The Absolutely True Diary of a Part - Time Indian
By Sherman Alexie
The Black-eye-of-the-Month Club:
1. Why is Junior a member of 'the Black-eye-of-the-Month Club'?
Junior is introduced as having "water on the brain", he describes himself as if he "looked like a capital L walking down the road". Junior insinuates that he is very different. So different that others despise him and bully him. Junior states that he gets called a "retard twice a day", he is different to others, that is why he "gets bullied". Junior is part of "The Black-eye-of-the-Month Club" because he constantly and regularly receives 'Black eyes' from fellow peers.
2. Why does Junior draw cartoons? What do the first two cartoons depict?
Junior draws cartoons to use them as an escape from reality. He finds that he can use cartoons to express his emotions and feelings.He says "Words are too limited" and that "Pictures can be understood by anyone". This depicts that Junior uses pictures as a way to express his true self and the sense of humour and lifestyle he hides from the world. Cartoons is Junior's way of dealing with conflict in his life.
3. Describe the style of writing in the first chapter.
The story is told from the point of view (POV) of Junior's diary entries, this is first person perspective. His stories that have been scribed in to a personal book for Junior to share his stories. Junior writes as if he is talking to an audience, as if he is telling the story knowing someone is reading his diary. Phrases such as "You'd be wondering why you're reading a story written by such a retard" depict his understanding of the reader and fuses his humour in to the writing style of which the book is shared.
Why Chicken Means So Much to Me:
1. What does Junior identify as the worst thing about being poor?
He identifies that the predudice of most people would expect that the worst thing about being poor was food and hunger issues. Although Junior shares a story of which his "best non-human friend" Oscar began to get sick. Although this could easily be fixed by a trip to the Vet, Junior explains the fact that his family is too poor to save a true friend of Juniors. Junior describes the situation at hand and that his own father had to kill Oscar because "he is [was] suffering". He says "he deserves to be poor" and that "being poor sucks". "A bullet only costs two cents, and anyone can afford that". This depicts that Junior beleives that being poor can kill anyone and anything in a split-second.
2. 'And hey, in a weird way, being hungry makes food taste better.' What does this statement show us about Junior?
This shows that Junior attempts to see the lighter side if his life of poverty and that he values what he is given. He values everything more when there is less of it. This makes Junior value his gifts of food greater that ever before. "A good peice of chicken can make anyone beleive in the existance of God." This depicts that he is greatful for everything any anything he eats".
3. What happens to Oscar? What does this illustrate to the reader?
"My best friend Oscar got really sick." Junior tells that "At first, i thought he just had heat exhuastion or something." Oscar began to get more sick as the days progressed and Junior began to worry. Junior stated to his mother "We have to take Oscar to the Vet." Although his Mother refused. Junior describes that his Mother knew Oscar was not "all right". Although his family could not afford to take Oscar to the Vet, they were too poor. This illustrates that these moments cause Junior to hate poverty and hate his life as an Indian.
4. How is poverty a cycle for Junior's family?
Junior says that "It's an ugly circle and there's nothing you can do about it." Junior describes the fact that it is not his parents fault that they are poor. He is poor because his parents parents are poor and so were their parents. He says its a cycle that makes himself beleive that it is his fault he is poor. It's "because you're stupid and ugly." Because "you're Indian" and because he is "destined to be poor".
5. Use five adjectives to decribe Junior's personality so far.
1 - Creative.
2 - Different.
3 - Poor.
4 - Hopeful.
5 - Persistant.
Revenge Is My Middle Name:
1. Describe Rowdy and Junior's relationship. What do they do for each other?
They both provide each other with something that they can not get from anywhere esle. Rowdy provides Junior with protection and a friendship of which includes sharing their feeling and their posessions like Junior's cartoons. "After Oscar died, I was so depressed that i thought about crawling into a hole and disappearing forever." This shows that Rowdy cares for Junior Vice Versa and they help eachother in times of need. Junior provides Rowdys with humour and entertainment within his drawings. "I like to make him laugh. He loves my cartoons." "He is... just like me". Junior and Rowdy can relate like no other, this is what makes their relationship so special and unique.
2. What is the Spokane Powwow?
The Spokane Powwow is a festival celebrated by all Spokane Indians. The festival includes lots of singing, continuous dancing and contant drinking. Junior does not like the Powwow strictly because of the drinking that occurs at the Festival every time.
3. What does Rowdy do to the Andruss brothers? Why? What does this demonstrate about his friendship with Junior?
Rowdy visits the Andruss brothers whilst they are sleeping on the night of Powwow. He shaves off their eyebrows and cuts off their braids. "That's the worst thing you can do to an Indian guy". Rowdy does this to protect Junior and his to make him feel better. When Rowdy does this Junior says he "loved him for doing that. I felt guilty for loving him for that. But revenge also feels pretty good." This shows that Junior becomes pleased after Rowdy's actions, Rowdy knows this and he does it for Junior. This shows how close Junior and Rowdy are and the extent of things that they would do to please each other and make each other happy.
Because Geometry Is Not a Country Somewhere Near France:
1. Describe Mr. P.
Mr. P is very forgetful, he "sometimes forgets to come to school!". Mr. P is an old, short and very bald man who teaches Junior's Geometry class. Mr. P is a "weird looking dude" although he cares deeply about the future of Junior and other bright Indians.
2. Why is Junior so cynical about White teachers?
Because Junior beleives that White teachers feel no remorse, no pity for Indians. He beleives that they teach because they get payed, he thinks they do not care about Indians and their education. That is why he expects the bad from White teachers.
3. What angers Junior about his Geometry book?
Junior finds out that the book he has been given from the teacher was owned by his "own Mother". This upsets Junior in such a way that he throws his book at Mr. P. Junior is so upset that his school are so poor that they can not even afford new school books. He is learning what his parents learned, he beleives this is why Indians are so un-educated.
Hope Against Hope:
1. Why does Junior throw his Geometry book? What does this signify?
Because he in enraged that he is not learning anything new, he beleives that the things he is learning are old and useless in the modern world. This signifys Junior's beleif in a fair world. That he beleives that just because he and his whole reservation are poor, does not mean that they are to slowly deterierate in the educated world, making others smarter, makeing Indians less educated... slowly making them poorer and poorer.
2. Why does Mr. P say the following? 'Every white person on this rez should get smashed in the face. But, let me tell you this. All the Indians should get smashed in the face, too'.
Because Mr. P beleives that Indians are not treated fairly compared to white people although he thinks that they should be smashed in the face as well because "The only thing you kids are being taught is how to give up". Mr. P thinks that Indians should be striving for there best but they are stopped by their own society and poverty. Mr. P beleives the case is different for Junior and tells him to continue looking for the best in himself possible.
3. What is Mr. P's advice to Junior? Why does he give him this advice?
To leave the reservation, to leave his home and his culture in search of a better future. "If you stay on this rez... they're going to kill you. I'm going to kill you. We're all going to kill you." Mr. P is sick of seeing Indians waste their future and their talents because they stay on the reservation, this is why he wants Junior to leave.
Go Means Go:
1. How do Junior's parents react to his decision to change schools? What does this show about them?
Junior's parents beleive that the best is possible in Junior "it was easy with them". They know that the only way to succeed was for Junior to go to Reardan. They care so dearly about Junior that they are risking to go on to a place where they know Junior will be taking a great risk in going to. They want the best for Junior and that is why they are so accepting of Junior changing his schools and possibly his future.
Rowdy Sings the Blues:
1. How are sporting resluts used to compare the two schools? Why is it significant that Rowdy performed well at most competitions?
The sporting scores show the difference in education and lifestyle from Reardan to Wellpinit. It shows just how Junior will succeed in life. He says "nobody wants to be a loser". Which only encourages him to leave his school, Rowdy and his reservation.
2. How does Rowdy react to Junior's decision to move schools? Why does he react in this way?
Rowdy cannot beleive the news that had been shared with him, he was shocked and in denial at first, he thinks it is a joke which is why he says "that's not funny". He reacts in such a way that he is furious, his best friend for several years had left him to live a better life. Rowdy thinks that "You [Junior] always thought you [he] was better than me [Rowdy]". That is why he puched Junior, not only did Junior's "heart broke [break] in to 14 pieces, the amount of years Rowdy and I [Junior] had been best friends." But so did Rowdy's.
3. How does Rowdy disguise his pain?
Rowdy uses his anger and frightening apperance to make him look tough instead of weak when he is really in a lot of pain.
How to Fight Monsters:
1. Why is Junior deemed to have betrayed his tribe?
Junior beleives he has betrayed his tribe because he has left like no one else has ever done before, he beleives he can interact with the Spokanian culture and White culture. This is deemed to be uneceptable on the reservation. This is why Junior beleives if he were to have "turned around an gone back to the rez school" he would have been "pummeled".
2. Describe the cartoon on page 57. What does this symbolise about Junior's insecurities?
The cartoon showsa comparison between a white boy and an Indian boy. The comparison only shows the posotives of the white boy and the negatives of the Indian boy. The cartoon shows how Junior imagines white people. He displays them as rich and nicely dressed people that have a future that will be better than his. This also displays his vision of himself and how he thinks of himself. His thoughts of his life, his disadvantages. He pictures himself as a lesser being compared to the white. He is insecure about his image compared the world.
3. How does the confusion over Junior's name demonstrate his change in culture?
Junior is used to the "rez school", where everything is less formal. Nick-names are created and used. It shows that at the white school of Reardan, people and their education is taken more seriously. His culture has changed from a poor school where not many people care about how you look, how you talk and what your name is on the 'rez'. It has now become a formal school where Junior's social and public image is taken more serious and provides a display of what that person is like. The confusion over Junior's name demonstrates the way Junior is treated further on.
4. How do the students react to Junior at Reardan?
Junior is treated the way he is because of the prejudice that occurs when he arrives. The white students recognise him as different and less educated which is why they originally ignored him. They then displayed hate and racism towards him, Junior was pictured as weak and stupid. He was continuously called names such as "Chief, Sitting bull, Tonto, Red-skin and Squaw boy", this desplays racism and prejudice towards Junior and the cartoon drawn on page 63 displays an image showing Junior as a small boy in the middle and the white people, bigger and tougher than Junior, crowding around him.
5. How could Junior have reacted to being called names?
Junior could have continued to ignore and pay no attention to the names and the people saying them, eventually they would have stopped although this would display an ongoing power within the white people and an increasing weakness within Junior. This could be a way he would have reacted although the image of Junior would only sink and deterierate in to something smaller than he was originally.
6. How does the fight illustrate the differences in social codes?
The fight illustrates that fighting in an environment such as the Spokane reservation is expected from everyone, their social code illustrates that fighting is a normal and natural thing between to people in their environment. Although in Reardan's social environment, fighting is seen as a thugs action. The students at Reardan see Junior as "an animal". Fighting is not seen as natural or nessasary, which is why all the students, Roger and his Gang were so suprised at Junior's choice of action to hit him.
7. 'Maybe i was telling the world i was no longer a moving target.' How is this a significant moment for Junior?
Junior discovers that he is not as weak or as small compared to others anymore. He seems to find a peice of submerged self confidence that is brought to him by his own nature to fight. He is now seen as tough because of the way he was brought up. To him fighting is natural, although to others Junior is seen as tough because on the 'rez' he was a weak boy, but because Reardan is not as tough and a more civilised area, Junior is now seen as the tough fighter.
Grandmother Gives Me Some Advice:
1. 'I realised how much of my self-worth, my sense of safety, was based on Rowdy's fists.' How does Junior learn to stand up for himself?
Junior's Grandmother tells him that the reason Roger acted so differently compared to other people was because Roger now respect Junior. "I think it means he respects you." Junior realises that he is a different person than who he was on the 'rez'. The guys at Reardan do not know anything about Junior, this he learns. And when he finds that he has created a tough image for himself, he begins to get a massive confidence boost. He learns that he is now respected and gets that by standing up for himself.
2. What is Junior's Grandmothers advice?
Junior's Grandmother explains that Junior has no need to be afriad, that Junior is now respected by Roger, she uses the analogy that "men and boys are like a pack of wild dogs". She explains that because Junior assaulted the 'Alpha Male', Junior is seen as the new tough dog. His Grandmother explains he has no need to worry of be afraid.
Tears of a Clown:
1. What does Junior's story about Dawn illustrate to the reader?
It shows that Junior has always been seen as weak to all on the 'rez' for many years. The story illustrates that Junior had always been trated badly as a boy and now has the opportunity to make a difference. The story also illustrates how hard Junior's social life has been because of his 'weak' personality and feelings towards others. e.g. Dawn.
Halloween:
1. How does Junior try to establish a connection with Penelope?
By lieing about Junior's true reasons for dressing as a homeless person. He attempts to make a connection with Penelope by sharing interests and opinions ("protesting the treatment of homeless people"). He feels that they can establish a connection by creating things that they have in common. Even if Junior lies about his intentions and interests. He does this to become closer to Penelope and have an impact of how she thinks of him.
2. How does trick or treating remind Junior of Rowdy?
After Junior is assaulted by some men in masks, he remembers how he used to trick or treat with Rowdy. Mainly Junior remembers how he would rely on Rowdy to protect him, and without him he is easily beaten up. This reminds Junior of Rowdy and the posotives Rowdy brought to Junior.
