Oral storytelling is a tradition inherent to all cultures. By definition, its genre is determined by its original oral transmission; many of the world’s greatest literary classics such as El Cid, La Chanson de Roland, Beowulf or the Odyssey were originally orally transmitted. In most cases the author is unknown and the story has undergone many modifications in the course of the telling processes; still they are today’s primary testimonies for language, history, culture and people of the past. In this paper, a definition of oral storytelling will be provided along with an introduction in order to define the subject matter as well as the significance of putting oral storytelling into writing as Silko did in Ceremony.
Leslie Marmon Silko was brought up in the Laguna Pueblo community in New Mexico, a Native American tribe where storytelling plays an important cultural role . For Silko, the process of writing her novel Ceremony was not only a way of staying sane - as she states herself - but also to identify with her Native American origins. In this novel, she points out the opposition between the Native stories about reciprocity with nature and Euro-American stories of dominion. This confrontation is a conflict of two paradigms reflecting the protagonist’s, Tayo’s, inner state of mind; he has to reconstruct stories to reestablish an agreement with both cultures – for himself. The main focus will therefore be on the forms and functions of storytelling in the novel itself. Hereby, crucial aspects revolving around the cultural differences between Native American and Euro-American culture, the clash of cultures and both sides’ impact on the individual will be in the center of discussion.
The conclusion summarizes the paper’s assessment of the results attained.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Storytelling
- An Introduction to Oral Storytelling
- Oral Storytelling in Writing
- Functions of Storytelling in Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony
- Forms of Storytelling
- Functions of Storytelling
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the functions of storytelling in Leslie Marmon Silko's novel, Ceremony, focusing on how Silko utilizes oral storytelling traditions within a written narrative to explore themes of cultural conflict and individual identity. The analysis will explore how storytelling acts as a vehicle for cultural preservation, healing, and resistance against oppression.
- The role of oral storytelling traditions in Native American culture
- The contrast between Native American and Euro-American storytelling paradigms
- Storytelling as a means of cultural preservation and resistance
- The use of storytelling to explore themes of trauma and healing
- The individual's struggle to reconcile conflicting cultural identities
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction establishes the context of the paper, defining oral storytelling and its significance across cultures. It highlights Silko's personal connection to the Laguna Pueblo tradition and her use of storytelling in Ceremony to depict the clash between Native American and Euro-American worldviews. The introduction emphasizes the importance of understanding both the forms and functions of storytelling within the novel to understand Tayo's journey of self-discovery and cultural reconciliation. The inherent conflict between these two cultural perspectives forms the foundation of the analysis to follow.
Storytelling: An Introduction to Oral Storytelling: This section delves into the definition and significance of oral storytelling, emphasizing its unique human capacity for transmitting complex concepts across generations. It distinguishes oral storytelling from written forms, highlighting the active role of the listener in creating meaning through their imagination and emotional engagement with the narrative. The section also introduces the concept of the dynamic interplay between the narrator and audience in shaping the storytelling experience and creating a sense of shared understanding. This sets the stage for understanding how Silko utilizes these dynamics in her novel.
Storytelling: Oral Storytelling in Writing: This chapter discusses the challenges and complexities of translating oral storytelling traditions into a written format. It explores how Silko adapts the dynamics of oral storytelling - such as the interplay between narrator and audience and the use of evocative language to create shared experience - into her written narrative. The section examines how Silko's written style mimics the characteristics of oral storytelling, maintaining the fluidity and engagement typically found in oral traditions. This is key to understanding the impact and efficacy of Silko's work.
Keywords
Oral storytelling, Native American literature, Leslie Marmon Silko, Ceremony, cultural conflict, colonialism, trauma, healing, identity, cultural preservation, resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Storytelling in Leslie Marmon Silko's *Ceremony*
What is the overall focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the functions of storytelling in Leslie Marmon Silko's novel, Ceremony. It examines how Silko uses oral storytelling traditions within a written narrative to explore themes of cultural conflict and individual identity in the context of Native American experiences.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores how storytelling acts as a vehicle for cultural preservation, healing, and resistance against oppression. Key themes include the role of oral storytelling traditions in Native American culture, the contrast between Native American and Euro-American storytelling paradigms, storytelling as a means of cultural preservation and resistance, the use of storytelling to explore themes of trauma and healing, and the individual's struggle to reconcile conflicting cultural identities.
What are the main sections of the paper?
The paper is structured into an introduction, a section on storytelling (divided into oral storytelling and its translation into written form), a section focusing on the functions of storytelling in Ceremony, and a conclusion. It also includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What is the significance of oral storytelling in the analysis?
The paper emphasizes the unique characteristics of oral storytelling, including its active role of the listener, the dynamic interplay between narrator and audience, and its capacity to transmit complex cultural knowledge across generations. It analyzes how Silko successfully translates these elements into her written narrative.
How does Silko use storytelling in *Ceremony*?
Silko utilizes storytelling in Ceremony to depict the clash between Native American and Euro-American worldviews and to explore Tayo's journey of self-discovery and cultural reconciliation. The paper examines how storytelling serves as a means of cultural preservation, healing, and resistance against the effects of colonialism and cultural oppression.
What are the challenges of translating oral storytelling into a written format?
The paper addresses the complexities of adapting the dynamics of oral storytelling—such as the interplay between narrator and audience and the use of evocative language—into a written narrative. It explores how Silko maintains the fluidity and engagement of oral traditions in her written style.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
The keywords include: Oral storytelling, Native American literature, Leslie Marmon Silko, Ceremony, cultural conflict, colonialism, trauma, healing, identity, cultural preservation, resistance.
- Quote paper
- Berenice Walther (Author), 2006, Storytelling in Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/67733
