Literature Written by the Native Americans - Assignment Example

Final Review Question The range of genres and topics written in the autobiographies identified as being written by the Native Americans depicts their culture and their way of life. Literature written by the Native Americans can be considered a very fundamental aspect of literature because it shows the transition from the oral tradition, which was there in existence before Europeans arrived and the beginning of the Native American period in the years that followed. Most of the literature in the 18th and 19th century used common literary genres, which were like autobiography, but also combined narratives with the traditional oral stories, thus creating a much more literary form. Through the literary forms, they were able to tell their struggle they went through so as for their voice to be heard. a. In his book, Momaday has brought up a unique platform and from this one can view the cultural history of the Kiowa people. Through this book, Momaday has been able to bring out his own sense of background. The book has been structured to bring out a sense of purpose for Momaday who is a Kiowa Indian in the sense that he was born of that origin. Though he was born into that culture, he received his education in the American way. The book is structured to bring out the ancestral heritage of the Kiowa Indians, and in his own way he has constructed this in his book through the dominant culture, his own memory of the events and also, his imagination so that the structure of the book can come out right. He has managed to bring out the origin of the Kiowa people, their development of their own culture and how they still exist up to date. He has managed to carry on the mantel of their tradition (Momaday, 45). b. The way to the rainy mountain is a book written by Momaday who tells of his ancestor’s, the Kiowa Indians and their origin, their cultures and tradition and also how they still exist today through imagination and through writing about them (Momaday, 12). The genre of this book is Folklore, which basically means that it mainly consists of legends, oral history, jokes, proverbs, popular beliefs, stories and customs. The absolutely true diary of a part time Indian is a book about a young Indian who grew up on a reservation and decided to go to a white school where he starts being treated as an outcast. The book tells of his struggle to gain his status both in school and at the reservation. The genre of this book is young-adult fiction in that it is one targeted for adolescents and young adults (Sherman, 14). c. Wampum can be described as the sacred shell beads that were traditionally used by the Eastern Woodlands tribes. These were the indigenous people of North America. They were at times used as currency during the colonist’s period. They were significant in terms of being used as a symbol for tradition like in marriages. Some of the uses include being used to mark exchanges such as in marriages, engagements and also agreements in terms of betrothal. Question 2 Historical events would likely to have been interpreted from a Native American point of view rather than an Anglo American point of view because in the real sense, Native Americans were the initially the inventors of most traditions and those traditions still exist and thus, their experience is much more exhibited. Native Americans and their history have become the interest of many people, both Indians and non-Indians alike. There is an interesting fact about discussing the history of Indians and thus it brings out an informative and appealing manner to their history (Mary, 22). a. When the congress unilaterally decided to stop making treaties with the Native Nations and forced assimilation, there were many effects and affects that followed. There was the assassination of resistance leaders and also some of the leaders were separated from their people and imprisoned in certain remote facilities like Fort Marion. Geronimo was among those imprisoned (Geronimo, 45). b. The Native Americans would classify the problem as one that was about their settling and their place in the American society. They were confined in a certain area and they encountered the flow of immigrants of the Europeans. Their immigration was issued since the land was already occupied by groups of Indians. They faced social discrimination and racism, crime, terminology differences and legal status issues (Momaday, 78). c. Two historical events occurred at Wounded Knee in South Dakota; the Wounded Knee incident and the Wounded Knee massacre. During the Wounded Knee incident, it began in February 27th 1973 when the town was taken captive by the followers of the American Indian Movement and they controlled the town for a total of 71 days and in the meantime the marshal’s service and other agencies placed the town under cordon from the public. The siege ended with the government gaining control and casualties were very few. In the Wounded Knee massacre, it was a battle and was a major armed conflict that occurred between the Lakota Sioux and the United States. It was in December 29th 1890 and after the massacre, a significant number of people were dead, numerous injured including women and children (Mary, 221). Question 3 From the autobiographical writings that are present, it is safe to say that the Native Americans were diverse, ensuring that their cultures were kept and that their existence was critical. According to the literature, one can reflect on the Native Americans personal lives and also on their culture. From the writings of the Native Americans, it can be said that their experience was one that they were proud of. The writings have memories and teachings that bring out the fact that they did have a history to remember. a. In his literature writings, one can gather that Momaday is a passionate person, imaginative and proud of his origin. He is imaginative and creative in that he wrote the book so as to make sure that his ancestors are still remembered and he is also very skilled at comparing cultures (Momaday, 56). William L. Hensley can be described as one who advocates for the rights of those oppressed. In his book, most of the writing is about oppression. He is also compassionate and is also original in terms of his writing about Alaska and its people (William, 42). Question 4 Between the two, what can be perceived as a major difference is the fact that as for the Native Americans, they identify the fact that their culture is much more unique and dynamic and this is what has had an effect on the current American culture. The Native Americans are proud of their culture, and as such view the current American culture as one that is borrowed from them. This is their most valued experience of their lives; their unique and dynamic culture. a. Momaday is one Native who is proud of his culture. He is imaginative and thinks of his culture as one that is unique. He is different because unlike the current American people, he does not want to see his ancestors forgotten and that is why he does his best for them to be remembered (Momaday, 241). Sherman Alexie is another writer who is different because even though he goes to a white school, he does not forget his origin, his hometown and his family. He does not abandon his life so that he can fit elsewhere but struggles to maintain the two (Sherman, 94). Question 5 Theme of belonging 1. Momaday when he tries to make sure that though he got an American education, he does not forget where he belongs; by his people, the Kiowa Indians (Momaday, 124). 2. Sherman Alexie when he tries to fit in the English school and also at the settlement where his family is (Sherman, 98). 3. Wilma Mankiller and her story of how she struggles to ensure that her people belong and exist and also, that their tradition and culture is carried ahead to the future (Wilma, 67). Theme of Success 1. Momaday has successfully managed to ensure that his ancestors will never be forgotten as they exist in the literal form and also in the imaginative form (Momaday, 200). 2. William Hensley, an advocate for the rights of human beings, managed to advocate for the rights of many during his time (William, 90). 3. Sherman manages to successfully incorporate both cultures in his life because he was able to learn from both and make the best out of both (Sherman, 125). Theme of Identity and Race 1. In the Lakota woman, Mary struggles to find her identity and also about her Native American origin so that she can begin to fight for her people and their tradition (Mary, 48). 2. Sherman struggles to find an identity in his new school since he is judged by his identity by not being one of them in the white dominated school (Sherman, 78). 3. Geronimo finds his identity as a warrior and thus, becomes a great and a ferocious warrior of America who pays for his heroisms (Barrett, 96). Works Cited Alexie, Sherman, and Ellen Forney. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Little, Brown and Co, 2009. Print. Geronimo, S M. Barrett, and Frederick W. Turner. Geronimo: His Own Story. New York: Meridian, 1996. Internet resource. Hensley, William L. I. Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People. New York: Sarah Crichton Books, 2009. Internet Resource. Molin, Pauline F. American Indian Themes in Young Adult Literature. Lanham (Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2005. Print. (Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog, Richard Erdoes) Momaday, N S, and Al Momaday. The Way to Rainy Mountain. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1969. Print. Shoemaker, Nancy. American Indian Population Recovery in the Twentieth Century. Albuquerque: Univ. of New Mexico Press, 2000. Print. Read More