NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE Literature Unit 1 - Introduction

Introduction Native American literature is also referred to as Indian literature or American Indian literature. Native American literature – the traditional oral and written literatures of the indigenous peoples of the Americas (Britannica).

Introduction cont. Native American literature began to be composed and written during the 17th and 18th centuries (1600s-1700s). However, their stories were hundreds of years old. Native Americans often spread stories through the ORAL TRADITION – stories were spread by word of mouth by parents and elders. Most Native American stories were written in English because English was the primary language taught in missionary schools set up by European settlers.

Historical Context Early Native Americans struggled to find their own voice within their literature because their world was changing so drastically. Native Americans were looked at as “less than human” and as savages. European settlers believed that it was God’s mission to spread their religion in the new world.

Historical Context cont. Some of the first Native American writers understood the power of writing as a tool in changing Europeans’ attitude toward their humanity. However, early Native American writings were not given a great deal of merit because of the deep prejudices of the settlers. Native Americans had mixed feelings about the European settlers. Some of them liked the ideas and tools brought from Europe, while other tribes fought with the settlers. Many battles and wars between the Native Americans and settlers erupted during the 1600s.

Characteristics - Folktales - Myths - Oral Histories Native American Literature can be broken down into three categories: - Folktales - Myths - Oral Histories Native American stories were often transmitted for centuries by storytellers. Most Native American stories teach a lesson. Storytellers would share a story with children to teach them about the world around them.

Characteristics cont. Native Americans would often sit around fires at night and be transported into other worlds by talented storytellers. It didn’t matter if certain Native American tribes were farmers or travelling hunters, storytelling was always an important part of the tribal tradition. Stories were often accompanied with gestures and songs.

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNY7L_RdObA