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  3. In the study of mythology, the character known as the trickster is a god, spirit, human, or animal who breaks the rules of the g

In the study of mythology, the character known as the trickster is a god, spirit, human, or animal who breaks the rules of the g

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问题     In the study of mythology, the character known as the trickster is a god, spirit, human, or animal who breaks the rules of the gods or nature, sometimes maliciously but usually with results that are positive. The rule breaking often takes the form of mischief or thievery. The trickster is usually male but occasionally disguises himself in female form. He can be cunning or foolish, or both, and often very humorous. His curiosity leads him into trouble, but he rescues himself with his sly wit. When he plays tricks, he performs important cultural tasks that benefit humans, and for this reason the trickster is a significant figure in world mythology.
    In different cultures, the trickster and the hero are combined in various ways. In Greek mythology, Prometheus steals fire from the gods and gives it to humans, a feat making him more of a hero than a trickster, and he is usually portrayed as an intellectual. In many Native American stories, Coyote also steals fire from the gods, but Coyote is usually more of a jokester or a prankster than an intellectual.
    The trickster is both creator and destroyer, giver and taker, one who tricks others and is tricked in return. The pranks of the trickster are compulsive and uncontrollable. He does not act consciously; he acts out of passion and impulse. He knows neither good nor evil, yet he is responsible for both. He possesses no morals, yet through his behavior morality comes into being. According to psychologist Carl Jung, the trickster is "a primitive cosmic being of divine-animal nature, on the one hand superior to man because of his superhuman qualities, and on the other hand inferior to him because of his unreason and unconsciousness. "
    In Native American mythology, the majority of trickster myths concern the creation or transformation of the earth. Such stories have a trickster who is always wandering, who is always hungry, who is not guided by normal ideas of good and evil, and who possesses some magical powers. In some stories he is a deity, and in others he is an animal or human subject to death. Several of these myths feature Raven or Coyote as the trickster-hero.
    In many creation myths of the Pacific Northwest, Raven illustrates the transformational nature of tricksters. Raven is the greatest shapeshifter of all and can change into anything to get what he wants. In one story, there is darkness at the beginning of the world, so Raven decides he will find light. He flies far from the earth, searching in the darkness, until he spots a glimmer of light coming from a window in the house of the gods. Raven knows the gods are protective of their possessions, so he devises a trick. He perches on a pine branch next to the house and watches each day as the chief god’s daughter draws water from a nearby lake. He magically transforms himself into a pinyon seed and falls into the girl’s drinking cup. The girl swallows the seed, which grows within her body, and she eventually gives birth to a boy. The child delights his grandparents, and his laughter tricks the elder gods into revealing where they hide a shining ball of light. The gods give the child the ball to play with, and then Raven transforms back to a bird and flies off carrying the ball of light in his beak. He hangs the ball—the sun—in the sky, bringing light to the world.
    Coyote’s character is similar to that of Raven’s, and both appear in stories carrying out similar roles. In several stories from the American Southwest, Coyote steals fire from a group of "fire beings" and gives it to humans. In some tales Coyote wants to make human life more interesting, so he introduces sickness, sorrow, and death. He often teaches through negative example by employing the human vices of lying, cheating, and stealing. His tricks often bring about destructive natural phenomena, such as a great flood that destroys the earth. However, by causing the flood, Coyote leads the human race to a new and better world. Coyote shows us that at the heart of the trickster is a savior whose great gift to humans is showing them new ways of knowing and doing.
All of the following are traits of the trickster EXCEPT________.
选项 A、a desire to break the rules
B、the ability to disguise himself
C、superhuman powers
D、awareness of good and evil
答案D
解析 事实细节题。第一段首句指出，在关于神话的研究中，被称为欺骗性形象的角色是神、精灵、人类或动物，他们打破了神或自然的规则，即打破自然法则是欺骗性形象的特征，故排除A项；第一段第三句指出，欺骗性形象通常是男性，但偶尔也会把自己伪装成女性，即欺骗性形象有伪装的能力，故排除B项；第四段第二句指出，这样的故事里的欺骗性形象拥有一些神奇的力量，即欺骗性形象拥有超能力，排除C项。第三段第四句指出，欺骗性形象既不知道善也不知道恶，即“知道善恶”不是欺骗性形象的特点。此题为选非题，故D项为答案。
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