Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Reading Notes: Native American Hero Tales (Part A)

A bluejay, one of the heroes in this reading. (Pixabay)

I enjoyed this week's reading because it rode the line between realistic and supernatural. Many of the obstacles faced by the heroes were won with wit and the help of others, while others were won with supernatural aid. Sometimes, I was confused by the motivations of characters. For example, I don't know why the Unnatural uncle was allowed to kill any boy he wanted unless they could fight back.

I especially liked "The Attack on The Giant Elk and Great Eagle". It was refreshing to have a story in which the hero is rewarded for persistence in the face of failure. Many times he had to try four times before he was successful in performing part of the plan, which is in contrast to most hero stories of near-immediate success.

Bibliography. Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson. Web Link.

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