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
15
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] Look at the four squares A,B,C and D, which indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?
Like Raven, Coyote is a master transformer whose mischievous power is responsible for events that benefit humanity.
Coyote’s character is similar to that of Raven’s, and both appear in stories carrying out similar roles.A 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.B He often teaches through negative example by employing the human vices of lying, cheating, and stealing.C 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.D 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.
选项
A、Square A.
B、Square B.
C、Square C.
D、Square D.
答案
A
解析
The added sentence compares Raven and Coyote, developing the idea that Coyote’s character is similar to that of Raven’s, mentioned in the previous sentence. The added sentence introduces the idea of events that benefit humanity, which the next sentence develops with the example Coyote steals fire from a group of "fire beings" and gives it to humans. (1.8)
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/3333483.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]2014m8s/ct_eil
Whichcolumnofthebarchartrepresentsthefiguresquoted?[img]2014m8s/ct_eil
Whichcolumnofthebarchartrepresentsthefiguresquoted?[img]2014m8s/ct_eil
Whichcolumnofthebarchartrepresentsthefiguresquoted?[img]2014m8s/ct_eil
Injazzmusic,ariffisasimplemelodicfigure,______andrepeatedseveralti
THETRICKSTERFIGUREINMYTHOLOGY1Inthestudyofmythology,t
随机试题
Althoughmostpeoplereturnfrompackageholidaysreasonablysatisfied,thi
With10,600bicyclesincirculation,Pariscityofficialsarehopingthepro
Consideringhowmuchhangoverscostcountriesandcompanies,nottomention
公共卫生管理体制包含哪些体系?
如果某种酒2008年4月在石家庄售价168元/瓶,那么2009年4月价格为多
需与恶性卵巢肿瘤相鉴别的疾病是A.乙状结肠癌 B.附件结核或腹膜结核 C.子
《治安管理处罚法》规定了一些违反治安管理但应减轻处罚或者不予处罚的情形,下列说法
一种有意伤害他人,引起他人生理上或心理上痛苦的行为称为()。
民警黄某在处理一起因交通事故纠纷引发的打架事件中。发现已批捕在逃的犯罪嫌疑人付某
(2020年真题)根据《环境影响评价技术导则土壤环境(试行)》,下列情形中,不能
最新回复
(
0
)