Native American Mythology Terms

Stories and traditions that are NOT written down and pass by word of mouth from one generation to the next.

A broad category of myth that explains how something came to exist

A character in mythology who is sneaky and usually causes trouble for the gods or mankind.

The idea that there is a female creative force (rather than male) that shows up in mythologies from all over the world

a distant relative, someone who came before

referencing something famous, or that the reader is expected to recognize

a person thought of as an inspired teacher or voice of the will of God.

An idea, image, or character type that you see in literature and myths from all over the world.

learning something new and surprising, usually in a dramatic way

stories and explanations which describe the beginnings of humanity (mankind), earth life, and the universe

Why an author chooses to write

The moral of a story and the theme are the same thing

You can find examples of trickster characters in modern TV shows, books, and movies.

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

the quality of being holy, worthy of respect and reverence