Write an analysis that compares one important feature and contrasts one important feature of the cultures of two myths. Select the links below to view the readings for reference.
In the spirit world, the trickster god Raven grew bored. He decided to leave and fly over the earth, but he found it was in total darkness. The selfish Sky Chief had been hoarding daylight from the world. Raven wanted to be able to see the earth as he flew over it, so he decided to play a trick on the chief and steal the light. Raven crept into the chief’s dwelling. He appeared as a baby, with raven hair and black eyes. The chief’s daughter adopted the child, never knowing that he was in fact Raven the trickster.
The daughter loved the child, but soon the baby began to cry. The Sky Chief did whatever he could to comfort his new grandson, but the baby was inconsolable. Finally, to appease the child, he gave him a small box to play with. Raven, as the baby, tumbled and tossed the box until it fell open. Whoosh! The stars flew up through the smoke hole in the ceiling, settling in the night sky. The chief was very upset, but was able to recover, as they were only stars and not very luminous. But in no time the baby grew bored again, and shrieked violently. Finally, the chief gave the child another box to entertain him. Raven, disguised as the baby, began to play even more wildly with this second box. He tumbled it hard, and again it fell open. The moon spilled from the box, and in excitement the child tossed it high into the sky.
The chief tried to catch the moon before it escaped, but it was too late. He resolved not to let the child have anything else to play with. Instead, he decided, his daughter would just have to give the child to another woman. But the daughter refused. She had grown to love the baby, despite his irritable behavior. Once again, the child became bored and wailed profusely, his black eyes flashing mischievously like a raven’s.
The chief did everything he could think of to calm the child. Nevertheless, the baby cried on, and pointed at a third box in the corner. Before the chief could move, his daughter handed the child this new toy to play with. This time, knowing the treasure that lay inside, the child turned back into Raven, who snatched the box in his beak and flew up through the smoke hole in the ceiling. Once away from the Sky Chief, Raven released the Sun from its confinement. Light shone across the entire earth, illuminating mountains, rivers, and oceans. Raven no longer had to fly through the dark.
At the beginning of time, the Sky Father and Earth Mother were locked in a tight embrace that bound Earth and Sky together, leaving no space in between. Sky was not separate from Earth or Sea. Rangi, the Sky Father, held his beloved, Papa, and together they bore many sons who were not human, but rather elements of nature. These sons loved their parents, but Rangi and Papa’s embrace was so tight that they had no space to move or to lead their lives. They lay in the darkness, constricted and unhappy.
Tū, the first son, decided that he and his brothers must act. “We should kill our parents,” he suggested, for he was the god of war. “It will be difficult, but it is the only way we can truly be free!” The others began to assent to this plan, but Tāne, the god of forests and birds, stopped them. “We cannot do this,” he said. “Rangi and Papa are our parents. They have created us, made us who we are. Let us pry them apart, let them live, but make ourselves free. The Sky Father will watch us from above, while the Earth Mother nourishes us from below.” Though Tū was not satisfied, the others liked this plan of action, and proceeded to try with all of their might to separate their parents. Rongo, the god of cultivated food and the harvest, pushed with all his might but could not budge his parents even an inch. Their love was strong, and such bonds are extremely difficult to break. His brothers Tangora, the god of the sea, and Haumia, the god of wild and uncultivated foods, joined him and offered their own strength. Together the three heaved with all of their might, straining the sinews of their arms until they collapsed in a heap, totally exhausted. Then Tū tried with all his might, using all of his ferocious strength until he fell to the ground with his brothers.
“It is impossible!” cried Tū. “We should kill them. There is no other way to be free.”
“Not yet, brother,” said Tāne. “Let me try.” The god of forests and birds wedged himself between Rangi and Papa, his back to Papa and his feet against Rangi. Using his legs, he began to move the way trees grow in the forest. Slowly but surely, he pushed his legs upward until his parents were wrenched apart. Papa fell and became the Earth, while Rangi rose up to become the sky above. Light flooded into the world that had been created between Rangi and Papa. The brothers rejoiced, and were amazed to find that in the dark, they had birthed many children—the first humans! These offspring fell to Papa, and were warmly received by the earth, their new home. Tāne, wanting to honor his father above, adorned Rangi with stars.
Comparative Analysis of Haida and Māori Myths
In comparing the myths of the Haida and Māori cultures, one important feature is how each culture portrays the concept of creation through familial relationships, while a contrasting feature is the portrayal of the trickster archetype.
Comparison: Importance of Familial Relationships in Creation
Both the Haida and Māori myths emphasize familial relationships as central to their creation stories, highlighting a deep respect for lineage and connection. In the Haida myth, Raven enters the world disguised as a baby, underscoring a familial bond with the Sky Chief's daughter. This relationship is pivotal because it allows Raven to manipulate the situation to ultimately bring light to the world. The admiration and love that the daughter has for the baby Raven demonstrate how children, even in disguise, are cherished and integral to change and creation. Similarly, in the Māori myth, the creation of the world begins with Sky Father (Rangi) and Earth Mother (Papa), who are tightly bound in an embrace. Their love and bond give birth to important divine figures, further emphasizing that family relationships are foundational for the emergence of life and the world itself. Both myths show that creation is not an isolated act but rather a familial process that involves connections among multiple entities, fostering a sense of kinship between the gods and the natural world.
Contrast: The Trickster Archetype
A notable contrast lies in the portrayal of the trickster archetype, specifically embodied by Raven in Haida mythology. Raven, who takes on the guise of a baby, enacts cunning and trickery to fulfill his desires—stealing light from the Sky Chief. This element portrays Raven as a mischievous figure whose actions lead to monumental change, emphasizing the disruptive yet creative aspects of trickster figures in some Native American cultures. In contrast, the Māori myth does not feature a trickster character in the same way. Instead, Tāne, the god of forests and birds, represents strength, honor, and the resolve to act selflessly for the good of his brothers and the creation of the world. While both cultures illustrate gods taking significant actions, the Māori narrative highlights a more cooperative and earnest struggle for freedom and light rather than the cunning deceit seen with Raven. This difference illustrates distinct cultural values; the Haida myth celebrates ingenuity and trickery, while the Māori myth champions unity and the respect for familial bonds as a means of achieving creation.
Conclusion
In summary, while both the Haida and Māori myths highlight the significance of family relationships in their creation stories, they diverge in the portrayal of the trickster archetype. Raven's cunning in the Haida myth stands in contrast to the cooperative valor of Tāne in the Māori narrative. These features together reveal the rich tapestry of cultural values inherent in each myth, showcasing both the importance of kinship and the varied characteristics that deities can embody within their respective stories.
2. Which excerpt from the Maori creation myth shows that Papa is gentle and welcoming?
Slowly but surely, he pushed his legs upward until his parents were wrenched apart. Papa fell and became the Earth.
When the mist rises from the earth, it moves to Rangi as a measure of Papa’s affection.
These offspring fell to Papa, and were warmly received by the earth, their new home.
Light flooded into the world that had been created between Rangi and Papa.
3. Read the excerpt from the Maori creation myth.
The god of forests and birds wedged himself between Rangi and Papa, his back to Papa and his feet against Rangi. Using his legs, he began to move the way trees grown in the forest. Slowly but surely, he pushed his legs upward until his parents were wrenched apart.
Read the excerpt from the Haida creation myth.
Before the chief could move, his daughter handed the child this new toy to play with. This time, knowing the treasure that lay inside, the child turned back into Raven, who snatched the box in his beak and flew up through the smoke hole in the ceiling. Once away from the Sky Chief, Raven released the Sun from its confinement. Light shone across the entire earth, illuminating mountains, rivers, and oceans.
Based on these excerpts, both the Haida and Maori believe that children are
more careful than their parents.
more trusting than their parents.
more clever than their parents.
more generous than their parents.
4. Which is one difference between Maori and Haida creation myths?
The Maori see stars as gifts from the gods, and the Haida see the stars as a way to make the world brighter.
The Maori see stars as powerful forces to be conquered, and the Haida believe stars make the sky more appealing.
The Maori believe stars were created to make the sky more beautiful, and the Haida see the stars as a source of light.
The Maori believe stars were created to make the sky brighter, and the Haida see the stars as sources of power.
5. Clayton is writing a paragraph comparing and contrasting the Maori and Haida views on human beings. Which sentence best illustrates his point that the myths show human creation in different ways?
Both the Maori and the Haida had well-developed views about the beginning of humans.
The Haida myth casts human as descendents of the gods, but the Maori have a separate story.
The difference between the Maori and Haida cultural views of humans is illustrated through each culture’s creation myth.
The Maori myth casts humans as the descendents of Tu, whereas the Haida myth states that humans were discovered by Raven.
6. In an effective compare and contrast paragraph, the purpose of the topic sentence is to____________.
7. Salim is writing a paragraph comparing and contrasting the Maori and Haida cultures. Which sentence best illustrates his point about how each group views humans?
In the Maori creation myth people are able to conquer every element of nature, but in the Haida creation myth the Raven feels he must be the humans’ caretaker.
In the Haida creation myth humans are strong enough to trick the Sky Chief, but in the Maori myth humans are outwitted by the sky and earth gods.
Both the Maori and Haida creation myths give examples of the gods interacting with the humans, and these examples show how each culture views humans’ place in the world.
There are several differences in the way that the Maori and Haida creation myths view humans, which I will go on to show through this paragraph.
8. Harper is writing a paragraph comparing and contrasting the Maori and Haida views on children. Which sentence best illustrates her point that both cultures believe the younger generation is extremely influential?
In both the Maori and Haida myths, the children of the earth and sky collaborate to create the world.
In both the Maori and Haida myths, children are largely responsible for the creation of humans and the earth.
The Maori and Haida creation myths show that both cultures believe children are very important.
Children are powerful and should be respected as shown by the creation myths of the Maori and Haida.
9. Lena is writing a paragraph comparing and contrasting the Maori and Haida views on where the first humans came from. Which is the best concluding sentence?
Therefore, in both myths, the sky is responsible for creating the first humans.
Therefore, in both myths, the earth is responsible for creating the first humans.
Overall, in both myths, the first humans emerged because a mythical entity was ready to parent them.
Overall, in both myths, the first humans had to emerge from darkness in order to enter the world.
10. Which excerpt from the Maori creation myth shows that the Maori believe they are a strong and powerful people?
Tawhiri violently attacked Tû with all of his might, but Tû was able to stand firm against the wind and water.
He saw the tears of rain that fell from Rangi. Tawhiri raged, and sent hurricanes and sea swells to fight against his brothers.
The brothers rejoiced, and were amazed to find that in the dark, they had birthed many children—the first humans!
Tû’s descendants became the Mâori, the humans who are able to master anything that they decide to conquer.
