Analysis Of How The Snake Got Its Venom By Zora Neale Hurston

How the World was Made and How the Snake Got Its Poison are both myths that were told for the enjoyment of all ages especially children. This paper will include an extensive analysis of the two myths/folktales. Zora Neale Hurston and Katharine Berry are excellent and fictional writers. Although the two writers write fictional myths, both writers create very different scenarios and write from different point of views. A close examination of the way both stories share the similarity of having animals with major roles demonstrates man had no input or power in the creation of the Earth or any of the animals that lived on it.

The two fictional stories share the similar topic of how something or someone came to be as it is today. Both writers are creative and it very evident throughout their stories. In Zora’s “How the Snake Got its Venom” she tells the tale of how the snake creatures got their rattle and venom. In “How the Earth Was Made, Katharine wrote about how the world obtained its land and mountains and well as the animals that helped do it. Both stories were very entertaining

and included animals that played major roles who set events in motion which lead to the final creation.
Both authors also chose different tones when making their legends.

In How The Snake Got Its Poison, by Katharine Berry, manipulates the english language so capture a certain southern accent. By doing this she illustrates where the story is taking place and also gives the reader a rough idea of when it is taking place. “Lawd, you know know Ah’m down here in de dust. Ah ain’t got no claws to fight wid, and Ah ain't got no feets to git me out de way. All Ah kin see is feets comin' to tromple me.” “Ah can't tell who my enemy is and who is my friend. You gimme dis protection in my mouf and Ah uses it." The use of tone throughout the story also makes it seem less serious and almost comedic ,even though the snake was killing off creatures multiple times. In How the World Was Made, Katharine Berry uses a standard past tense tone when writing her fictional story and told it in chronological

order.
Another difference between the two literary selections is the point of view that the two authors wrote in. In How The World Was Made, Katherine spoke from an omniscient person point of view. She explained the steps of the world being made in chronological order. In How The Snake Got Its Poison, Zora spoke in the third person as if she was a bystander throughout the fictional tale.
Zora Neale Hurston and Katharine Berry are both fantastic and creative writers. From each of them we are able to read extraordinary fictional stories. Since there is no 100% chackable theory on how or why the world and animals were made, these two writers came up with their own fun ideas on how things came to be. The two writers gave animals main roles in their creative stories which means man had nothing to do with the creation of the Earth or the animals on it. Both artist created excellent pieces and I would recommend them to people of all ages to enjoy.