Andy Campbell Mrs.

Nogarr AP English 3, Period 6 October 21st, 2013 Title: The Sun Still Rises in the Same Sky: Native American Literature Author: Joseph Bruchac Discussed: October 23rd, 2013

Tone: American Indian literature also reflects a view of the natural world that is more inclusive than the one typically seen in Western literature. The Native American universe is not dominated by human beings. (Paragraph 3)

Adage: It is, after all, only a different way of getting to the same place. The sun still rises in the same sky.(Paragraph 5)

In the essay The Sun Still Rises in the Same Sky: Native American Literature, Joseph Bruchac explains the often neglected historical legacy of Native American literature. As a society so accustomed to classic Western literature and ignorant of other cultures, Bruchac attempts to explain the qualities and importance of Native American culture. He creates a strong contrast between the two wildly different cultures to illustrate the uniqueness of Native American culture, and to help the reader gain an appreciation for a subject often ignored. He presents his arguments by making distinctions between Western and Native American literature. For example, while Western cultures often have straight-forward literature that discusses specific situations, Native American literature is comparatively ambiguous. It is nearly

always metaphorical, as characters and actions represent moral lessons. They were used to teach children important character traits. They often come in the form of origin myths as well, featuring animals as the instruments of creation. This is expressed in: American Indian literature also reflects a view of the natural world that is more inclusive than the one typically seen in Western literature. The Native American universe is not dominated by human beings (Paragraph 3). This particular excerpt reveals the fact that Native American stories often elevate animals to the same level of humans in their stories. This shows the level of respect the Native Americans possessed towards the natural world. It is also somewhat critical of Western culture, because it points out the egocentric fact that western literature fails to recognize the importance of other living organisms. Native American culture is vastly more humble; they recognize humans are insignificant compared to the grandeur and diversity of life. The authors critical tone implies that todays ignorance toward this subject is a major problem, because surely students must recognize this cultural aspect of Native Americans that has been so enormously influential. An important point that Bruchac makes is that Native American literature is often passed down through oral tradition; because of this, it has never gained the same level of respect with Western literature. The author argues that oral stories and lessons should be recognized just as much as written literature, because much of Western literature also stems from the oral tradition. Bruchac makes these arguments to call to attention the respect and recognition this style of literature deserves. The excerpt It is, after all, only a different way of getting to the same place. The sun still rises in the same sky (Paragraph 5) follows a short description about the changing transportation methods of the Lakota Indians to the sun dance

ceremony. The author argues that while a European would focus on the fact that the Native Americans took a car to the event as significant, the method of transportation used is irrelevant. This excerpt is critical of European attitudes; the author assumes that a European would fail to see the significance of the Lakotas methods. Although the transportation methods have changed, the end destination is still the same. In a way, this demonstrates an important belief of Lakota Indians. Although the surface of the Earth has changed, deep down, the Earth is still the same, a reminder that humans are incapable of conquering nature. Humans are just a small and ephemeral part of a larger world. We come and go, but the earth always remains. The title itself is an adage, an old but wise truth: the sun still rises in the same sky. Bruchac is indicating that although many things may change, there are some things that always stay the same.