Native American Oral Tradition “The Four Elements” On the final, you will be asked to read a...
-
Upload
bruno-stone -
Category
Documents
-
view
221 -
download
0
Transcript of Native American Oral Tradition “The Four Elements” On the final, you will be asked to read a...
Native American Oral Tradition
“The Four Elements”
On the final, you will be asked to read a Native American tale and analyze it via MC questions for the four elements. Review
this Ppt for the “Four Elements”
Storytelling in the Oral Tradition
Definition: Stories which are handed down, from generation to
generation, which define a people and their beliefs
• Why would a group of people have to hand down stories verbally at first?
• To save and preserve their stories if there is no written language.
• Earth, Wind, Fire and Water – common areas of focus along with
colors red, yellow, white and black
• Many of these stories have one, if not more, “jobs” that they fulfill:
Key ELEMENT - Job#1
#1 Explains a group’s ORIGINS
An “ORIGIN” story will answer
questions such as…
Where did I/we come from?
Is there a god or goddess, several gods/ goddesses? Are their animal or “Earth” spirits?
Also may involve mysterious forces, powers of creation
Key ELEMENT - Job #2
#2 Explains a person’s or group’s
PURPOSE
A story like this will give an individual and/or group their identity and
reason for existing.
Look for a part of the story which answers this question:
“Why am I
here –what am I meant to do?”
Key ELEMENT - Job #3:States/Explains religious
beliefs and life philosophiesThe story may
include an explanation of
specific thing/s a group of people believe in… or
explain an important “life”
philosophy.
Key Element – Job #4 #4 Teaches
moral behavior and / or a lesson
Watch for a part of the story, especially at the end, where a main character or group of
people has learned about what the people
consider “moral” behavior.
A “lesson” may be learned from poor
choices made during the story.
1. Explains the origins of a people2. Explains the purpose of an individual or group 3. Explains the religious beliefs and/or philosophies4. Explains moral behavior expectations and/or teaches a lessonREVIEW: What are the four
elements we look for to see if a story meets the criteria of
“oral tradition” tales in Native American Literature?
Thoughts to
ponder….
•When people move about, resettle, what do they bring with them?
• Stories! Verbally first, before written language, to save them. Then, written versions.
• What may begin to happen to these tales over time. Why?