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Summary Of The Iroquois Creation Story

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In what way(s) are these stories etiological? Etiological stories are important because the authors take what they know about the present and use it to explain how something came to be. Oftentimes people in today’s society get wrapped up in the thought that these narratives are meant to be factual and historical, which is not always the case. Both the Iroquois and Navajo creation stories have etiological elements. The Iroquois Creation Story describes the creation of the universe two existing worlds. An example of etiology is seen as the pregnant woman is sitting on the turtle’s back. As the woman is being held, “the turtle increase[s] every moment and bec[omes] a considerable island of earth, and apparently covered with small bushes” (Cusick …show more content…

What is being explained or taught through these stories? A common theme seen throughout the trickster tales is deception. In the tale “From the Winnebago Trickster Cycle” deception is used to prevent starvation of the Trickster and his friends. As winter approaches Trickster an his friends realize that there is no food left from the fall harvest, so Trickster devises a plan to disguise himself as a woman to marry a chief’s son so they “can live in peace until spring comes” (Radin 106). It is important to note that the goal is not to harm the people of the village, but to prevent starvation. Deception can also be seen in “Ikto Conquers Iya, the Eater.” In this tale the use of deception ends up saving a village. In the conclusion of the story it is stated that Ikto, the hero of the story, “did do a great service to the people” (Deloria 114). This story is used to show that sometimes tricksters can exhibit heroic qualities. Although deception is a common theme, the trickster does not always use deception to harm others. These stories teach listeners/readers to truly think about whether a person’s actions are being used for good or bad, and learn that the answer is not always

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In an effort to explain this came up with creation myths. Unlike the Bible’s one creation story, the Choctaw people have different versions of their creation myth. The Choctaw creation stories are classified as myths because they are “imaginative stories that present events that took place at the beginning.” (Ryan, 2016).

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Deception is a powerful tool in seeking a certain motive; therefore,

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Society generally deems lying as wrong, but there a grey area remains present when one considers whether a lie truly is moral. There are two sides to every story and multiple factors one must consider.. The phrase “little white lie” downplays the moral backing to the general teaching that lying and deceit are bad. The lies that are categorized in that area are considered beneficial in the context that they are intended to “help” an individual, such as with esteem, or to not hurt an individual 's feelings. The white lies can morally start to develop and spiral into worse and worse scenarios.

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The Trickster The terms mixedblood and trickster, in Vizenor´s conception, are transformed into metaphors that are trying to distort the stereotypes. Vizenor´s mixedblood is not the tormented target but, in contrary, turns into glorified “holotrope” and shape shifting figure that can travel through other worlds. As in the works of Faulkner and Marquez or in the work of Injun Joe by Mark Twain so the Vizenor´s mixedblood does not disappear in the black corners of American thinking but thrives in his dreams.

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Penelope and Odysseus’ use of tricks and deception are both a help and a hinderacne in allowing the former to avoid a second marriage and confirm her husband’s identity and the latter to attain nostos. Odysseus is wise not to tell his crew of Skylla, but should have divulged the contents of the bag of winds. Similarly, Penelope’s trick with the bed was harmless and successful, whereas undoing her work on the shroud has severe consequences when she is caught. As Homer’s Odyssey demonstrates, tricks and deception must be used wisely in order to avoid problematic

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Instead of tricking others, characters often deceive those around them in regards to their identity so they can gain information. Take Odysseus for example. As he goes on his journey home, he meets many people who can aid him in returning to Ithaca. He never quite tells the truth about who he is, whether he makes up an elaborate story or just leaves out pieces of his story. Odysseus knows exactly what to say, or not to say, to get what he needs.

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The trickster is a source of life lessons throughout the copious myths that exist, from behaviors to morals. The character filling this role is generally neither virtuous or evil and shows duality in human nature. They are primarily perplexing and abnormal,

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Deception comes in many forms and can be seen in all kind of ways but mainly when someone purposely causes someone to believe something that isn 't true to gain a personal advantage. Many authors use this tactic in their plays books and other literary work like in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the author uses the technique of deception to mislead Claudius, Gertrude, himself, Ophelia and his friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spare their feelings and to carry out a crime. Hamlet uses deception throughout the novel, but one way is to distract everyone from his true intention which is to gather information against Claudius to prove he killed his father. Shakespeare contributes all this back into his work by making each character in the play enact on some form of deceit to uncover the obscure truth.

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The Iroquois creation story is a renowned Native American myth written by a Tuscarora historian, David Cusick. He is also the author of David Cusick’s Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations, which is known to be the first Indian-written history printed in the English language (Radus). The Iroquois creation myth exists in twenty-five other versions. It describes how the world was created from the Native American perspective. It begins with a sky woman who falls down into the dark world.

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1106 Words | 5 Pages

The Iroquois creation story is a renowned Native American myth written by a Tuscarora historian, David Cusick. He is also the author of David Cusick’s Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations, which is known to be the first Indian-written history printed in the English language (Radus). The Iroquois creation myth exists in twenty-five other versions. It describes how the world was created from the Native American perspective. It begins with a sky woman who falls down into the dark world.

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There are many pieces of literature that describe the creation of the Universe. In the following paragraphs one will find that there will be two in particular we will be looking at. The first is The Iroquois Creation Story, and the second will be chapters 1-3 out of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. By the end of this essay hopefully one will be able to see most of the similarities and differences between the two works of literature. There are various similarities between the two works of literature, for example in the Bible in chapter 1 verse 1 of Genesis it states that “in the beginning God created the Heavens and Earth”.

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Deception is a common tool among people of the world. For as long as we have communicated, we have worked our way around truths. The art of deception is very intricate and fragile, having to be planned carefully. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, several characters use deception to get their own way. Three of them who made use of it are Claudius, Laertes, and Hamlet.

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Have you ever wondered how Native Americans believe the world came to be? Both stories include the elements that make the world balanced. The stories “World on the Turtle's Back” and “The Menominee” both include the importance of nature and animals. Also, their beliefs on what makes things good and evil. Finally, they include how the gods created man, woman, and earth.

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Many of the characters in Macbeth use deception to persuade others to do things they want done. Most times these deeds are bad and in the end come back to haunt the characters. Throughout the whole play, Shakespeare uses the theme of deception to create tension, and scandals. These acts of deception will be the falling of many characters and also one of the main themes of the play. In acts one and two, the use of deception is demonstrated.

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A standard of trickster theory is the figure’s easy use of deception to obtain basic pleasures such as sex and food. In the Winnebago tales specifically, Trickster tends to use disguise and manipulation to fulfill his needs and, in the two stories with which I am concerned, mainly his desire for food. In one scholars’ definition of the common trickster characteristics it is said that “as his name explicitly states, the trickster is a consummate and continuous trick-player and deceiver” (Mapping Mythic Tricksters 35). So clearly deception tends to come along with the trickster figure, but the lies told in these two tales also expand to include the role of shape-shifter which is considered by this source to be a separate trait. Shape-shifting does seem to extend beyond a simple deception but remains within the realm of manipulation.

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