Native American Literature

Native American Literature

Things To Consider:

Parallel Structure
Repetition of Images
Age/Generations
Animal Imagery/Symbolism
Comparison to Things Fall Apart

community
identity

1860-1890: Indian Wars: Final Attempts to Resist European American Conquest.

** Homework Questions **
Navajo, "The Night Chant: Concluding Rite, First Day"

See interesting essay, "The Nightway Questions American Literature"

998:

What is the purpose of the Night Chant?

999:

What is the difference between the (male) he-rain and the (female) she-rain?
Explain the significance of the rainbow in section three .

James Welch (1940- )
"The Man from Washington"

What does Welch mean by "the end" (1)?

Ray Young Bear (1950- )
"One Chip of Human Bone"
See essay that includes the poem

To what do the title and first line refer?
Why is it "almost fitting / to die on railroad tracks" (2-3)?

(Click for On-Line Text)
Black Elk (1863-1950)
from Black Elk Speaks
Chapter Three: The Great Vision (pge #s refer to those provided in the pdf):
16:

Who are the wasichus?
What is an iron road?

18-24:

The discussion of the first part of the vision might make more sense in table form:

Grandfather of: West North East South Sky Earth

Description of Location: Where sun goes down Where Great White Giant Lives Where Sun shines continually Where you are always facing n/a n/a

Color of Horse(s): Black White Sorrel Buckskin n/a n/a

Animal Association: Horse Goose Bison Elk Spotted Eagle Black Elk

Gift : Water (Life)
Bow & Arrow (Destruction),
Name: Eagle Wing Stretches Cleansing Wind, White Wing
(Endurance) Eagle Pipe of Healing/Peace Red Stick and Hoop of Nation Power of Sky Power of Earth

Red Road: Runs from North to South: Good: "On it shall your nation walk" (23).

Black Road: Runs from East to West: Troubles & War: "From it you shall have the power to destroy a people's foes" (23).

27-28:

What is the significance to the order of travel on the red road?

Black Horse Riders, White Horse Riders, Sorrels, Buckskins, followed by little children, youth and maidens;
tribe's four chieftains, young men and women;
nation's four advisors, with men & women neither old nor young;
old men;
old women;
Black Elk, alone on bay horse with bow and arrow
ghosts of previous generations

32:

What is the significance/purpose of the four virgins?

Other Discussion Questions:
James Welch (1940- )
"The Man from Washington"

What are "our crude beginnings" (2)?

What is "a flat world" (3)?

What does "inoculated" mean (11)?

To what does "money, promise and disease" (13) refer?

from Black Elk Speaks
Chapter Three: The Great Vision
25:

Who is the blue man? Why can only Black Elk, and not the four horses, kill him?
Why does the dead blue man become a turtle?

30:

Explain the red man and the bison.

28-31:

Four ascents represent four generations. What will happen in each generation?

35:

Why do the Grandfathers give Black Elk their gifts again?

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Grandfather of:	West	North	East	South	Sky	Earth
Description of Location:	Where sun goes down	Where Great White Giant Lives	Where Sun shines continually	Where you are always facing	n/a	n/a
Color of Horse(s):	Black	White	Sorrel	Buckskin	n/a	n/a
Animal Association:	Horse	Goose	Bison	Elk	Spotted Eagle	Black Elk
Gift :	Water (Life) Bow & Arrow (Destruction), Name: Eagle Wing Stretches	Cleansing Wind, White Wing (Endurance)	Eagle Pipe of Healing/Peace	Red Stick and Hoop of Nation	Power of Sky	Power of Earth

Red Road:	Runs from North to South:	Good: "On it shall your nation walk" (23).
Black Road:	Runs from East to West:	Troubles & War: "From it you shall have the power to destroy a people's foes" (23).