Native American Tradition
For a long time, Native American literature was viewed mainly as folklore.
The consequence was that song lyrics, hero tales, migration legends,
and accounts of the creation were studied more for their content than for their literary qualities.
In an oral tradition, the selling of the tale may change with each speaker,
and the words are almost sure to change over time.
Thus, no fixed versions of such literary works exist.
Still, in cases where the words of Native American lyrics or narratives
have been captured in writing, the language is often poetic and moving.
As might be expected in an oral setting, oratory was much prized among Native Americans.
The names of certain orators, such as Logan and Red Jacket, were widely known.