The Old Lady Trill, the Victory Yell: The Power of Women in Native American Literature (Native Americans: Interdisciplinary Perspectives)

From warrior women to female deities who control the cycle of life, female characters in Native American literature exhibit a social and spiritual empowerment that is quite different from the average Pocahontas we are used to seeing in mainstream literature. This work argues that a tribal construct of gender relations, where the relationship between male and female roles is complementary rather than hierarchical, accounts for the existence of these empowered female characters in Native American literature. Focusing on the work of four of the twentieth century's most famous Native American authors, Zitkala-Sa, Leslie Marmon Silko, Louise Erdrich and Sherman Alexie, Hollrah suggests that it is important to evaluate Native American literary female characters in a cultural paradigm that is less Euro-American and more compatible to the complementarity of Native American culture. Ch. 1. Introduction: Writing Is Different From Tribe To Tribe : Historical And Cultural Contexts -- Ch. 2. The Old Lady Trill, The Victory Yell : Why Feminist Theory Does Not Apply To Native American Literature -- Ch. 3. We Must Be Masters Of Our Circumstances : Rhetorical Sovereignty As Political Resistance In The Life And Works Of Zitkala-sa -- Ch. 4. The Men In The Bar Feared Her : The Power Of Ayah In Leslie Marmon Silko’s Lullaby -- Ch. 5. Women Are Strong, Strong, Terribly Strong : Female Intellectual Sovereignty In The Works Of Loiuse Erdrich -- Ch. 6. I’m Talking Like A Twentieth-century Indian Woman : Contemporary Female Warriors In The Works Of Sherman Alexie -- Ch. 7. Conclusion : Indian Women Were And Are Powerful : Intellectual Sovereignty And The Strength Of Female Warriors. Patrice E.m. Hollrah. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [183]-189) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 7 CONTENTS......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 9 CHAPTER 1 Introduction: “Writing Is Different from Tribe to Tribe”......Page 10 CHAPTER 2 “The Old Lady Trill, the Victory Yell”......Page 24 CHAPTER 3 “We Must Be Masters of Our Circumstances”......Page 33 CHAPTER 4 “The Men in the Bar Feared Her”......Page 57 CHAPTER 5 “Women Are Strong, Strong, Terribly Strong”......Page 91 CHAPTER 6 “‘I’m Talking Like a Twentieth-Century Indian Woman’”......Page 130 CHAPTER 7 Conclusion: “Indian Women Were and Are Powerful”......Page 164 Notes......Page 169 Bibliography......Page 175 Index......Page 185 Focusing On The Work Of Four Of The Twentieth Century's Most Famous Native American Authors, Zitkala-sa, Leslie Marmon Silko, Louise Erdrich And Sherman Alexie, This Work Argues That A Tribal Construct Of Gender Relations, Where The Relationship Between Male And Female Roles Is Complementary Rather Than Hierarchical, Accounts For The Existence Of Empowered Female Characters In Native American Literature. Covering the work of four of the 20th century's Native American authors, this text argues that a tribal construct of gender relations, where the relationship between male & female roles is complementary rather that hierarchical, accounts for the existence of empowered female characters in literature First Published In 2004. Routledge Is An Imprint Of Taylor & Francis, An Informa Company.