Directions: After reading through the Iroquois legend of creation, answer the following questions using the evidence-citing strategy, I.C.E. (Identify/Cite/Explain). Answers should forever and always be developed in complete sentences.

Question

Through citing, describe two moments of hyperbole found in the fourth paragraph of the legend, ‘hyperbole’ being a common characteristic of Indigenous Peoples literature due to its mythological nature.

Answer 1

In the fourth paragraph of the Iroquois legend of creation, there are two moments of hyperbole. First, the text states that the sky woman, who fell from the sky, was caught by birds who flew under her “like a great beautiful white cloud.” This is a hyperbolic statement because birds would not be able to support the weight of a falling woman as if she were as light as a cloud. The use of this exaggeration conveys the awe and wonder of this moment in the creation story.

Second, the paragraph describes how when the earth was created, it was filled with “great quantities of fruits and herbs and animals of every kind and also birds of every description.” This is another example of hyperbole as it suggests an overwhelming abundance of natural resources and biodiversity. While the creation of a diverse and abundant ecosystem may be significant, the use of this hyperbolic language emphasizes the richness and splendor of the earth's creation in the context of the mythological narrative.