1. People are afraid of the unknown. If we don't provide a story for our past, everyone would be super upset. These stories are meant as a way to explain where a culture comes from and provide a lesson as well. Myths are not told very much anymore, besides to children, but I believe they can still be used. Just like in our class this month we examined them to find the message within. Just because the literal story isn't like our world now doesn't meant what the aboriginals were trying to say is any less true than it was back then.
2. It seems to me that one creation story is a lot lighter than the other. The early Australians were a lot more focused on new beginnings and life while the New Zealanders talk more about darkness and the people. Australians come off as more nature lovers and are more centered on the new life and animals in their story. Maori versions have more to do with the gods and people that the world itself, this means that they appreciate their people and love more.
4. Both stories that have a story within that may not be in line with today’s discoveries, but have a message that rings true. One message that comes through is the fact that people need to respect nature. Event though the animals turned on the mother, they Aborigine had a main focus of the earth for a reason. Their message is like any tree huggers, "save the trees". As for the other message I believe both stories have something to say about rebellion and wars. There were repercussions for each of the rebels but in the end they got what they wanted. I think these early people wanted everyone to think about being selfish and whether fighting back is just for yourself or if you really have a cause.
5. My creation story comes from faith and religion and it has always been something I have believed in. I know it's a struggle when we went through biology and learned about evolution because it's just something I never believed in. This helps with my morals and values because it is like I already have a set of rules for me and I just have to keep myself on the right track to following them. I think it is just a matter of blending together your beliefs to find something that works for you and you religion.
2. It seems to me that one creation story is a lot lighter than the other. The early Australians were a lot more focused on new beginnings and life while the New Zealanders talk more about darkness and the people. Australians come off as more nature lovers and are more centered on the new life and animals in their story. Maori versions have more to do with the gods and people that the world itself, this means that they appreciate their people and love more.3. Even though each story is much different, their similarities are that both have a mother-father figure to guide the characters, and yet they both have some sort of rebellion during the story. In the Aborigine's the animals change their shape because they don't like how they are created and in the Maori story the sons yearn for freedom and sacrifice their mother and father's love in order to get it. A main difference that I noticed was that the Australian version began with light and happiness while the New Zealand story begins in darkness which carries out throughout the story. I am not sure why one is different than the other but it is just something I noticed.
4. Both stories that have a story within that may not be in line with today’s discoveries, but have a message that rings true. One message that comes through is the fact that people need to respect nature. Event though the animals turned on the mother, they Aborigine had a main focus of the earth for a reason. Their message is like any tree huggers, "save the trees". As for the other message I believe both stories have something to say about rebellion and wars. There were repercussions for each of the rebels but in the end they got what they wanted. I think these early people wanted everyone to think about being selfish and whether fighting back is just for yourself or if you really have a cause.5. My creation story comes from faith and religion and it has always been something I have believed in. I know it's a struggle when we went through biology and learned about evolution because it's just something I never believed in. This helps with my morals and values because it is like I already have a set of rules for me and I just have to keep myself on the right track to following them. I think it is just a matter of blending together your beliefs to find something that works for you and you religion.
Zoe,
ReplyDeleteA couple cool things I would like to point out. In question 1, you write that people are afraid of the unknown. I think that's so true. It's interesting to think of how this still operates in the world today.
I also think it's interesting that you begin to consider, in question 4, how the values of the society might be reflected in its creation stories.
Clear writing overall, though I would argue that you could have probably delved deeper in some places...
Sincerely,
Mr. Barry