Lesson 1: The Iroquois Creation Myth: "The World on the Turtle's Back"

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back. "In the Sky-World was a man who aimed to please his pregnant wife. His wife told him that she wanted some bark from the roots of the Great Tree. Though the husband knew it was wrong, he dug up the roots of the tree for his wife. In doing so, he broke a hole in the floor of the Sky-World, and was shocked to find empty space underneath. He was terrified and told his wife what he did. Which words in this excerpt support the idea that the husband was very devoted to his wife? a. a man who aimed to please his pregnant wife b. the husband knew it was wrong c. he broke a hole in the floor of the Sky-World d. He . . . told his wife what he did

A) a man who aimed to please his pregnant wife

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back. "The right-handed twin accused his brother of murdering their mother and their quarrels continued until it was time to bury their mother. With the help of their grandmother, they made her a grave. From her head grew the three sister plants, corn, beans, and squash. From her heart grew tobacco, which people still use to give thanks in ceremony. She is called "our mother" and the people dance and sing to her to make the plants grow. The excerpt suggests that the Iroquois believed that a. sometimes good can come from tragedy. b. mothers should be worshipped as goddesses. c. corn, beans, and squash are essential for life. d. dancing and singing can make plants grow.

A) sometimes good can come from tragedy.

The Iroquois perform rituals to honor the twins in "The World on Turtle's Back," illustrating the Iroquoian belief that a. they must perform certain rituals in order to sustain the Earth. b. the twins are gods and it is important to show them devotion. c. singing and dancing will ensure the safety of the twins. d. the twins enjoy watching ritualistic singing and dancing.

B) the twins are gods and it is important to show them devotion.

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back." With the deer antler, the right-handed twin demolished his brother. The left-handed twin died, but he didn't die. He was hurled off the edge of the earth by his brother. In this dark world below the earth, the left-handed twin still lives and reigns. The right-handed twin lives in the Sky-World and he is content with the world he helped to create. The left-handed twin lives in the world below. He, too, is content with the world of men. He delights in the sounds of warfare and suffering. These two beings rule the world and look after the affairs of men. During the day people have rituals to honor the right-handed twin. At night they dance and sing for the left-handed twin. Based on this excerpt, it is reasonable to conclude that a. the right-handed twin hurt his brother but did not kill him. b. the left-handed twin pretended to die but really survived. c. neither twin could die because they were immortal gods. d. the left-handed twin was immortal, but his brother was not.

C) neither twin could die because they were immortal gods.

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back. "Without knowing it, the right and left-handed twins built balance into the world. The plant-eating animals created by the right-handed twin balanced out the meat-eating animals created by the left-handed twin. And so the world thrived, and this was good. Which statement best describes the purpose of this excerpt? a. to describe who created plant- and meat-eating animals b. to explain that some animals are good and others are evil c. to explain how balance came to exist in the natural world d. to describe two different kinds of animals found in the world

C) to explain how balance came to exist in the natural world

Based on "The World on Turtle's Back," which statement best describes the Iroquois attitude toward nature and the environment? a. The Iroquois believed that the gods had given them control over nature. b. The Iroquois were very fearful of the dangers of plants and animals. c. The Iroquois believed that only plants and animals benefiting people should survive. d. The Iroquois revered nature and valued the plants and animals that sustained them.

D) The Iroquois revered nature and valued the plants and animals that sustained them

oral storytelling

a method used for passing history, culture, and heritage from one generation to the next

creation myth

a myth about the origin of the universe, the Earth, and all living things

values

a set of ideas or things that a culture considers to be of great importance

matrilineal system

a system in which the maternal line is dominant

culture

the attitudes, values, and practices unique to a group of people

Which sentence from "The World on Turtle's Back" best illustrates why the story is considered a creation myth? a. The woman created a home for herself on this new earth and soon her daughter was born. b. She told them that if they could find some soil, she could plant the roots from the Great Tree that were still tangled in her hands. c. The woman placed the dirt on Turtle's back and performed a ritual to create the earth. d. She is called "our mother" and the people dance and sing to her to make the plants grow.

C) The woman placed the dirt on Turtle's back and performed a ritual to create the earth.

"The World on Turtle's Back" is a creation myth because it a. focuses on characters whom the Iroquois considered "gods." b. is an Iroquoian story about people and animals who talk to each other. c. explains how the Iroquois believe that the earth was created. d. describes Iroquoian social and cultural values.

C) explains how the Iroquois believe that the earth was created.

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back. "One day, when the girl had become a woman, a man appeared. No one knows where this man came from. Perhaps he was sent from the Gods above. The girl was so filled with wonder to see this strange man, she lost her senses and fainted. The man yielded two very different arrows, and laid them across the body of the girl in opposite directions, then he disappeared. Which statement best describes the significance of the arrows? a. They represent the fact that the woman will die in childbirth. b. They represent a warning from the man to the woman. c. They represent the man's intention to kill the woman. d. They represent the twins that the woman will bear.

D) They represent the twins that the woman will bear.

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back. "The conflict between the twins continued, and for some reason, the grandmother favored the left-handed twin. The right-handed twin became angry and resentful. He was the truthful twin who always did the right thing. The left-handed twin was deceitful and did everything backward. You could never trust him. The twins represented the two ways of the world which are in all people. The Indians did not call these good and evil. They called them the straight mind and the crooked mind, the righteous man and the devious man, the right and the left. The main purpose of this excerpt is to a. demonstrate that right-handed people are good and left-handed people are bad. b. explain why some people do the right thing and others do not. c. provide the reason why the grandmother favored the left-handed twin. d. clarify what the Iroquois considered the two different sides of human nature.

D) clarify what the Iroquois considered the two different sides of human nature.