Pre-Columbian Literature
Things to Consider:
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View of Gods
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Versions of Creation (and Relation to Culture)
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Comparison with Greek, Egyptian, and African Poetry
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Issues of gender with gods/goddesses
** Homework Questions **
Popol Vuh
665:
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What is the benefit of "imperfect" gods?
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How do the creation stories in Popol Vuh replicate the sequence
of Mayan history?
Part One [Prologue, Creation]:
668:
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How do Heart of Sky and Plumed Serpent make the world? How does
this compare with Egyptian or other African versions (pp. 52, 73-74)?
Part Two [The Twins Defeat Seven Macaw]
668:
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Who are Hunahpu and Xbalanque? See Ball Court
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Why do they want to defeat Seven Macaw? How do they?
Part Three [Victory over the Underworld]
670:
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Present one parallel between this section and Gilgamesh.
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Present one parallel between this section and the Bible.
672:
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What is the heart sacrifice?
Part Four [Origin of Humanity, First Dawn]
673:
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What ingredients are used to make humans? Why?
Part Five [Prayer for Contentment]
676:
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Explain: "Spill thy drops / of green and yellow" (5-6).
What is the symbolism here?
Other Discussion Questions:
665:
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Does this text present a monotheistic or polytheistic view? Explain.
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What is "Jung's collective unconscious" (665)?
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Where might similarities between Popol Vuh and the Bible
come from?
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Explain: "In societies in which the god structure or religious
standard is too high, the people are doomed to destruction in some form
or another" (665).
666:
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What is the significance of man being made from corn?
667:
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What do the plate and bowl symbolize?
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What is the Council Book? Why is it that the reader of it "hides
his face" (667)?
Part One [Prologue, Creation]:
668:
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Why does Heart of Sky have three names?
Part Three [Victory over the Underworld]
670:
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What is the difference among Hunahpu, One Hunahpu, and Seven Hunahpu?
Part Four [Origin of Humanity, First Dawn]
675:
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Why does the creator take back some of the knowledge from the original
humans? How does this compare to Genesis?
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Why do the first humans shake their burning copal?
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