首页
登录
职称英语
THE TRICKSTER FIGURE IN MYTHOLOGY1 In the study of mythology, t
THE TRICKSTER FIGURE IN MYTHOLOGY1 In the study of mythology, t
游客
2024-01-04
27
管理
问题
THE TRICKSTER FIGURE IN MYTHOLOGY
1 In the study of mythology, the character known as the trickster is a god, spirit, human, or animal who breaks the rules of the gods or nature, sometimes maliciously but usually with results that are positive. The rule breaking often takes the form of mischief or thievery. The trickster is usually male but occasionally disguises himself in female form. He can be cunning or foolish, or both, and often very humorous. His curiosity leads him into trouble, but he rescues himself with his sly wit.
When he plays tricks, he performs important cultural tasks that benefit humans, and for this reason the trickster is a significant figure in world mythology.
2 In different cultures, the trickster and the hero are combined in various ways. In Greek mythology, Prometheus steals fire from the gods and gives it to humans, a feat making him more of a hero than a trickster, and he is usually portrayed as an intellectual. In many Native American stories, Coyote also steals fire from the gods, but Coyote is usually more of a jokester or a prankster than an intellectual.
3 The trickster is both creator and destroyer, giver and taker, one who tricks others and is tricked in return.
The pranks
of the trickster are compulsive and uncontrollable. He does not act consciously; he acts out of passion and impulse. He knows neither good nor evil, yet he is responsible for
both
. He possesses no morals, yet through his behavior morality comes into being. According to psychologist Carl Jung, the trickster is "a primitive cosmic being of divine-animal nature, on the one hand superior to man because of his superhuman qualities, and on the other hand inferior to him because of his unreason and unconsciousness."
4 In Native American mythology, the majority of trickster myths concern the creation or transformation of the earth. Such stories have a trickster who is always wandering, who is always hungry, who is not guided by normal ideas of good and evil, and who possesses some magical powers. In some stories he is a deity, and in others he is an animal or human subject to death. Several of these myths feature Raven or Coyote as the trickster-hero.
5 In many creation myths of the Pacific Northwest, Raven illustrates the transformational nature of tricksters. Raven is the greatest shapeshifter of all and can change into anything to get what he wants. In one story, there is darkness at the beginning of the world, so Raven decides he will find light. He flies far from the earth, searching in the darkness, until he spots a glimmer of light coming from a window in the house of the gods. Raven knows the gods are protective of their possessions, so he devises a trick. He perches on a pine branch next to the house and watches each day as the chief god’s daughter draws water from a nearby lake. He magically transforms himself into a pinyon seed and falls into the girl’s drinking cup. The girl swallows the seed, which grows within her body, and she eventually gives birth to a boy. The child delights his grandparents, and his laughter tricks the elder gods into revealing where they hide a shining ball of light. The gods give the child the ball to play with, and then Raven transforms back to a bird and flies off carrying the ball of light in his beak. He hangs the ball-the sun-in the sky, bringing light to the world.
6 Coyote’s character is similar to that of Raven’s, and both appear in stories carrying out similar roles. In several stories from the American Southwest, Coyote steals fire from a group of "fire beings" and gives it to humans. In some tales Coyote wants to make human life more interesting, so he introduces sickness, sorrow, and death. He often teaches through negative example by employing the human vices of lying, cheating, and stealing. His tricks often bring about destructive natural phenomena, such as a great flood that destroys the earth. However, by causing the flood, Coyote leads the human race to a new and better world. Coyote shows us that at the heart of the trickster is a
savior
whose great gift to humans is showing them new ways of knowing and doing.
Glossary:
mischief: tendency to play tricks or cause minor trouble
mischief: the act of theft; stealing
pinyon seed: the seed of a pine tree; pine nut [br] It can be inferred from the passage that the author most likely believes which statement about the trickster?
选项
A、The trickster is responsible for many serious problems in the world today.
B、The trickster shows us that there is no difference between good and evil.
C、The trickster serves as an explanation for creation, change and renewal.
D、The trickster teaches children that lying and stealing are acceptable behavior.
答案
C
解析
You can infer that the author believes the trickster serves as an explanation for creation, change and renewal. Clues: ... the majority of trickster myths concern the creation or transformation of the earth; ...there is" darkness at the beginning of the world, so Raven decides he will find light; ...the trickster is a savior whose great gift to humans is showing them new ways of knowing and doing. (1.5)
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/3333482.html
相关试题推荐
Whichcolumnofthebarchartrepresentsthefiguresquoted?[img]ct_ei_034(2009
Whichcolumnofthebarchartrepresentsthefiguresquoted?[img]ct_ei_034(2009
Whichcolumnofthebarchartrepresentsthefiguresquoted?[img]ct_ei_034(2009
Whichcolumnofthebarchartrepresentsthefiguresquoted?[img]ct_ei_034(2009
Whichcolumnofthebarchartrepresentsthefiguresquoted?[img]ct_ei_034(2009
Whichcolumnofthebarchartrepresentsthefiguresquoted?[img]2014m8s/ct_eil
Whichcolumnofthebarchartrepresentsthefiguresquoted?[img]2014m8s/ct_eil
Whichcolumnofthebarchartrepresentsthefiguresquoted?[img]2014m8s/ct_eil
Geometricfigures(firstappeared)morethan15,000yearsagoinboth(practical
THETRICKSTERFIGUREINMYTHOLOGY1Inthestudyofmythology,t
随机试题
Itseemsoil______fromthispipeforsometime.We’llhavetotakethemachinea
A、Theyaregoodwaysofsocialnetworking.B、Theyareallinterestingandexciti
Businessreferstoorganizedapproachto【S1】______customerswiththegoodsa
高中生物《生物膜的流动镶嵌模型》 一、考题回顾
如何理解剩余价值规律是资本主义的基本经济规律?
按组织再生能力的强弱来比较.下列各组的排列哪个是正确的A.结缔组织>神经细胞>
A.K外流B.Na内流C.Ca内流D.Na平衡电位E.K平衡电位骨骼肌细胞锋电位
汽车远光照射,成为交通事故的隐患,这是一类常见的电磁辐射污染。()
商业银行开展个人理财业务时有下列()情形之一,并造成客户经济损失的,应按照有关
男性,60岁,咳嗽、乏力、无痰2个月,曾予青霉素80万单位肌注,2次/日,共用5
最新回复
(
0
)