An Overview of Native American Oral Literature::

Common Themes

Improvisation

Another common theme that tends to exemplify most tribal oral narratives is spontaneity or creativity in a text's transmission. What I mean by this, is that oral narratives within Indian traditions tend not to be fixed - so a shaman, for example, will tend not to narrate verbatim from memory a particular prayer cycle. Instead, he or she will allow the words to flow through him or her spontaneously. Similarly, tribal storytellers will add his or her own interpretations and flourishes to a traditional story. Improvisation of songs, prayers and stories are acceptable so long as the narrator follows the general patterns of meaning and form established within the group over time. This is why, for example, it is difficult to say that a particular tribal creation myth is the most authentic one as, especially when oral narrative was the dominant narrative form, variations exist.