1. The Popul Vuh is the transcribed beliefs of
the Mayan civilization which represents their ideas of the divine, morality,
and the beginning of all things. Though
written down in the 16th century (when the Spanish invaded Mexico)
it represents much older traditions. In
general, what are some of the significant similarities and/or differences
between Part I of the Popul Vuh and the
story of creation in Genesis? What ideas does each culture share—or where
do they most significantly differ on the beginning of all things?
2. Unlike The Old
Testament, the Popul Vuh is more
about the interaction of heroes and numerous gods, resembling Greek literature
and The Iliad. How do their gods/spirits represent their
culture’s ideals and values? What relationships
do humans have with the divine, and how ‘human’ are these gods? Are they as manipulative and ‘childish’ as
the Greek gods, or are they more remote and mysterious?
3. What troubles
do the gods have in creating the human race?
Once they exist, what further adjustments do they make? Compare this to God’s prohibition against
tasting the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge in Genesis. What
anxieties/values does the creation of human beings express about Mayan culture?
4. How might the
Popul Vuh relate to less religious
literature—perhaps fairy tales and the folklore of other cultures? What elements of these stories have you heard
before (and where)? How might they
express ideas that have been used—and transformed—in other cultures (even our
own)?
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