Symbolism In The Iroquois Constitution

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Native texts and Romantic poems both use literary devices to express their themes of the cycles of nature and life. In the Native text, “The Iroquois Constitution” by Dekanawida. There is a quote about the currents of water symbolizing that “Into the depths of the earth, down into the deep underearth currents of water flowing to unknown regions we cast all the weapons of strife” (Dekanawida 155). Dekanawida uses symbolism to show how the weapons of conflict are thrown into the water which the current guides away, to not be used again. The people no longer want to fight and want to have peace to unite the people of the Five Nations. So by throwing away their weapons they started a new beginning. Another example is in the tale “Coyote Finishes