I.Introduction:the Literature of Survival In Canadian literature Atwood sees a common concern with the idea of"survival",and she says we should think of survival as the central symbol of Canadian literature.She describes many ways in which this symbol appears:a concern with "simple"survival in the face of hostile elements --the dangerous natural world in which Canadians find themselves, with huge distances to cross to get help,endless forests to get lost in,hard winters to freeze in,wild animals to attack them. Surviving in these conditions was a hard job for Canadians, native or settler,prior to the 20th century. She says that this idea can extend to concern with"cultural" --the attempt to maintain a Canadian identity
I. Introduction: the Literature of Survival • In Canadian literature Atwood sees a common concern with the idea of “survival” , and she says we should think of survival as the central symbol of Canadian literature. She describes many ways in which this symbol appears: a concern with “simple” survival in the face of hostile elements --the dangerous natural world in which Canadians find themselves, with huge distances to cross to get help, endless forests to get lost in, hard winters to freeze in, wild animals to attack them. Surviving in these conditions was a hard job for Canadians, native or settler, prior to the 20th century. • She says that this idea can extend to concern with “cultural” -- the attempt to maintain a Canadian identity
II.Native Canadian Mythology and Early Colonial Literature Many collections of native stories have been made, some scholarly, some for general readership,some for children.Native myths and legends are a well-known part of modern Canadian literature
II. Native Canadian Mythology and Early Colonial Literature Many collections of native stories have been made, some scholarly, some for general readership, some for children. Native myths and legends are a well-known part of modern Canadian literature
Native Canadian Mythology The first type of native Canadian myths is about creation that describes the origins of the cosmos and the people,such as the west-coast story of how Raven found the first humans living in a clam- shell,and set them free
Native Canadian Mythology The first type of native Canadian myths is about creation that describes the origins of the cosmos and the people, such as the west-coast story of how Raven found the first humans living in a clamshell, and set them free
Native Canadian Mythology A common feature of different native mythologies is the occurrence of a "trickster"figure:godlike in his powers,humanlike in his imperfections. Amongst eastern peoples this figure was seen as a coyote --a kind of wild dog
Native Canadian Mythology A common feature of different native mythologies is the occurrence of a “trickster” figure: godlike in his powers, humanlike in his imperfections. Amongst eastern peoples this figure was seen as a coyote --a kind of wild dog
Native Canadian Mythology In the west the trickster figure was given the identity of a raven.The cunning trickster perhaps represents the way in which life both gives and takes away. The trickster often helps human beings but sometimes only to play a joke on them --or on the gods
Native Canadian Mythology In the west the trickster figure was given the identity of a raven. The cunning trickster perhaps represents the way in which life both gives and takes away. The trickster often helps human beings but sometimes only to play a joke on them --or on the gods