Abstract
This paper explains how traditions must change over time to remain relevant and shows how Leslie Marmon Silko illustrates the importance of oral tradition and language with Tayo's story in her novel, "Ceremony". It examines how Native Americans believe that when people speak, they exchange spirits and the addition of human breath transforms sounds into words and gives them life. The living word then becomes a part of each individual who hears it which is why oral tradition is so important to them. It compares Auntie and Josiah and how they view tradition and people outside their race and how Silko uses Auntie to represent people who blindly follow the traditions of the past while not believing in the spirit behind them.

From the Paper
"Oral tradition includes many different forms including "letters, anecdotes, gossip, jokes, poems, legends, family stories, crafted stories that must be included for a person to become self-knowing, to create community and even to comprehend the evil, the witchery, which disrupts community" (Brown). Silko uses many of these forms in Ceremony. The novel, as a whole, is an example of a crafted story. The different components of the novel are also important parts of the oral tradition. Grandma "liked to sit by her stove and gossip about the people who were talking about their family" (Silko 89). As she gossiped, she carried on that tradition. The story of Tayo is also a good example of Silko using the oral tradition, because it is an example of a family story."

Tags:american, auntie, ceremony, josiah, tayo

Abstract
"Spiritual salvation is the topic of Langston Hughes' short work, entitled "Salvation." The story documents his experience as a twelve-year-old boy with group and peer pressure in church as he is forced into being "saved." It was written in 1940 and is taken from Hughes' autobiography, The Big Sea. Hughes was a prominent African American writer in the early 1900s, and his audience at that time was primarily those African Americans living an urban life and dealing with discrimination and oppression. Today, Hughes' timeless stories are enjoyed by all who admire great writing. Hughes begins his story by proclaiming, "I was saved from sin when I was going on thirteen" (Hughes 197). This begins our journey into his spiritual adventure; one in which his Auntie Reed and her church have created in order to save the young Hughes from hellfire and damnation. After a long sermon, the church held a special meeting just for children in which the young sinners were expected to find Jesus."

From the Paper
Student's Name Name of Instructor Name of Course March 13, 2008 "Salvation" by Langston Hughes and The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday Spiritual salvation is the topic of Langston Hughes' short work, entitled "Salvation." The story documents his experience as a twelve-year-old boy with group and peer pressure in church as he is forced into being "saved."

Tags:hughes, momaday, literature

Abstract
This paper presents biographical information on the life of Rudyard Kipling. It looks at Kipling's early years in India, his years with an abusive caretaker in England, and his school years. The paper also examines the stages in Kipling's career, some of his writings, and his death.

From the Paper
"Aside from the abuse that he received and the bullying that went on, which made for some hard first years at the school, Kipling recalls the school as clean without any epidemics. His writings also viewed the bullying as a silly and childish past time for those whom were soon to become men. Everyday he would read greedily and write even more selfishly as if these things were going to be taken from him. One reason for this could have been that his sister learned these things at a younger age than he. J.I.M. Stewart wrote that it has been said that Rudyard's favorite writer may have been Tom Jones, which contributed to his literary style (28). Since the school was a military based school, all of the boys were pushed to enter the army. But from a young age, it was very noticeable to all that came in contact with Kipling that he was not going to pursue that route."

Tags:writer, bombay, india, aunty, rosa, westward, ho, kim, jungle, book