Native American Oral Traditions

I. Vocabulary from The Sun Still Rises in the Same Sky by Joseph Bruchac
Study the following words and definitions:
1. encompassing: including
2. countless: very many
3. revitalized: awakened; given new life
4. convey: tell; make known
5. interchangeable: able to be switched
6. metaphor: a figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared
7. tenacious: not ready to quit; persistent
8. dynamic: active; changing
9. cyclical: repeating in the same order; occurring in a cycle
10. anecdote: a short, interesting story about an event
Directions: Write the answers to the following questions in complete sentences by restating the question as part of your answer. Use
a capital letter to begin each sentence and a period at the end. Proofread to make sure your sentences make sense.
II. Read Native American Oral Traditions p. 20 and Before You Read p. 21
1. Write a definition of archetype. What are some examples of archetypes? Name at least three.
2. Write a definition of trickster.
III. Read The Sun Still Rises in the Same Sky by Joseph Bruchac, p.23. Follow along in your text while listening to the audio
recording.
1. According to Bruchac, what is one important thing that Native American literature has in common with ancient European
classics? (middle of first paragraph)
2. When did Western scholars begin to recognize that Native Americans had a rich oral tradition? (end of first paragraph)
3. What was a major problem for these scholars? (second paragraph)
4. What, according to Bruchac, have the writers Momaday, Erdrick, Ortiz, and Silko done for Native American literature?
(second paragraph)
5. Name four generalizations that can be made about Native American myths. (paragraphs three, four, and five)
IV. Read The Sky Tree, and The Earth Only, p. 24. Answer the questions on p. 26 in your Holt text.
Native American Oral Traditions
I. Vocabulary from The Sun Still Rises in the Same Sky by Joseph Bruchac
Study the following words and definitions:
1. encompassing: including
2. countless: very many
3. revitalized: awakened; given new life
4. convey: tell; make known
5. interchangeable: able to be switched
6. metaphor: a figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared
7. tenacious: not ready to quit; persistent
8. dynamic: active; changing
9. cyclical: repeating in the same order; occurring in a cycle
10. anecdote: a short, interesting story about an event
Directions: Write the answers to the following questions in complete sentences by restating the question as part of your answer. Use
a capital letter to begin each sentence and a period at the end. Proofread to make sure your sentences make sense.
II. Read Native American Oral Traditions p. 20 and Before You Read p. 21
1. Write a definition of archetype. What are some examples of archetypes? Name at least three.
2. Write a definition of trickster.
III. Read The Sun Still Rises in the Same Sky by Joseph Bruchac, p.23. Follow along in your text while listening to the audio
recording.
1. According to Bruchac, what is one important thing that Native American literature has in common with ancient European
classics? (middle of first paragraph)
2. When did Western scholars begin to recognize that Native Americans had a rich oral tradition? (end of first paragraph)
3. What was a major problem for these scholars? (second paragraph)
4. What, according to Bruchac, have the writers Momaday, Erdrick, Ortiz, and Silko done for Native American literature?
(second paragraph)
5. Name four generalizations that can be made about Native American myths. (paragraphs three, four, and five)
IV. Read The Sky Tree, and The Earth Only, p. 24. Answer the questions on p. 26 in your Holt text.