native american culture in early american history
TRANSCRIPT
Native American Culture in Early American History
OverviewO When the first settlers came to America,
they did not at first realize that Native Americans had cultural values and a literary tradition of their own.
O The literature was entirely oral due to a lack of any written system.
O This oral tradition forms the basis of the first American literary heritage.
Historical BackgroundO The Americas were already populated by several hundred
Native American tribes when Columbus “discovered” America in 1492.
O The tribes differed greatly from each other in language, government, social organization, customs, housing, and methods of survival.
O The Native Americans usually greeted the earliest European settlers as friends, including introducing the settlers to woodwork and agriculture.
O Manifest destiny changed the nature of the relationship between settlers and Native Americans.
Native American Literary Tradition
O For a long time the literature was viewed as folklore without any literary merit.
O The oral literature included (among others) song lyrics, hero tales, migration legends, and creation accounts which changed over time.
O Oratory skills were much prized among Native Americans.
Characteristics of Oral Literature
O Oral stories were chanted, spoken, sung, and repeated over and over until embedded into the memories of the next generations.
O Celebrate the wonders of the natural world
O Celebrate the interconnectedness of the natural and spiritual world
O Sought to explain natural occurrences
Characteristics of Oral Literature cont.
O Consists of four parts forming a cycle: begins with a harmonious situation (everything is okay); something disrupts the harmony (problem); attempt to fix the disharmony (fixing the
problem);harmony is restored
O Designed to teach a lesson
O Animals and humans were often interchangeable in many stories
Characteristics of Oral Literature cont.
O Contained the idea that life is not a progressive straight line, but an endless circle
O This cycle is reflected strongly in nature (changing seasons, cycles of birth, death and rebirth) and in ceremonies performed year
after year.