1. Native American Literature

2. The foundation of American Literature is based upon three ideologies:

3. Native American Literature The foundation of American Literature is based upon three ideologies: – Puritanism

4. Native American Literature The foundation of American Literature is based upon three ideologies: – Puritanism – Deism

5. Native American Literature The foundation of American Literature is based upon three ideologies: – Puritanism – Deism – Animism

6. Native American Literature Animists believe... – God is IN everything. It is not so much that God is one being, but rather that God is all around us in Nature. Nature, like God, was here before us and will be here after we have passed. Therefore, to understand our purposes and meanings, we must look to Nature for answers.

7. Native American Literature Animists believe... – If God is in Nature, then the Puritan and Deist concept of “Heaven” is present on Earth. Man comes from Earth and returns to Earth. There is no Hell.

8. Native American Literature Animists believe... – If Man acknowledges that he is a natural being, respecting himself as he respects all nature around him, then he opens himself up to God working through him.

9. Native American Literature Animists believe... – We can learn about Life through nature if we only learn to listen.

10. Native American Literature Early Native American writers... – created poetry and short stories – developed myths to explain nature’s wonders and the creation of the world

11. Native American Literature Let’s begin with Creation Myths (like the Garden of Eden in Judeo-Christian religion)...