Myth. A myth is a story that explains objects or events in the natural world as resulting from the action of some supernatural force or entity. “Song of the Sky Loom” contains elements of Tewa myth.
Metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken or written about as if it were another, thus encouraging a comparison between features of the two things. The writer’s, or speaker’s, actual subject is called the tenor of the metaphor, while the thing to which it is likened is called the vehicle. Songs such as the one you are about to read often employ metaphor in order to create pictures in the mind of the reader or listener.
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The language of “Song of the Sky Loom” is taken directly from weaving. The Tewa, a Pueblo people of the Southwest, are accomplished weavers. They, in turn, passed the art on to the Navajo, now renowned weavers of blankets and rugs. In addition to weaving, the Tewa make intricately decorated pottery and elaborate baskets. They live in multi-level, multi-unit adobe structures often built into the hard mesas of the Southwest. Like other Pueblo peoples, the Tewa have a vital interdependence with the natural world, performing various rituals and ceremonies related to nature, especially to bringing much-needed rain.
Blanket, 1875. Navaho Artist.
As you read, make a chart like the one below showing the tenor and vehicle of the metaphors in the poem. An example has been done for you.
If you could describe yourself only in terms of an art form, such as a painting, a sculpture, or a musical work, which would you choose, and why?
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