Gihad Hussein Period 3 English 11 September 24, 2011 The Roots of American Literature Each and every one

of us has opened a book before. Some of us open books for enjoyment and others because it is mandate for them. Without literature we have no history for everything we as Americans have ever done lies in our American literature. As important as our American literature is, it is necessary to know the roots of how it all began. Even though it was thought that Christopher Columbus was the first to discover America, Native Indians were the first to live upon American grounds. The Indians were the original settlers but unfortunately they were very uneducated. They were very uncertain of where they originated from and how they came upon this planet. In response to their dilemma they created origin myths. Origin myths were told by different Indian tribes explaining how they were created who they were to give thanks to and much more. Since there was no such thing as science during these days these myths were the guide lines of their lives. These myths were very scared to the Indians. Each tribe had their very own set of beliefs and rules. For example, the Onondaga had great respect towards all animals. This belief was created because of their myth, Earth on Turtles Back, which explained how animals saved the sky chiefs wife and put her on an earth that they had to risk their lives in order to achieve. The Onondaga believed that they were on earth today because of those animals and in return for their kindness they choose to be forever loyal to the animals. Unlike the Onondaga the Modoc only prized one animal, the grizzly bears. In their story, When Grizzlies Walked up Right, the Modoc explain h ow earth was created, how they were created, and why they had such great respect for all the grizzly bears. It was said in their story

Gihad Hussein Period 3 English 11 September 24, 2011 that the sky spirit created the earth and the trees and the animals with his walking stick. The story also explains how the grizzly bear and the sky spirits daughter created Indians which is why they respect the grizzlies. As stated in the story, Those strange creatures, his grandchildren, scattered and wandered over the earth. They were the first Indians, the ancestors of all the Indian tribes. The sky spirit was outraged about this new creation and punished the grizzlies by making them walk on all four feet and made their ability of speaking vanish. Too many of us now these stories make us giggle to think that Indians were made from a girl and a bear but these stories helped us know how times were during the years of the native Indians. If they had not created these myths we would have not known what was important to them nor why they thought it was so important to them. As explorers went 5people like Christopher Columbus explored America creating colonies and new settlements among the Indians. The new European explorers faced many troubles. Unlike the Indians, European explorers where new to America and where unfamiliarly on where everything was located at. When Christopher Columbus first ran into America he believed he was to the rim of the Indies which is why he named the native settlers Indians. As the explorers settled into America they ran into many troubles such as lack in food and diseases causing a dramatic decrease in population. Most explorers were sent by their kings and were expected to soon return and explain what they discovered in full detail. Since most humans cant remember every detail that they see in a couple of seconds they invented something called an exploration novel. In there exploration novel they jotted down what they seen in their journeys giving both their perspective and facts on the sight. An example of an exploration narrative is A Journey

Gihad Hussein Period 3 English 11 September 24, 2011 Through Texas. In A Journey Through Texas Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca explaines his adventure to the Grand Canyon. Cabeza flawlessly details the sight he seen showing us his descriptive skills. Although, even with all the facts he swiftly wrote down he also gave us his own perspectives. By his perspective I mean his own thoughts and opinions which we know in American literature as nonfactual information though it is not proven it is still very important. After the European explorers a new group of people seeking religious freedom soon entered our American literature books. A group of people known as the puritans left Britain in search of religious freedom. As they came to the great land of America they also faced many troubles. They fought through many obstacles such as disease, lack of food, and Indians in some cases but through their hard work they achieved what they came in search for. Though the puritans didnt not come with anything other than a bible, they were the start of creating the great nation we now call the United States of America. The puritans believed in being ultimately true to god and believed that they must not do anything that off sets there mind from god. They created many pieces of literature showing their devotion to god. Puritans even created their own type of literature called plain puritan style. This type of style was very plain with extremely simple words. Edward Taylor wrote a poem called Huswifery. Taylor wrote this to show his devotion to god in order to get a spot in the afterlife. He connected to every day object and used very simple words for example, Make me Thy loom then, knit therein this twine. Another type of literature the puritans introduced was sermons. A sermon is just a speech giving during a religious type of meeting. Sermons are known to be demanding making you want

Gihad Hussein Period 3 English 11 September 24, 2011 to do something for example in Jonathan Edwards sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, he demands the people to repent for their sins and to ask forgiveness before they burn and suffer. These were both types of literature accepted during this time but in every group theres going to be someone who thinks different like Anna Bradstreet. She wrote a poem titled To My Dear and Loving Husband. During the puritan time this type of writing was prohibited and looked down upon. If she were to be found she would have been severely punished. Even though it was band then it showed what had to stay hidden and what was allowed to be shown. Since America had great agricultural opportunities but very few people, Americans decided to import slaves from Africa for labor. As some people still do not want to recognize these slaves were kidnapped and forced on aboard to ships and sold to work on farms. These slaves did not understand Americans and were unfamiliarly to the land. There was very little hope of achieving freedom and were treated brutally. These slaves created a type of writing that is now only found in American literature. This type of writing is known as slave narratives. Slave narratives are written by actual slaves fully describing the horrors they had to suffer through. Olaudah Equiano was once the son of the powerful village chief. He and his sister were one day skipping around and playing outside when they were kidnapped. In a split second Equiano went from being the son of the chief to a slave. This story is known today as The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. These slave narratives showed a type of literature device we call appeal to emotion. As you read the tragedies and obstacles the slaves had to overcome it makes you feel bad.

Gihad Hussein Period 3 English 11 September 24, 2011 As you can clear now recognize, the Native Indians, European explorers, Puritans, and African slaves were the roots to our great American literature. Each and every one of them contributed to the start of our history. Thanks to our early settlers we know do not have to worry about repeating our mistakes since they are now all inscribed into our American literature books.