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 * =**"The Earth on Turtle's Back"-**=** ===Retold by Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac===



This origin myth was created around the early 1400's, before any European explorers set sail to the New World. " Earth on Turtle's Back" was created by the Onondaga tribe who were situated in what is now Onondaga County, New York. Due to their oral traditons, this myth was passed on from generation to generation. The way the time affects the literary style of this legend is that the natives were in touch with their surroundings so they used animals and Earth's physical aspects to tell the story.
 * 1) ===What is the time period and how does it affect the literary style?===

2.What is the author's purpose in writing the selected piece?
The author's purpose is to try to answer the age old question, " how did it all begin?" The Onondaga's not only tried to give an explanation of how the Earth came to be but also to show one of the most important characteristics a succesful person should have, which is determination. Another important purpose was to show that sometimes it doesnt matter how big the task is, even the ones least expected can pull it off.

" they brought the Muskrat over to the Great Turtle and placed her paw against his back. To this day there are marks at the back of the Turtle's shell which were made by the Muskrat's paw.. The tiny bit of earth fell on the back of the Turtle. Almost immediately, it began to grow larger and larger until it became the whole world" ( Prentice Hall Literature; " Earth on Turtle's Back" pg. 18)

3.What literary techniques does the author employ in achieving his or her purpose?
The author uses personification and imagery to help the reader better understand what is going on in the story. He gave the animals in this story human characteristics and had them talk. Repetition was also used within this story. It is shown when the small muskrat is swimming deep into the ocean to recover a small piece of Earth.

4. How is the literature characteristic of the time period?
During this time period the native americans beleived that the Earth was created by animals. There was no such thing as the Big Bang theory or any scientific hypothesis of how the Earth is supposed to have been created.

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