Dear John Wayne Sherman Alexie Analysis
Professor John Spaulding
Writing 102
29 March 2017
Comparing Louise Erdrich and Sherman Alexie “We do not want riches, we want peace and love”(Red Cloud 1). This quote by Native American Chief Red Cloud is what Louise Erdrich and Sherman Alexie wanted to get across in a lot of their poetry. Louise Erdrich, part Chippewa Indian and part German-American, is a poet; although she is most known for her novels and short stories. Sherman Alexie is also a predominant Native American poet. He was raised in Wellpinit, Washington on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Similar to Erdrich, Alexie is more well known for his short stories and poems. Both Erdrich and Alexie are known for their Native American themes presented in many of their works. Erdrich
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Although they are associated with different tribes, they both grew up in and around the Native American culture. They both recognize the troubles and everyday hardships their people go through and choose to write about it through poems and short stories. Both authors write about their Native American culture as personal narratives as well as to bring awareness about the topic. Louise Erdrich’s “Dear John Wayne” and Sherman Alexie’s “Crow Testament” present similar standpoints in the history of Native …show more content…
This poem begins with a drive-in movie setting and says “...to vanquish the hordes of mosquitoes. Nothing works. They break through the smoke screen for blood” (Erdrich 1). She uses this statement as symbolism for the whites trying to kill the Natives. The people in the drive-in movie were trying to avoid getting bit by the mosquitoes; but it was also a metaphor for the Native Americans fighting the “white men.” She explains they are trying to keep the mosquitos out but nothing would keep them away; which is also like the Natives fighting to keep their land, but could not win. “They break through the smoke screen for blood” is describing the Whites getting in and killing many people. Similarly, in Sherman Alexie 's poem, he states “Cain lifts Crow, that heavy black bird and strikes down Abel. Damn, says Crow, I guess this is just the beginning” (Alexie 1). He is also using a metaphor for the struggle the Native American people barred. The Crow represents the Natives and the Falcon represents the White people. This is also a metaphor for the white people fighting and killing the Native Americans and the Natives realized the fight was not going to end anytime soon. Erdrich also says “...Only the arrows whining, a death-cloud of nerves swarming down on the settlers who die beautifully...” (Erdrich 3). This part of the poem is about the literal fight
Erdrich's Westward Expansion
69 Words | 1 PagesI believe Erdrich book moves away from stereotypes and describes nineteenth-century Native Americans as individuals with rich traditions and customs. Erdrich is able to describe the Native American culture during the Westward Expansion of the United States in a realistic and sympathetic way through the eyes of an Ojibwa Indian girl. She also personalizes this story with her own drawings as a testimony of her Native American family roots.
Supernatural In Louise Erdrich's Advice To Myself
1186 Words | 5 PagesShe also attended a Catholic school in Wahpeton. As a storyteller, her own past tells the story of her journey to being a famous writer. Erdrich focuses a lot on multiculturalism that includes conflicting religious beliefs. American novelist and poet, Louise Erdrich utilizes her life experiences and ideas to show her thoughts on feminism, multiculturalism and the supernatural within her writings.
Overcoming Obstacles In Sherman Alexie's Life
571 Words | 3 PagesDespite the negative stereotype of American Indians, the objections and disapproval of fellow Natives, and the criticism of others, Sherman Alexie went on to become a successful writer that has inspired many. Alexie overcame many obstacles that would have deterred him from his goal, but he was able to remain steadfast and continue on in his pursuit of writing. As a result, he has published many literary works that include several short stories, poems, and a variety of novels. He allows his culture to seep into his writing, and continues to inspire young American Indians who also desire the path of knowledge.
Native-American Themes In The Red Convertible By Louise Erdrich
682 Words | 3 PagesThe author of The Red Convertible Louise Erdrich was born in Little Falls, Minnesota in 1954. As the daughter of a Chippewa Indian mother and a German-American father, Erdrich explores Native-American themes in her works, with major characters representing both sides of her heritage. In an award-winning series of related novels and short stories, Erdrich has visited and re-visited the North Dakota lands where her ancestors met and mingled, representing Chippewa experience in the Anglo-American literary tradition. In addition to her numerous award-winning novels and short story collections, Erdrich has published three critically acclaimed collections of poetry, Jacklight (1984), Baptism of Desire (1989) and Original Fire: New and Selected Poems
Analysis Of Danez Smith's Dinosaurs In The Hood
1302 Words | 6 PagesSmith says there are no stereotypes of “chicken jokes” in his movie and no more familiar bullets in the hero. Perhaps the most uncommon motive in this movie is “nobody kills the black boy, and nobody kills the black boy and nobody kills the black boy” (Smith, Dinosaurs in the Hood, 32). The repetition of this strong phrase and the poet’s insufficient punctuation creates an energy of passion that speeds up so the reader feels the intensity of the message being portrayed. Lastly, Smith ended this poem by recalling the only reason he wanted to make this movie was for the beginning scene anyway. A young African American boy not bound by stereotypes and whispered worries of who he will be, endless possibilities sparkle in his eyes.
Racism In Sherman Alexie's Lone Ranger And Tonto Fistfight In Heaven?
750 Words | 3 PagesOnce European men stepped foot onto what is now known as North America, the lives of the Native Americans were forever changed. The Indians suffered centuries of torment and ridicule from the settlers in America. Despite the reservations made for the Natives, there are still cultural issues occurring within America. In Sherman Alexie’s, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, the tragic lives of Native Americans in modern society are depicted in a collection of short stories taking place in the Spokane Reservation in Washington state. Throughout the collection, a prominent and reoccurring melancholic theme of racism against Native Americans and their struggle to cope with such behavior from their counterpart in this modern day and age is shown.
Gloria Bird Short Story
618 Words | 3 PagesGloria Bird VS Sherman Alexie Gloria Bird’s Turtle Lake and Sherman Alexie’s The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” are two stories written by Native American authors. When reading these two stories, one would not make any type of connection between them. Both are unique in their own way, but if he or she looks a little closer the similarities and differences become clear. To begin, both of the stories are distinct in their own way.
Sherman Alexie's Influence On Education
522 Words | 3 PagesThe first time one is able to comprehend the meaning of a word is a momentous childhood moment that is forever engraved in one’s memory. Books and reading are significantly impactful to people’s lives; Mark Twain said that, “books are for people who wish they were somewhere else.” This statement is apropo for Sherman Alexie, who was a Native American living on a reservation during the time he learned to read. Sherman Alexie convinces his audience that an education is crucial to being successful by using personal anecdotes to captivate and create a connection with his audience and repetition to reiterate the importance of having an education. Alexie's use of personal anecdotes fortifies the impact he has on his audience.
Class Sherman Alexie Analysis
1423 Words | 6 Pages“Class” by Sherman Alexie is a story about a man, Edgar Joseph, on a journey to self-identification. While on this journey he experiences many different tribulations and encounters a multitude of women. The encounters with these women will reveal to the reader his selfless, barbaric, and lost personality. However, the experiences he had with women of his own descent provided a transformative experience that shows what he is looking for and what he truly values. Edgar’s selflessness can be seen through his mother.
Symbolism In The Red Convertible By Louise Erdrich
1024 Words | 5 PagesLouise Erdrich, author of “The Red Convertible,” is the daughter of a German-American father and a Chippewa Indian mother. They were both employed at the Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school and from an early age, Louise was encouraged by her father to write stories. She says that “my father used to give me a nickel for every story I wrote” (Madden 241). After years of writing, Louise received the National Book Award for Fiction in 2012 for her novel “The Round House.” “The Red Convertible” follows the brotherhood of Lyman Lamartine and Henry Junior and illustrates the symbolization of the red convertible.
What Is The Main Idea Of Superman And Me By Sherman Alexie
461 Words | 2 PagesThey wanted me to stay quiet when the non-Indian teacher asked for answers, for volunteers, for help.” Since Alexie’s dad gave him that first step with his love of books, he wanted him and others to learn. To Sherman, ignorance was death. He wanted to save them and prove to them that Indians can be smart; he wanted him to not listen to the others and believe, as he did that, they are smart, they are arrogant, and they are lucky. This is what the story is about and why the quote is so
Bad Indians By Deborah Miranda Summary
1007 Words | 5 PagesThroughout history, there have been many literary studies that focused on the culture and traditions of Native Americans. Native writers have worked painstakingly on tribal histories, and their works have made us realize that we have not learned the full story of the Native American tribes. Deborah Miranda has written a collective tribal memoir, “Bad Indians”, drawing on ancestral memory that revealed aspects of an indigenous worldview and contributed to update our understanding of the mission system, settler colonialism and histories of American Indians about how they underwent cruel violence and exploitation. Her memoir successfully addressed past grievances of colonialism and also recognized and honored indigenous knowledge and identity.
Comparing Sherman Alexie's Life And Work
161 Words | 1 PagesSherman Alexie, a Spokane Indian boy who taught himself to read by the age of three, grew up being ridiculed for his reading passion. However, since then, he has published numerous books and earned numerous awards, including the World Heavyweight Poetry Bout title in 1998. Alexie was raised with poor/middle-class standards, but was always surrounded by books, his father purchase. Alexie never let the stereotype of Indians slow him down, and refused to fail because he knew he smart, arrogant and lucky. He read every time he had an opportunity including: late at night, during recess, at lunch, after finishing class assignments, and while traveling to powwows or basketball games.
Comparing The Lone Ranger And Tonto Fistfight In Heaven
571 Words | 3 PagesWriter Sherman Alexie has a knack of intertwining his own problematic biographical experience with his unique stories and no more than “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” demonstrates that. Alexie laced a story about an Indian man living in Spokane who reflects back on his struggles in life from a previous relationship, alcoholism, racism and even the isolation he’s dealt with by living off the reservation. Alexie has the ability to use symbolism throughout his tale by associating the title’s infamy of two different ethnic characters and interlinking it with the narrator experience between trying to fit into a more society apart from his own cultural background. However, within the words themselves, Alexie has created themes that surround despair around his character however he illuminates on resilience and alcoholism throughout this tale.
In Paula Gunn Allen's Essay 'Where I Came From Is Like This'
1012 Words | 5 PagesIn all the different tribes, none of the women are seen as less than the men, however in European culture at the time, the women were seen as weak and lesser beings. Gunn Allen tackles this issue using ethos logos and pathos by appealing to the readers through logic, emotion and her personal experiences. With Ethos Gunn Allen makes herself a credible source by mentioning that she is a “half breed American Indian woman. ”(83) making her story worth paying attention to rather than if it were a story by an outsider who truly has nothing to do with the American Indian women.
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