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Week 2 Analysis

“The Creation (Maidu)” is a poem that speaks of the Maidu world in California. A place of nature and calm. In the poem, we are given many metaphors and imagery. Each stanza speaks of either an animal or nature itself. It begins with the introduction of the Earthmaker, a person of high power and knowledge, as they ask him about the world when it was covered with water and floated. Now the world appears dry as it states, “As he floated and looked about, / he did not see anywhere, / indeed,/ even a tiny bit of land” (23). This suggest that the world has gone through climate changes (engulfed land) and the people wish to know the history of the land. A coyote and the Earthmaker are both singing of a world they knew. They are constantly stopping as they see the world in two different views:
And then, they say Earthmaker sang / “Where are you, my great mountain ranges? / O, mountains of my world, where are you?” / Coyote tried. He kept on singing. / If, indeed, we two shall see nothing at all / traveling about the world / then, perhaps / there may be no misty mountains ranges there!”
They are both reminiscing and telling the people about what they witnessed and what they miss. After Meadowlark speaks of the world made of lands being stuck together. Meadowlark is learning from Coyote and Earthmaker, as they make the world. The Coyote will paint the world with blood, and the blood will create the creatures, as well as, those who will be borne by the blood. In the end, the Coyote is sacrificed to allow his blood to create the world. The Coyote symbolizes the creator, the keeper of magic, and he is of importance for the new lands. 
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Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2019 at 11:51 PM

    Hey, Samuel!
    I have to admit that I haven't read this story. When I was reading ''Indian Beginnings: Introduction" I decided that I would use that one for my analysis, so I just skipped this one. I'm glad that I was able to read it through your perspective, though.
    It is so intriguing how the figure of the Coyote is so present in Indigenous stories, don't you think?
    I'd taken Eng-100 last semester and we read lots of things related to vampires as metaphors and the modern world. I feel like the way we "praise" vampires may apply to them and Coyotes.
    Anyway, thank you for sharing your analysis!

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    Replies
    1. Mcduffie BlogFebruary 17, 2019 at 1:45 PM

      Thank you Natália. I like how you reference "praise" vampires, because it does make sense.

      Delete
  2. AmandaMcVeyFebruary 17, 2019 at 9:30 PM

    Hi Samuel!


    I like that you focused on what the characters were seeing, feeling, and experiencing. I was absorbed by the behaviors of the characters and the things being created that I looked past everything you described above. I also didn't read it as the coyote being a sacrifice, but I can definitely see where you are coming from. It is fun to see the different points of view the same story can be read from!

    Thank you for sharing!

    Best,
    Amanda

    ReplyDelete
  3. alekkubikFebruary 17, 2019 at 10:40 PM

    Hi Samuel,
    I found this story long and hard to understand, however your post seemed to help me out a lot as far as understanding what is happening. They seem to use much imagery throughout as well as some metaphors. Your quote also is strong evidence to your explanation.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rhiannon PinsonMarch 3, 2019 at 8:45 PM

    Hi Samuel,
    There was a lot of vivid imagery in this writing and I appreciated your analysis of it all. I found it interesting the similarities between the sacrifice of the coyote for the sake of creating a new world, and the Christian belief of Jesus’ sacrifice for the sake of salvation.

    ReplyDelete

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