The first decision to be made when constructing this new
story based upon the Cherokee tales of old is to determine the where and when
for my narrative to take place. There are three major options when considering
distinct points in a historical setting for the Cherokees; the traditional
homelands in Georgia and on the east coast, the Trail of Tears, and the more
modern place of residence here in Oklahoma. Placing the story in Georgia would
fall in line with the birthplace of the tale, and thus continue the tradition
set forth. However, constructing a narrative that occurs along the Trail of
Tears would provide ample opportunity for the characters to be faced with an
immense amount of difficulty facing them, with the only possibilities being to
overcome the situation, or fall before it. Finally Oklahoma would allow for a
modern setting that can allow for more connection between the narrative and the
reader. In the end I think the story would be best suited during the Trail of
Tears. As much as I would like to write the story in the form of journal
entries of an individual who is suffering through the trouble of the long
journey, however I have already used this approach during the course of the
semester concerning the hero Sinbad. The story will be of an elder tribe member
who is tasked with being the liaison between the tribe members and the United
States’ government. The presentation suggestion for this week to be a bedtime
story is an interesting one. This could be a grandparent telling the story to
their own grandchild of the experiences passed down to them from their own
family concerning how they handled the long trip westward during this difficult
time. Further research into being able to vividly describe the terrain and
atmosphere of the Trail of Tears would do well in providing greater detail for
a darker style of “bedtime story”.
Bibliography: Myths of the Cherokees, James Mooney (1909)
I'm so curious to see what you come up with. Even though the Trail of Tears was a horrible time in history, I think it still offers a really good setting for a Cherokee story. I also really like the idea of it being told through a grandparent. Grandparents have such a sweet bond with grandchildren and I think it would be good to show that. It would also make it that much more personal and deep. I don't know a lot about Cherokee myths, but I'm sure your story will be really good.
ReplyDeleteHello Cole. You have great ideas for your story. Writing about the Trail of Tears can be very interesting as it was a tough time in history. However I think with the use of a narrator such as a grandparent it would add a lot more value. You can try to portray a lesson through a personal experience of the grandfather while shedding light on important events that occurred in that time context. Goodluck with choosing your specific topic, you have great ideas lined up here!
ReplyDeleteHi Cole! I am really excited to see a story about the Trail of Tears. It is a time I have frequently talked about in classes since I have grown up in Oklahoma. I really like the idea of writing bedtime stories, though I'm not sure how I would react as a child to hearing such a tragic story! Maybe you could try altering the story so that the grandparent is telling the story, only with a "hero" conquering the challenges of the Trail. I also think it is a great idea to research the landscape -- it will really be able to get reader into the story.
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