Journal #1 "How the World Was Made"

"How the World Was Made" exemplifies greatly Native American Literature. The story focuses greatly on creation myths as well as some origin myths. Creation Myths along with origin myths held a very key part in Native American Literature. "How the World Was Made" is mainly a creation myth because, it explains such things as how land came to be, why the sun is so high, and how humans began to multiply. The story tells of how Earth's land came to be whenever the Water-beetle went down into the ocean and came back up with soft mud that eventually spread out and became the land we know. It also tells why the sun is so high because, if it would have been any closer the Earth would be too hot. This myth of the sun also includes a myth about why red crawfish have red shells. The Red Crawfish let his shell get burnt so his meat would sour and people would not eat him. This story also includes a creation myth about why humans take a year to give birth. Humans initially gave birth to a child after seven days but, the world was getting too crowded too fast. It was then made so that women would give birth after a year to slow down the rapid population growth. This story also shows hospitality and manners. The Water-beetle and also the Great Buzzard sacrificed their lives for the greater good of the animals and people. They both contributed greatly to the land because, the Water-beetle created land while the Great Buzzard gave the world mountains. Both of these animals had much courage and were very brave to sacrifice their lives for the other animals. Myths were a very important part of Native American Literature and this examplifies great examples of Cheroke Myths as well hospatiality and manners.