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
1. Storytelling
1.1. An Introduction to Oral Storytelling
1.2. Oral Storytelling in Writing
2. Functions of Storytelling in Leslie Marmon Silko’s Ceremony
2.1. Forms of Storytelling
2.2. Functions of Storytelling
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the essential role of storytelling within Leslie Marmon Silko's novel Ceremony, exploring how oral traditions and written narratives interact to facilitate the protagonist Tayo's healing process and his reconciliation of Native American and Euro-American cultural identities.
- The significance of oral tradition versus written literature.
- The conflict between Native American worldviews and Western paradigms.
- The function of memory as "medicine" for identity reconstruction.
- The synthesis of traditional myth and contemporary reality in narrative forms.
- The impact of cultural displacement and institutional education on the individual.
Excerpt from the Book
1.2. Oral Storytelling in Writing
Schorcht states that orality and writing do not necessarily exist independently as both interact and influence each other. It is important to know that in many Native American worldviews the world is brought into being through storytelling, and this is valid for written or oral stories. One assumes naturally that once a story has been written down, its essence has changed fundamentally or its quality is lowered as certain elements have been lost in the process of translation.
A frequent characteristic of Native American literature is that new elements are absorbed and transformed in the form of new tellings of old stories. Silko represents the inclusive character of writing, that is, her contemporary Native literature incorporates cross-cultural aspects from literary works, popular culture and historical facts and - most importantly – traditional Native stories. Oral tradition and modern culture are reframed by the interaction of both. Silko’s writing reflects an oral storytelling tradition in focus. Written “translations” of oral stories reveal the ability of stories to take on new forms; it is only by evolution that they can persist.
Silko’s writing has been criticized by various scholars who consider Silko’s works as a revelation of secret clan stories that should not be told outside the clan. Paula Gunn Allen fears a westernization of the traditional story by translating it into English as there appear heroes, points of view and conflicts. The result is a Western story with Indian characters. Allen takes this view of the plot of Ceremony but other Laguna Indian critics say it is a dialog between oral and literary traditions.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This section provides the background on oral storytelling and sets the stage for analyzing its significance in Silko's Ceremony by highlighting the cultural clash between Native American and Euro-American paradigms.
1. Storytelling: This chapter defines the fundamental nature of oral storytelling and discusses how it transitions into written forms while maintaining its role as a mechanism for cultural identity and communication.
2. Functions of Storytelling in Leslie Marmon Silko’s Ceremony: This chapter analyzes the specific narrative forms used in the novel and explores how storytelling acts as a vital tool for the protagonist's healing and identity retrieval.
Conclusion: This final section synthesizes the findings, confirming that the primary function of storytelling in the novel is to recreate the world and meet the needs of an individual living in a mixed-cultured society.
Keywords
Ceremony, Leslie Marmon Silko, Oral Storytelling, Native American literature, Identity, Memory, Cultural clash, Laguna Pueblo, Postcolonialism, Narrative, Myth, Tradition, Translation, Healing, Tayo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the multifaceted functions of storytelling in Leslie Marmon Silko’s novel Ceremony, specifically looking at how stories function as a tool for cultural preservation, identity formation, and personal healing.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the interplay between oral tradition and written text, the conflict between Native American and Euro-American cultural values, the importance of memory, and the necessity of circular narrative structures for survival.
What is the primary research question?
The research investigates how Tayo, the protagonist of Ceremony, uses stories to reconstruct his identity and reestablish a sense of sanity after the trauma of war and cultural displacement.
Which scientific methods are employed in this analysis?
The paper utilizes a literary-analytical approach, incorporating cultural theory, postcolonial perspectives, and references to sociological and ethnographic research regarding Native American storytelling traditions.
What does the main body of the paper address?
It covers the definition of oral storytelling, the transformation of oral myths into written novels, the specific forms of narratives in Ceremony, and the psychological function of these stories in Tayo's life.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Essential keywords include Ceremony, Leslie Marmon Silko, Oral Storytelling, Identity, Memory, Cultural Clash, and Native American literature.
How does the author define the "fragility" of the world in the context of the novel?
The paper explains that "fragility," as used by the character Ku'oosh, refers to the intricate, interconnected nature of reality which, like spider webs, requires constant maintenance and respect to avoid destruction.
What role does the "witch tale" play within the narrative structure?
The witch tale serves as a counter-narrative, illustrating how the misuse of stories and disrespect for life can lead to destructive outcomes, ultimately reflecting the threat of nuclear annihilation.
Why does Tayo initially fail to connect with the methods of the medicine man Ku'oosh?
The analysis suggests that Tayo’s Euro-American education and wartime experiences create a disconnect, as he struggles to reconcile his bicultural background with the purely traditional approach of Ku'oosh.
- Quote paper
- Berenice Walther (Author), 2006, Storytelling in Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/67733
