Origin Myths

“The Earth on Turtle's Back,” “When Grizzlies Walked Upright,” and The Navajo Origin Legend are origin myths. What are origin myths? 

• a. stories about talking animals 
•  b. stories about ancient people 
• c. stories that explain how life began
• d. stories that explain the present day

“The Earth on Turtle's Back” tells how something came to exist. What is it that grew on Turtle's back?

• the sky
• the earth
• the sea
• the woman

From reading “The Earth on Turtle's Back,” you can tell that the Onondaga value certain things in their culture. Which two of these items do they value?
I animals
II clouds
III riches
IV dreams

• I & III
• II & IV
• II & III
• I & IV

What part of the natural world is explained by “When Grizzlies Walked Upright”?

• how the earth came to be
• how Indians came to be
• how snow came to be
• how ice came to be

According to “When Grizzlies Walked Upright,” why do the Modocs never kill grizzly bears?

• The grizzlies are their ancestors.
• The grizzlies are endangered. 
• The grizzlies are magical.
• The grizzlies are too fierce.

Which of the following would be a good title for the excerpt from The Navajo Origin Legend?

• Gods of Corn
• The Wind GIves Life
• The Feather of Life
• Corn and Buckskin

In The Navajo Origin Legend, the ears of corn are laid out facing east and west. What part of the natural world does this arrangement represent?

• the shapes of the moon
• the mirages of the desert
• the rising and setting of the sun
• the direction of the wind

What does The Navajo Origin Legend describe?

• the first marriage
• the first corn crop
• the creation of the gods
• the creation of the wind

In which sentence is the meaning of the word protruded best described?

• The Sky Spirit's daughter stuck her head up above the smoke hole.
• The Woman from the Sky fell through the hole left by the Great Tree.
• The grizzlies raised the girl as if she were one of their own cubs.
• The First Man and the First Woman were created from ears of corn.

Which of the following is a true statement about a myth?

• Myths are usually about everyday people and their daily lives.
• All myths attempt to explain the origin of earthly life.
• Myths often feature immortal beings.
• Myths rarely convey cultural values.