze and interpret a Native American creation
  myth.

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UNIT ONE Native American Oral Tradition
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Origins and Encounters

• With a partner, read the quotations on page 16
  and analyze the photograph on page 17.
• Please note about 5 different observations you
  make.

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List . . .

• How are stories, newscasts, important
  information, etc. documented in our society
  today?

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The First Americans

• Native Americans can be considered our first true
  Americans as they have inhabited much of North
  America thousands of years before Europeans
  arrived.
• This is where we will begin our journey into
  American literature . . .

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What are the key elements of Native American oral
tradition?

• Individual units of people ? they did not work as
  a national unit
• Over 200 various groups with over 500 different
  languages spoken
• Ways of life controlled by NATURAL SURROUNDINGS
• Literature reflects religious and political
  beliefs and social values

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Elements of Oral Tradition

• Spoken Word ? Storytelling and performances
• Major types
• Creation myth
• Tales of heroes and tricksters
• Ritual songs and chants
• Major emphasis relies upon living in harmony with
  the natural world

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Elements of Oral Tradition

• Native Americans believed that human beings
  bonded best with nature ? plants, animals, land,
  heavenly bodies and the elements
• They are PART of nature, they do NOT own it!

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Old and New Traditions

• Current Native American authors continue to honor
  their oral traditions yet also document them in
  written word.
• Many of these authors concern themselves with
  connecting old traditions to new society.
  Value of the first American literature.

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Creation Myth

• Myth a traditional story passed down through
  generations, that explains why the world is the
  way it is.
• Creation myth explains how the universe, earth
  and life began.
• What is the difference?

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The Iroquois League

• The Iroquois are a league of five separate Native
  American peoples Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida,
  Onondaga, and Mohawk
• These groups united in the 14th century they
  lived in the woodlands of what is now NY state
• The league was created to end fighting among the
  five groups that existed in the alliance.

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The World on the Turtles Back an Iroquois
myth

• Read p. 25-28 as a class
• Independently complete the story and answer
  questions 1,3,4,6 on page 31.
• Also consider
• Symbolism of the turtles back

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Summarize . . .

• Name some elements of oral tradition.
• What is a creation myth?
• Why is Turtles Back a creation myth?