Oceanic literature

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Please improve this article if you can. (December 2007)

Oceanic (Australia, Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia) literature developed in isolation from the rest of the world and in a unique geographic environment. This allowed the development of a unique literature to thrive. Oceanic literature was heavily inflenced by religion and ritual. This can be seen by the large amount of religious symbolism featured in it.

Another major thing that influenced Oceanic society was their intricate oral tradition. For a long time, most Oceanic literature was not written down. As a result, stock formulas and rhyming were used in many works (these traits made it easier to memorize.) Gods, creation myths, and spirits are also prominent in oceanic litearture, showcasing again the influence oral tradition had on the literature of Oceania. Oceanic literature is written mainly in the english language.

[edit] References

(2007). In Britannica Concise Encyclopedia [1]. Encyclopaedia Brittanica. Retrieved on December 14, 2007.

v • d • e Literature of Oceania

Australasia	Australia · Christmas Island · Cocos (Keeling) Islands · New Zealand¹ · Norfolk Island

Melanesia	East Timor² · Fiji · New Caledonia · Papua New Guinea³ · Solomon Islands · Vanuatu

Micronesia	Federated States of Micronesia · Guam · Kiribati · Marshall Islands · Nauru · Northern Mariana Islands · Palau

Polynesia	American Samoa · Cook Islands · French Polynesia · Niue · Pitcairn Islands · Samoa · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuvalu · Wallis and Futuna

¹ Often included in Polynesia. ² Often included in Southeast Asia. ³ Often included in Australasia.