Native American Myths

​Native American Myths

​Literary Analysis: Origin Myths and Archetypes

Origin myths are traditional stories that recount the origins of earthly life. Passed down from generation to generation, these myths often explain such phenomena as the beginning of human life, the customs and religious rites of a people, the creation of natural landmarks, and

events beyond a people’s control.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Match

Match the following: What was created in each tale?

• “The Earth on Turtle’s Back”

• “When Grizzlies Walked Upright”

• The Navajo Origin Legend

  man, woman

the world

Mount Shasta, beaver, otter, fish, birds, grizzly bears

man, woman

• the world

• Mount Shasta, beaver, otter, fish, birds, grizzly bears

• man, woman

​Literary Analysis: Origin Myths and Archetypes

Archetypes are patterns in literature found throughout the world. Many cultures have a trickster character that represents the world’s ability to fool us, a mysterious guide who represents the belief that there are forces in the world to help us on quests, and so forth.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Match

Match the following

• the small, determined character whose

  courage saves the day

• the disobedient child

• the being made up of two races

muskrat

daughter

Modoc

• muskrat

• daughter

• Modoc

​Reading Strategy: Recognize Cultural Details

One purpose of reading literature is to learn more about the culture that produces it. While you read a piece of literature, pay attention to cultural details—such as references to objects, animals, or practices that signal how people live, think, or worship—to gain cultural insight. For example, the cultural details in the three Native American myths indicate how the Native Americans lived as well as what they valued in life.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Open Ended

There was an ancient chief in the Skyland. His young wife was expecting a child, and one night she dreamed that she saw the Great Tree uprooted. The next day she told her husband the story. He nodded as she finished telling her dream. “My wife,” he said, “I am sad that you had this dream. It is clearly a dream of great power and, as is our way, when one has such a powerful dream we must do all we can to make it true. The Great Tree must be uprooted.”

Explain what you can infer about the place of dreams in Native American culture from the

excerpt from “The Earth on Turtle’s Back.”

Open Ended

After many years had passed, the mother grizzly bear knew that she would soon die. Fearing that she should ask of the Chief of the Sky Spirits to forgive her for keeping his daughter, she gathered all the grizzlies at the lodge they had built.

What does this excerpt from “When Grizzlies Walked Upright” tell you about the beliefs of Native Americans regarding the taking of responsibility for their actions?

Open Ended

It is the wind that comes out of our mouths now that gives us life. When this ceases to blow we die.

What does this excerpt from The Navajo Origin Legend tell you about why the Navajo believed that the wind was what gave life to people?

Multiple Choice

What happens to the young wife after the chief uproots the Great Tree?

• She falls through the huge hole.

• She cries because the tree has been uprooted.

• She is pulled by her hair by the Great Wind spirit.

• She breathes life into the seeds and sends them down.

Multiple Choice

What actions do the water animals take when they realize the wife of the sky chief cannot live in water?

• They try to create a earth for her to stand upon.

• They adopt her and take her to live with them.

• They circle around her 8 times and call on the winds.

• They drop her into the water and tell her to swim.

Multiple Choice

What does the description of the description of the Muskrat stress about her physical qualities?

• How small she is.

• How fast she is.

• How big she is.

• How slow she is.

Multiple Choice

How would you characterize the Muskrat's swim and her decision to make it?

• Tiring; brave.

• Tiring; cowardly.

• Easy; brave.

• Easy; cowardly.

Multiple Choice

In the Modoc myth, what do the grizzly bears do that angers the Chief of the Sky Spirits?

• Take in his daughter and marry her to their son.

• Take in his daughter and marry her to their nephew.

• Take in his daughter but then toss her into the river.

• Taken in his daughter and turn her into dinner.

Multiple Choice

What punishment does the Chief of the Sky Spirits give the grizzlies?

• He forbids them to talk and walk upright.

• He forbids them to talk.

• He forbids them to walk upright.

• He forbids them to steal picnic baskets.

Multiple Choice

What is the wind's role in the Navajo ceremony?

• The wind makes the ears of corn humans.

• The wind airs out the hides.

• The wind knocks the daughter of the Sky Spirit down the mountain.

• The wind knocks the wife of the chief down the large hole.

Multiple Choice

In which origin myth is the creation of the Earth unintentional, or almost an accident?

• Onondaga

• Modoc

• Navajo

• Chamorro

Multiple Choice

In addition to the origins of life on Earth, what features of the land does the Modoc myth explain?

• Mount Shasta

• Scratches on the backs of turtles

• Colors of ears of corn

• Lake Onondaga

Multiple Choice

Which of the myths portrays the spirits or gods as generous and kind?

• Navajo

• Modoc

• Onondaga

• Chamorro

Multiple Select

In which myth is the world's creation the result of cooperation? (There are TWO correct answers)

• Onondaga

• Modoc

• Navajo

• Chamorro

Multiple Choice

In which myth is the world's creation the result of aggression?

• Modoc

• Navajo

• Onondaga

• Chamorro