Citations

Christian, M. “Oceania: The Myth.” Oceania Myth. 1997. 8 December 2008. http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/creation/cshzeal.html.

Lindemans, M.F. “Polynesian Mythology.” Encyclopedia Mythica. 2007. 8 December 2008. http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/oceania/polynesian/articles.html.

“Mythology of Oceania.” Kava.com. 2008. 5 December 2008. http://www.kava.com/oceania/mythology.htm.

Resture, Jane. “Oceania Mythology Homepage.” Oceania Mythology. 2008. 5 December 2008. http://www.janeresture.com/oceania_myths/index.htm.

“The Gods of Oceanic Mythology.” Oceanic Mythology. 2008. 8 December 2008. http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/oceanic_mythology.php.

Willis, Roy. “Oceania.” World Mythology. New York: Henry Holt & Company, 1993. 10 December 2008.

•Laprade, Thomas. “Hawaii.” 13 September 2008. Photograph. The Snowbird, blog of Thomas Laprade. 17 December 2008. <http://encyclopedia.smokersclub.com/images/hawaii.jpg

•Merritt, Ed. “Easter Egg.” 11 March 2008. Photograph. The Witch Doctor. 17 December 2008. < http://witchdoctor.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/easter-egg.jpg>.

•Jeffrey, Jack. “Akepa.” 2008. Photograph. Birds of Hawaii. 17 December 2008. http://www.travelwithachallenge.com/Images/Travel_Article_Library/Hawaiian_Bird_Pictures/Akepa7.jpg.

•Stephans, Quinn. “Ocean17.” 2008. Photograph. Creating an Ocean in After Effects. 17 December 2008. http://www.quinnstephens.com/tutorials/ocean/ocean17.jpg.

Oceania

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Oceania Myth Summaries

Creation Myth

In the beginning, there was only darkness and the sea. Later, there came the Old Spider. During the Old Spider's journey in the sea, he found a giant clam. He immediately opened the clam and crawled inside. Inside the dark and cramped clam he found a snail. The two decided to open the shell a bit for more room. Then, the Old Spider took the snail and placed it in the west and made it into the moon. After, Old Spider got help from another snail and pushed very hard on top of the shell, raising it up, and it became the sky, called Rangi. Next, Old Spider pushed down on the lower part of the shell and it widened and became the earth. The earth was called Papa, or Mother Earth. After Rangi and Papa were seperated, they became very sad. The tears that Rangi cried are the rain drops that fall and the dew in the morning.

The Myth of Maui, New Zealand, Daylight & Fire

Maui was a boy who grew up in the sea with the sea god. His mother favored him, therefore his brothers were very jealous and would never take him fishing with them. However, one day he hid in the boat and then went fishing. Maui immediately caught a huge fish. The fish was so big it covered the sea as far as he could see! Then the fish became the islands of New Zealand. Afterward, the island became the home for Maui and his family. Although they loved their home, there were not many hours of sunlight. As a result, the brothers put aside their jealousy to help Maui slow down the sun. After they made the sun promise to go slower over the sky, they then realized they needed something to keep them warm at night in the longer days. Fire! So the next day, Maui went to the lady with fingernails made of fire, Mahuika, and threw a bit of her fingernail in a tree. To sum up, the sparks stayed until finally Maui and his brothers figured out how to make fire with wood.

Christian, M. “Oceania: The Myth.” Oceania Myth. 1997. 8 December 2008. http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/creation/cshzeal.html.

Lindemans, M.F. “Polynesian Mythology.” Encyclopedia Mythica. 2007. 8 December 2008. http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/oceania/polynesian/articles.html.