Journal The Iroquois Creation Story - 1184 Words

Journal: The Iroquois Creation Story The Iroquois Creation Story, like other creation tales, signifies the struggle between that which is good and that which is evil. The tale illustrates the conflict between the twins, Enigorio, the good mind, and Enigonhahetgea, the bad mind. Additionally, The Iroquois Creation Story relies on the notion that humanity was birthed from a woman. As a Westerner, it is natural to compare any creation story to that which is familiar and most often the creation story found in one’s respective sacred texts. When comparing the Iroquois Creation Story to the creation story found in Genesis, the first book of the Holy Bible, similarities are abound. Perhaps the most obvious similarity is the committing of and consequences for sin. The initial sin that divided the lower world and upper world is not outlined in The Iroquois Creation Story. However, because of this division the content of the two worlds are comprised of contrasting elements. The text states that the â€Å"[t]he lower worl d was in great darkness; - the possession of the great monster; but the upper world was inhabited by mankind† (21). This is similar to the division between Earth and Hell. The consequences for sin as it relates to child bearing can be found in The Iroquois Creation Story and in Genesis. In Iroquois Creation Story, the text states that â€Å"[t]he woman was in a painful condition during the time of their disputes† (22). Similarly, Eve’s curse is relegated to her womb inShow MoreRelatedThe Iroquois Creation Myth1190 Words   |  5 PagesExegesis Many Native Americans tell stories of the creation of earth that explain how they came to be before the Europeans entered North America. Creation myths vary among all cultures; however, they all have one thing in common; heaven and earth. One of the most popular creation myths was the Iroquois creation myth. The Iroquois or Haudenosaunee meaning â€Å"People of the Longhouse† (Iroquois Indian Museum, n.d.) consists of six Indian nations that include the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, SenecaRead MoreEvolution Before Darwin1590 Words   |  7 Pagesexisted at one point in time) thousands, possibly millions, of stories on Earth. Stories that our innocent young selves were subjected to in elementary school that have influenced the way we see ourselves and those around us, more so than we would like to admit. Stories that our parents have read to us late at night willing us with their words of cats in hats and cows jumping over the moon to shut our eyelids and drift off to slee p, and stories that come and visit us in our dreams, usually only for a momentRead MoreColonial American Literature844 Words   |  4 Pagesthe beginning of great American Literature. American literature began with the formation of the thirteen colonies. The first books wereâ€Å"written to explain colonizing opportunities to Englishmen.† (Blair, Walter, Np) The English shared these stories in the written form with pen and paper. As time continued to pass, fewer books were written about the opportunities of colonization and focused instead on the separation from England. As the colonys population began to grow, so did the desire forRead MoreNative American Art : Understanding Native Oral Traditions3428 Words   |  14 Pagescome to us in form of stories passed down from their ancestors through generations. In order for the Native Americans to be completely understood their oral traditions must be studied and not cast aside as mere myths legends of an illiterate race. Problems often arise when we consider the use of verbal stories as a means of passing down knowledge due to the fact that over time we lose bits and pieces of a story. It definitely calls into question the reliability of the stories as accurate accounts