ANCIENT STORIES

1. How is the language in these texts similar to and/or different from the language you use in everyday conversation?

     The language in the "The White Buffalo Calf Woman" is different from today's language because it is more sophisticated and mature. The story is put in a worldly way which makes the story sound proper. The worldly way this story is assembled makes it sound older than the stories today.

2. Because it began as an oral story, "White Buffalo Calf Woman" can be found in multiple text versions. How important is it for a story to be repeated word for word? Is meaning embellished, distorted, lost, or enhanced in the retelling?

     It is important to read this story word for word because the meaning would be changed with just a little altering. If one was to tell this story to another off the top of their head a lot would be forgotten and unstable. Changing the story could change the whole meaning and feeling.