I have quite enjoyed reading The Popol Vuh so far, although it was not what I expected. The writing is very poetic, and has a rhythm to it as you read. I also like how the writing is spaced out in different sections on each page, and across many pages, because I feel like it has made my reading experience more intentional. I find myself slowing down more to read each word and making sure I am finding meaning in each section between breaks.
Our class conversation about the importance of voice and spoken word was in my mind as I read this, and I found that the theme came up quite often. One bit that stuck out to me especially was the importance of names. Every (or almost every) character in the story was named explicitly, and the meaning behind many of these names was also explained in certain cases. At other times, like Quetzal Serpent or Heart of Sky, the name is not defined in terms of what it means necessarily, but the reason for this name is explained to be because of the significance of the thing it names. Names seemed to correlate with respect, which seemed to me to be another important theme. In one case, after One Batz and One Chouen turned to monkeys, only then were they given names, as well as titles. This was said to be for the purpose of remembering them, and also ties into the artistic and cultural acts of writing, carving, singing, and playing the flute.
Another theme that seemed to come up a lot was family. Characters were often defined in terms of familial relationships to other characters. Grandmother and Grandfather seemed to be important titles and roles. Family also does not seem to be restricted to human people, as personification is used to talk about surroundings and the Earth. Twins also came up more than once. I wonder about the significance of twins, and what might be the purpose of defining this relationship. Is it about emphasizing the differences between the two twins that are clearly not genetic, or is it more about their similarities?
I am also enjoying the descriptive sensory elements of the book. The actual page layout has allowed me to slow down and emphasize each detail of the descriptions, and beyond that, the language itself is very focused on describing sensory input. The smells and taste of foods stuck out to me particularly, but also the detailed descriptions of death and gore.
Hi Erika,
I love your point about the importance of names throughout the Popol Vuh, and I agree that the significance of names directly correlate to respect. To add, I think that the extensive repetition of the names, especially those of Hunahpu and Xbalanque, not only show respect to them at the time, but also respects and honours the twins as we read the text today; it’s almost like a mnemonic strategy for us to remember their names and respect their significance in Maya K’iche’ culture.
“I also like how the writing is spaced out in different sections on each page, and across many pages.”
Yes, though that of course is also a function of this particular translation, this particular edition. We shouldn’t forget the extent to which what we are reading and studying is mediated in such ways–and usually across two moments of translation, from Indigenous language (and culture) to colonial Spanish, and then to contemporary English.
Hi Erika,
I found the name choices rather interesting as well, in particular why did some names have numbers before their name? I assume it would have to be because of the name being pasted down, sort of like how we have junior added before the name of a son or daughter who has the same name as their parent. Although the name difference between One Hunapu and Seven Hunapu don’t quite work with that system since that would mean there were 4 other Hunapu’s siblings. Just curious is this may relate to the respect they carry, in which One Hunapu had children while Seven Hunapu did not, therefore he carried a “greater” title? Just something I was curious about.
Isabella F
You raise an interesting point with regards to familial relationships. As we were discussing in class with difference in the two translations, our copy seems to present the characters within a family network like how you mentioned using grandmother and grandfather. Describing sensory input is also interesting. Again, in reference to our last class, the translation of the book that we are reading seems to especially focus on imagery using terms like “root” or “plant.
Hey Erika, i never considered the theme of family until i took a second look and noticed different categorizations of figures were used in conjunction. For example, identifying the gods as mother-father of life and birth, giver of breath and giver of heart. These interconnected phrases that are familial to each other in telling the story is a key theme in Popol Vuh.