1. Native American Communication

2. Before the Europeans…
Numerous groups of native tribes living throughout North America
The largest tribe was the Aztec Empire (in what is now Mexico) – numbering in the millions!
Europeans began arriving in the 1490s.

3. Native American Communication
The Native Americans passed down stories through storytelling (also known as
“word of mouth” or “the oral tradition”).

4. Other forms of communication
While Native Americans did not have a sophisticated system of writing, many tribes used symbolic drawings known as pictographs to communicate stories as well.

5. Native American Communication
Two main forms of communication
Storytelling
“the oral tradition”
Each tribe has a storyteller
Stories are passed down from generation to generation
Pictographs
Drawings
Often found in caves, on trees, or on animal hides

6. Topics in Native American Tales
The Cycle
The Cycle
The early Native Americans believed in the cyclical nature of existence. Examples: Nature Life

7. Other Details about Native American Communication
practical information about nature
moral lessons
both animal and human characters
stories/chants/actions could be powerful and make things happen (rain, harvest, successful hunt)
ARCHETYPES!

8. What‘s an archetype? An archetype is a repeated pattern.
An archetype could be a character, a plot, or an image.
Characters
Evil villain
Helpless victim
The goofball
The hero
Plots
Boy gets girl
Hero defeats villain
The underdog finally wins
Images
Nature as Mother (Mother Nature)
Tree = giver of life
City = Promised Land

9. Two European Views A settler from England
William Bradford
Cabeza de Vaca
A settler from England
Landed near what is now Massachusetts
Wrote about his experiences in a book called Of Plymouth Plantation
An explorer from Spain
Explored the west coast of Florida
Wrote about his adventures in a book called La relacion

10. Puritan Literature
Presented this 22 day of August in Puritan-appropriate black and white.
Please do not enjoy.

11. Puritans Originated in England Sought to purify the Church of England
Persecuted in England because of their strident beliefs
Fled England and initially relocated in Holland

12. DUTCHIFICATION!
It is generally believed that the Puritans fled Holland because they feared the gradual “Dutchification” of their children.

13. Some Puritan Terms Theocracy – government based on the word of God
Puritan Paradox – fled England to escape persecution, yet proceeded to persecute others in the New World
Original Sin – the belief that every human is born in sin and therefore all humans are innately sinful
Predestination – the belief that God saves only a chosen few – “The Elect”; you strive to live a decent, sin-free life in order to insure your place in heaven should you be among “The Elect”
Saved by Grace

14. Core Puritan Values (not necessarily bad)
Hard work
Simplicity in all aspects of life (dress, behavior, speech)
Self-reliance
Education (Puritans established Harvard College in 1636)

15. TRAITS OF WRITING 1. Simple 2. Often religious (Biblically based)
2. Often religious (Biblically based)
3. Very few figures of speech/literary devices (metaphors, “flowery” language)
Examples: --journals
--poems
--sermons