Monday, February 24, 2014

Essay Assignment for Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

Write an essay on why and how Junior/Arnold is able to swim. Baldwin writes, " If you cannot articulate what is around you and inside of you, you will be submerged by it."  How is it that Junior/Arnold is not submerged? What is it about this boy that his experiences and circumstances don't drown him?

1250-1500 words
double spaced
proper citations

On Wed Feb  26 bring your theory and the scenes you want to analyze.

On Wed March 5, final essay due, post on blog and bring hard copy to class.

As one of your pieces of evidence, you have to use at least one cartoon.


Tree Scene brainstorm


  • he always finds hope whether in the present or the past
  • In full knowledge he does something risky, but worth it--connected to moving to Reardan, 
  • consumed with grief, but memory of climbing tree he accomplished something which helps him frame his experience at Reardan
  • If the rez thinks like what Jr. thinks they have the possibility of beauty like he and Rowdy see from the tree.
  • Wants to see everything from a different perspective
    • Willing oneself to see from a diff perspective is scary, involves fear but it is good, because it causes you to overcome yourself, your own little self that you went to bed with the night before
    • this is a question of courage, and how to muster courage not to be less than I could be 
    • have to be mature and have to trust yourself, trust that things will work out in the sense of being optimistic, trusts in the underlying beauty of the Spokane community; trusts his intuition--he has a feeling that he can continue going up and climbing the tree;  even in the face of risk,
    • what comes from this is a sense of appreciation
  • moved to the 5 dollar bill 
    • he is aware of the possible consequences that would come from lashing out
    • jupiter and earth he can hold multiple perspectives
    • sad, funny and touching; he is trying to stay positive
    • in tune: money smelled like fear and failure and booze--he understands his dad's life while he knows he doesn't want to be that
  • grandma's tolerance helps him not hate his father--the grandma was like the top of the tree



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