LITR 4332: American Minority Literature

Sample Student Final Exam Answers 2005

Research Report

Humor in Native American Literature

The Native Americans rely on oral language to pass their traditional folk stories from generation to next. Native Americans use humor throughout their works both orally and written to bond the reader to the characters and connect them to the story.  Each author has their own personal use of humor to convey their thoughts and ideas to the listener and/or reader. Throughout Native American literature we see a distinct theme of loss and survival.  The trickster embodies the idea of survival in which the figure is able to pass on valuable information to the next generation.  There are many common figures of the trickster figure in Native American literature.  One common trickster is the Coyote.  Although the coyote is familiar to this literature there are other tricksters that originate from different areas.  “The form of Trickster is personified according to regions: in the Far West he is known as Coyote, in the Northwest and Artic as Raven, in the East as Hare, in the North Woods as Canada Jay or Wolverine, on the Plains as Spider or Old Man” (Omura 3).  Although the trickster figure in many Native American stories is a coyote he takes on capabilities in which humans have. Sioux tribe calls their trickster figure Iktomi.  “Among Native Americans, Trickster is at one and the same time ‘creator and destroyer, giver and negator, he who dupes others and who is always duped himself.  He knows neither good nor evil, yet he is responsible for both” (Omura 3).

Native American authors use the trickster figure to add certain aspects of life into their literature.  “Humor serves as an indirect form of communication because it conveys messages, usually of an emotional nature, that might be unacceptable if expressed or acknowledged directly.  Native American Indians use humor’s ability to erase, cleanse, or change, or change what was embarrassing, oppressive, sorrowful, or painful” (Herring 2).  An aspect of humor is used with the trickster figure.  The trickster is traditionally used to educate the future generations orally.  The coyote acts as a guide to show both young and old how not to act.  Although he is humorous the coyote is able to educate at the same time.  Tales are also used to explain natural questions such as how the stars got in the sky.  The tales would explain that the coyote threw them in the sky.  The coyote can influence the listeners to act correctly because of the situations the character gets himself into.  (Thomas 46)

Sherman Alexie uses many aspects of humor throughout his works.  He uses irony to show humor in situations that may rarely be funny such as the crazy man who comes to tea naked.  He utilizes a conversational tone to his work that seeks the effect of speech.  This creates an informal story line. Alexie is able to incorporate humor into his work which ultamitally sparks ways “to reveal injustice, protect self esteem, heal wounds, and create bonds” (Coulombe 1). With his humor Alexie can grasp the attention of all cultures. (Coulombe 1)  The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven has many aspects of humor throughout the novel with characters like Thomas-Builds-The-Fire and the Coyote.  “By exploding expectations and compelling dialogue, humor teaches self-knowledge and social awareness, much like Trickster.  Alexie’s use of humor encourages readers to think anew by creating a space shared inquiry and reciprocal empathy” (Coulombe 2).  He uses situational comedy when the audience learns about how the jackrabbit committed suicide.  This brings an aspect of bonding into the work where the audience feels closer to the characters because they know more confident information about them.  The reader is about to understand the outer world when authors use humor.  Like the Coyote trickster figure both authors use humor to guide the audience on the right path to find truths in life.  

Throughout Native American literature humor is thread through works for many symbolic reasons.  Native Americans rely on this humor to grab the listener’s attention and educate them as well as entertain them.  

Works Cited

Coulombe, Joseph.  The Approximate Size of His Favorite Humor. American Indian Quarterly. Winter 2002, Vol. 26 Iss. 1. Academic Search Premier: 1 Dec 2005.

Herring, Roger and Sandra Meggert.  The Use of Humor as a Counselor Strategy with Native American Indian Children. Elementary School Guidance & Counseling: Oct 94, Vol. 29 Iss. 1. Academic Search Premier: 27 Nov 2005.

Sherman, Alexie. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Atlantic Monthly Press. New York: 1993.

Thomas, Catherine. The Roles of Coyote in Selected American Cultures.

Omura, Grace. Iktomi, the Sioux Trickster.

Weidner, Heidemarie.  The Fruits of Literacy: Loss or Gain. Tennessee Technological University. Cookeville.

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