Turtle's Back

“The World on the Turtle’s Back,” is a myth that that has been repeatedly told by the Iroquois tribes for numerous generations. This story follows the creation of the Earth and contains various gods and mythical worlds, resulting in the story falling into the genre of mythology. The myth may be archaic, but by using various elements appropriately and efficiently, the author constructs a captivating experience of the creation of the Earth.

The story starts with an unknown woman whose name is not given. While the woman is given little background, she plays a significant role in the plot of the myth and even serves as the primary creator of the Earth. Moreover, the woman is still filled with emotion and personality. In fact, when moving throughout

the story, the reader can notice that the woman’s character develops from an innocent and pregnant woman to a rebellious, demanding, selfish woman. This can be seen when story states, “He didn’t like the idea. He knew it was wrong. But she insisted and he gave in.” This character is also established with the help of another entity in the story called the “Great Tree.” The author offers background information about the tree such as, “The tree was not supposed to be marked or mutilated.” However, when the woman “decided that she wanted some bark from one of the roots of the Great Tree” the woman is seen as a person who does not give importance existing rules and moral codes. The culture of the Iroquois tribes also plays a role in the reason for why the woman is portrayed in this way; the male members of the tribes are usually taught to be cautious of women while women are thought to be lesser beings. For this purpose, the author decides to use a woman as a canvas for the many illicit actions that are being taken.
Once the woman falls through the Sky World floor, the woman is placed in a situation where she must decide what to do next. In this process, the animals’ personality plays a vital role. In fact, when the woman wished to die, the animals “came to her and said that they would try to help her and asked her what they could do.” The animals seem to take the place of humans and gods and turn an otherwise barren emptiness into one filled with emotion and feelings. Likewise, in many portions of the story, personification is given to the animals to help add life and illustrate the magical growth of the Earth. In some ways, the animals represent the emotions of the world. For example, when the birds “immediately break the fall of the woman,” the world’s intent to save the woman is shown through the animals. The personification help makes an inanimate object into a one filled with life, enhancing the growth of the world.
When the world is in the beginning phase of creation, the back of the great sea turtle is used.

This is not surprising as the turtle is symbolistic of a planet in many ways. For example, the turtle shows dedication when he “agreed to receive her on his back.” By simply offering his back to the woman, the turtle represents how the planet will serve as a home for anything that can live on it. Today, the Earth serves as all kinds of life, no matter how evil or docile. Sea turtles also have more symbolism that can only be seen when observing a turtle’s entire life. In addition to the dedication shown in the story, turtles are about to lay their eggs, they return to same exact shore that they were born in. This shows that even after living their entire lives, these magnificent creatures never forget their origins. This is similar to how a planet will largely remain the same since their creation. By using a turtle as a support for the world, the myth appreciates traits about our world that are rarely

noticed.
When the world starts to develop, two twins are born, one of which kills their mother. Since then the rivalry between the left-handed twin and the right-handed twin begins to increase. The author takes advantage of absolutes to simulate this escalation. When describing either twin, words like “always” and “never” are used. For instance, the author describes the left-handed twin as the twin who “never said what he meant.” On the other hand, the right-handed twin “always told the truth, and he always tried to accomplish what seemed to be right and reasonable.” In this way, the reader understands there is no middle ground and there is a low chance of consensus. Instead, by using these absolutes, the twins are made to represent the two extremes in the world, and the rivalry between the two twins intensifies.
Towards the end of the story, the author begins to refer other names that the characters go by today in the current world.

For example, the right-handed twin is called, “He Who Holds Up the Sky.” The reader understands that the characters in the myth are behind many parts that make up the Earth and our lives. By using allusions such as calling the grandmother “the Moon”, the author reminds us that the characters are still present today in different forms. This technique allows the reader to look at every-day objects and relate them to the story. These allusions contribute to the unforgettability and timelessness of the

myth.
By using a combination of many aspects of literature and literary elements such as allusions, symbolism, personification, absolutes, and character development, the author manages to create an intricate myth narrating an alternate creation of the current world we live in. The myth manages to implant a complex and intricate plot in the readers mind while using relatively simple language, creating a truly memorable experience and contributing to a familiar but unique myth.