How The World Was Made: A Creation Myth

Floating about in all types of literature, there are many legends as to how the earth was created; these legends are known as creation myths. A creation myth offers answers to questions that ask how the earth was created, and explains the social customs of today as well as the workings of the natural world by telling an elaborate story. The Cherokee Indians have spread their beliefs on this topic throughout generations through oral tradition. Recent authors have taken these myths to paper to preserve history and to spread them even further around the world. “How the World Was Made” is a creation myth that not only offers an abundance of information regarding the origin of earth, but also supports the social traditions of today’s society and attempts to explain the intangible, natural workings of the world. The beginning of earth is a topic that has many legends behind it. “How the World Was Made,” a tale told by the Cherokee Indian tribe, includes a description of life before the earth. The legend says that, before the earth, only water occupied the space under the animals, who lived in a place high above. The residence of the animals quickly became crowded as they wished for more room. Eventually, a Water-beetle decided to travel under the water to learn about its

“How the World Was Made” presents few examples of these ways of life in an unusual setting. In the story, when the animals were finally able to live on the new earth, the absence of the sun left them in the dark. The animals set the sun on a track to go around the earth; this track however held the sun too close. “It was too hot this way, and… the Red Crawfish, had his shell scorched a bright red, so that his meat was spoiled; and the Cherokee do not eat it.” (“How the World”). This event supports the reason why the Cherokee Indians do not customarily eat Red Crawfish, further validating that this story is a creation