1. Choose ONE section from the text (The Way to Rainy Mountain) - there are 24 sections total.
2. Then, read, carefully the three distinct subparts (the myth/legend, the secular history, the personal memory).
3. Write a fourth part to the section - not more than a paragraph, and then explain (briefly) how you view (narration-wise) your choice/product.
4. Post the paragraph and the explanation here, on the blog. Then write it out as well in the JOURNAL noetbook.
5. Read other people's responses. Comment on them.
Labels: Journal Assignment #3
posted by belag at Monday, September 24, 2007
19 Comments:
The first part consists of the myths and legends of the Kiowas. The second part is the historical evidence about the Kiowa tribe. The third part consists of the author's thoughts and feelings during his journey to the Rainy Mountain. If I ever had to add a fourth part to each chapter, it would consist of the READER'S thoughts and feelings while reading each chapter. I'd choose chapter I because it is the chapter I like the most. What strikes me is the Kiowa creation myth. Here goes the fourth part:
These Kiowas seem to be an interesting type of people. Probably everyone would think so if he/she knew their creation myth. They believe they came into the world through a hollow log. It's a lot better than those guys who think they came from a big fish. Anyway, the Kiowas are clever and very objective. They know they are a small tribe and they offer an explanation about that in the myth itself. What I don't understand is why they have accepted being called Kiowa (which is a Comanche word) since they fought the Comanches for a while? What especially strikes me is the last sentence of the author's part. I'd like to know what is it in the sight of the Great Plains in late spring that makes him see things in a different way than before? I looked for an explanation further on, but there is none...
12:53 AM
keep it up.
11:55 AM
I think that since the three parts of each section only offer a view on the Kiowas from the past and the present, the fourth part should focus on future integration of Kiowa culture in other cultures. It is valuable to hear the perspectives of historians, anthropologists, story-tellers and the actual author, on what happened to the Kiowas in the past. But the past is almost irrelevant in this modern, money-driven world. I would like to hear about the possibilities of new things that we (the world) can borrow from the Kiowas to improve our future. I am sure that we (again, the whole world) could find the Kiowa culture and life philosophy useful.
For example, I like how the Kiowas live in harmony with nature. Respect towards nature is lacking in these days, but if the reader can see how the Kiowas preserve and live in the world of nature, he might start to appretiate all living things. Not just to acknowledge the beauty of nature, but to understand its preciousness.
8:40 PM
nice, again, bring it forth.
11:34 AM
wow. quite something
9:32 PM
The myths and legends are very important aspects in Native American life, in Kiowa's life. So, i would emphasize it's importance in the fourth paragraph in which i would state that the Kiowa's legends are part of every individual's life, but it is written in narrator's perspective..here it is:
There are legends in every society as well in the Kiowa's. But legends are not always legends, they take role in the everyday drama (life) performed by the actors (humans) on the stage known as Earth. The Kiowas myths and legends are part of our lifes. The legend in the 17 section is about the woman who actually did something that every woman could do to his husband and opposite. She lied to her husband based on her egoistical character, but she was punished for that. The lie is what every man hate,disrespect and is punished for. Bad (wo)man are outcasts in the society and are usually punished. This legend is a picture from everyday life, that makes it more valuable, not only to the Kiowas, but to every society.
I hope you understand my point, i know it is difficult but it is original:))
6:47 PM
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5:36 PM
I have chosen part twelve because it still intrigues me how the Kiowa families/friends work so well together. It is not only shown in this part but in many parts. For example in section fifteen when the Husband is making the arrows and he realizes that someone is outside, he communicates with his wife and they work together to defeat the enemy that is outside there tent and in the end they prevail and the enemy is killed.In part twelve it doesn't only intrigue me how the family works as a whole to escape there enemy it also amazes me how brave the wife is and how she pores the liquid on the men ouside and then escapes. Usually you would assume that the man would do that sort of occurance while the wife and son would escape but it was the other way around. So this is why I chose this story because it has a lot of meaning and thought to it.
6:07 PM
I chose the sixteenth section.
The whole history of the Kiowa tribe seems to be connected with many animals but mostly with the buffalo. In these three subparts we can see the power of the people over the animal. In the mythical section we see a buffalo with steel horns getting shot in its "Achilles heel". In the linear and the personal history a similar event happens when the buffalo is over run by the humans. Since the buffalo is a symbol of power we can conclude that the Kiowa tribe has a powerful population. This power has been passed from generation to generation, from the mythical time to the time when the author experienced the buffalo chase. It is interesting how the Kiowas are such a powerful tribe and yet they are slowly disappearing. To win the battle of existence a different type of power is needed, the power of knowledge and literacy (one think that the Kiowas in the past didn’t have).
6:31 PM
I pick section XIV:
Long ago, the humans decided to create a device using the smallest and yet the strongest of all of the forces of Nature. Its creators used it to their advantage until one day, when another tribe gained control of this item of death. More than 62 years have passed since the creation of that abberration and its first victim-reaping usage, and even today humanity does not understand that the greatest risk for us is what we create ourselves. We believe we can control the product of our genius, and until now it has been so. But only History, if there shall be one, will tell our ashes if we were right.
7:20 PM
In my opinion, section 12 teaches many life leasons that, sadly, simply aren't being taught anymore. It teaches that strength can be overcome by careful reasoning and thought and it teaches the power of the family. In America, the family unit is rapidly deteriorating and family ties are going with them. The family simply isn't important anymore. To the Kiowa, it is obvious that it was important. By working together, a family overcomes a much stronger enemy. By staying together, they survive. My other point was that strength can be overcome by brain power. In this world, sports players and the strongest ones are always the people with the most influence and power. People forget that the only reason we have come as far as we have is because of the intelects in the world. The world, especially America, is rapidly turning into the world of Ray Bradbury's "Farenheit 451" and it is obvious that this is the exact opposite of the Kiowas train of thought.
9:27 PM
Section seventeen.
The three segments of this section talk about the man-woman conflict. Even in Kiowa's time there were social classes which would divide people in different groups, according to their possession in the society.
Troughout the history, women have always been discriminated and they have been used to serve the men's needs. Like women of most civilization, the Kiowa women were facing difficult time working the land of performing any kind of work. They were also taken away from their homeland or from their husbands(Helen of Troy). Men, on the other hand, were mostly used in war. Those of who were physicaly or mentaly incapable to serve to the army were pushed away and left alone. The example form the first subpart of the seventeenth section with the blind, handsome man who was left alone by those who were preeminent in war, proves it. It is also supported by the historical evidence.
10:06 PM
...
10:07 PM
Finally! I, as a READER have the last final word. Imagine, I(!) will write the forth subpart of the first section. So, as author of it, I'm responsible to explain what you'll read in the new creation.
Because this is such a unique opportunity for READER to expose his thoughts and feelings about the work, my forth part will be exactly that.
The very firs section. The beginning. The being. Everything starts here. That's the point I like. The unique simplicity of the beginning. Someone maybe will say this is boring and already seen choice. I don't think so. It has it's own specific magic. Simple, just because what happens is after this moment, nothing before it.
The connection between the three subparts, it's also specific and special. The first two are just simple for the Kiowas, their beginning. In the third the narrator speaks for the land. The land... Just another symbol-for the beginning.
And this, here is the forth part, my part, my philosophy...
10:33 PM
There are three main subparts in the Momaday’s “The Way to Rainy Mountain”, but in my opinion there is also the fourth equally important part that consists from the pictures. The fourth part can be widen with songs, verses or descriptions of dances. Adding these parts will keep the spirit of the book and maybe even leave bigger impression on the reader. A description of the Ghost Dance or the already mentioned Sun Dance will suit in many sections such as the XVIII section. The song from N Scott Momaday “Eagle Feather Fan" is appropriate for the XI section. The cold weather, the eagle, singing songs, can all relate to this song:
The eagle is my power,
And my fan is an eagle.
It is strong and beautiful
In my hand. And it is real.
My fingers hold upon it
As if the beaded handle
Were the twist of bristlecone.
The bones of my hand are fine
And hollow; the fan bears them.
My hand veers in the thin air
Of the summits. All morning
It scuds on the cold currents;
All afternoon it circles
To the singing, to the drums.
(“Eagle Feather Fan" from N Scott Momaday)
Although every section is divided into three parts, and all of them are present in every section the forth part with its structure(pictures, songs, ect ) could emphasize the illiterate language of the Kiowas and also show that they also had fun.
11:19 PM
"A word has power in and of itself. It comes from nothing into sound and meaning; it gives origin to all things". Referring to Christian mythology as well as to Kiowa culture or not, this concept seems to appear coexistingly with every human cultivation. The word is the connection between the ordinary and "the magical" because of its basic property to serve as the ultimate channel of communication: just think of the words used by children when they come in the vicinity of a bee or any fear-inducing insect. The basic means with which to confront the "evil and incomprehensible": to probe the nature and understand the unknown.
7:52 AM
Section VIII
7:54 AM
Gavril it is interresting that you mentioned the Achillies' Heel. This part can be greately connected to the Greek mythology: the minotauros...
7:58 AM
I choose section XX because it teaches me the capability humans have to make decisions either good or bad. In this section there are significant relationships between humans and animals. My added section (4th part) relates to how we, as humans relate to specific things in life.
XX
Sometimes in life, we need to give something up in order to save ourselves. Selfishness? Would that define our actions and intentions as humans? In one way or another it certainly can be that, while in other ways it's simply pure intelligence. Animals, sports, school, family are all associated to human beings.
A while ago, I have indeed given up something I cared dearly for, but I knew that giving it away would be for the best.
When's the last time you made a difficult decision? Did it have an impact on your life? Did you save yourself, or in some way helped all around?
9:07 AM
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