Advanced Placement United States History

Questions for "Changing Woman"

• What significance do the four cardinal directions have?


• What is the significance of the various stones?


• What is the significance of the monsters?


• What is the significance of the number four?


• What geographical area are these people living in?


• What is the significance of the turquoise woman?


• Why did they have to wait twelve days before they went up to the mountain?


• What significance does this mountain have for the Navajo?


• What is the significance of the white shell woman?


• Before the story begins, what happened that only four Navajo are left?


• Where do the four Navajo disappear to after the story?


• Why does the interpreter keep certain words in Navajo language?


• What is the god that called them to the mountains?


• Why did the Hero Twins age so quickly?


• What is the significance of the trials/challenges?


• Why would Spider Woman help the twins?


• What is the significance of the “pollen” chant?


• Why would the wind care enough about the twins to help them?


• Why does a feather keep them safe?


• Why does their dad try to kill them?


• What the heck is up with the caterpillar?


• Why would the blood from Ystesil revive him if it reached the other monsters?


• Why would the Sun help them kill his own son?


• What is the significance of the rainbow they stand on?


• What is the significance of the lake on the mountainside?  Is it a real place?


• Why do they use sunbeams and lightning as weapons?

posted by Jeffrey @ Wednesday, September 07, 2005