Final answer:
Trickster tales like 'The Coyote and the Buffalo' use animal characters, such as the coyote, to embody human traits and impart moral lessons. The coyote's cleverness and deceit are central to the plot, engaging the audience and challenging cultural norms. These narratives highlight the importance of the trickster in transmitting wisdom and values within a community.
Step-by-step explanation:
In trickster tales such as 'The Coyote and the Buffalo', the character of the coyote serves as a representation of the trickster archetype, a common trope in indigenous and African American storytelling. This character is known for using wit, intellect, and sometimes deceit to overcome obstacles or get the better of other characters. In many of these stories, the trickster is also a figure that challenges the status quo and can be seen as a catalyst for change, often with a moral lesson embedded in the narrative.
For instance, in the Pima story 'Coyote and Bluebird', the Coyote exhibits traits of vanity and deceit, tricking Bluebird in an attempt to steal Bluebird's beauty, which ultimately leads to his downfall. The moral cautions against vanity. Similarly, in other narratives featuring animal spirits, the animals often embody human traits and are used to convey lessons or reflect cultural values, as seen with the bear in Native mythology or through the widespread tale of Chicken Little. These stories serve not only as entertainment but also as a means of imparting wisdom and moral guidance within the community.
In each of these narratives, the role of the trickster varies but ultimately serves to engage the audience, provoke thought, and impart a lasting message. Whether through humor, cunning, or careless mistakes, the actions and consequences faced by the trickster are a rhetorical device designed to affect the reader's perception and understanding of the story's themes.