Popol Vuh: The Quiche Mayan Book of Creation

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Questions and Answers

Why is the Popol Vuh considered one of the most important sources of pre-Columbian myth in Central America?

It is written in the Mayan language, preserving their cultural heritage.

It documents the daily lives and rituals of the Quiche Mayans.

It tells the story of the origins and destiny of the Quiche Mayans. (correct)

It provides a detailed account of the Spanish conquest of the Mayan civilization.

What is the significance of 'The Wooden People' in the context of the Popol Vuh?

They are the world's first people created by the gods. (correct)

They played a crucial role in the Spanish conquest of Central America.

They were created as a punishment for the failure of the gods' previous attempts at creation.

They were known for their advanced knowledge of astronomy and mathematics.

What is the main problem faced by the gods in 'The Wooden People' creation story?

The wooden people refuse to obey the commands of the gods.

They have failed in previous attempts to create suitable human beings. (correct)

They are unable to find enough wood to make the manikins.

They are worried about the increasing influence of other mythic creatures.

What is the meaning of the word 'competent' as used in the text?

Capable Signup and view all the answers

What role does 'The Wooden People' play in shaping early Maya culture and belief?

It provides insights into how early Maya people perceived the world around them. Signup and view all the answers

In the passage, 'The Wooden People' fail the gods by:

Being unable to sweat or have fat Signup and view all the answers

What does the failed attempts of the gods to create humans three times tell us about the way the Quiche Mayans viewed their gods?

They perceived their gods as powerful and unforgiving Signup and view all the answers

What sense does the passage 'The earth was blackened because of this; the black rainstorm began, rain all day and rain all night.' appeal to?

Sight Signup and view all the answers

What sense does the passage 'Everything spoke: their water jars, their tortilla griddles...' appeal to?

Hearing Signup and view all the answers

How would you describe the overall effect of the imagery in the myth?

'The imagery conveys desolation and hopelessness' Signup and view all the answers

What kind of narrative is requested in the prompt about inanimate objects coming to life?

'A fictional story' Signup and view all the answers

'Imagery' in literature primarily appeals to which sense?

'Sense of sight' Signup and view all the answers

What are the wooden people made from?

Wood Signup and view all the answers

What punishment do the wooden people receive from the Heart of Sky?

Great flood Signup and view all the answers

What do various non-human objects do to punish the wooden people before the flood?

Gouge out their eyes, snap off their heads, and tear them open Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the earth as a result of the flood and rainstorm?

It turns black Signup and view all the answers

What do animals do to punish the wooden people?

Crush their faces with objects like wood and stone Signup and view all the answers

What do the wooden people's dogs and turkeys threaten to do?

Speak and threaten to eat them Signup and view all the answers

How do the cooking pots and hearthstones punish the wooden people?

Burn and shoot out to cause pain Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the wooden people try to escape?

They fail as houses collapse, trees throw them off, and caves slam shut in their faces Signup and view all the answers

What are the monkeys in the forests today considered as?

Sign of the wooden people Signup and view all the answers

Who punishes the wooden people by sending a great flood to destroy them?

The Heart of Sky Signup and view all the answers

What do various non-human objects do after coming to life?

Punish the wooden people by causing physical harm like gouging out their eyes and snapping off their heads Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of the punishment inflicted on the wooden people?

They are destroyed in the flood after being punished in various ways Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

"The Wooden People" is a Quiche Mayan myth from the Popol Vuh, translated by Dennis Tedlock.
The wooden people are the first beings created by the gods Maker and Modeler.
They are made from the wood of the loggod Anrroquio and have dry faces and bodies without blood, sweat, or complexions.
The wooden people are incompetent and deformed, and they have no memory or speech.
The Heart of Sky, the father god of the Quiche Mayans, punishes the wooden people by sending a great flood to destroy them.
Before the flood, various non-human objects come to life and punish the wooden people by gouging out their eyes, snapping off their heads, eating their flesh, and tearing them open.
The earth is blackened by the flood and the resulting rainstorm, which lasts all day and all night.
Animals enter the wooden people's houses and crush their faces with things like wooden and stone objects.
The wooden people's dogs and turkeys speak and threaten to eat them in return for the pain they caused the animals.
The wooden people's cooking pots and hearthstones also punish them by burning and shooting out to cause pain.
The wooden people try to escape but fail as the houses collapse, trees throw them off, and caves slam shut in their faces.
The monkeys in the forests today are a sign of the wooden people, as they were made from wood alone by the builder and sculptor.
The most dramatic or suspenseful part of the story is the punishment of the wooden people by the Heart of Sky and various non-human objects, leading to their destruction in the flood.

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Description

Learn about the Popol Vuh, the Quiche Mayan book of creation, and its significance in Central American pre-Columbian myth. Gain insights into the origins and destiny as believed by the Quiche Mayans.