Indian Education
In “Indian Education”, Alexie Sherman takes the reader on a journey through his childhood and how racial discrimination played as a major role in his education. In a farm-town elementary school, Sherman experiences mental and physical abuse by some of his white classmates and teachers that makes it harder for him to be successful. Sherman’s Indian friends take pride in their race and encourages him to fight back against the bullies, however this only lands him in more trouble. Sherman was also constantly stereotyped. In one example, he passes out at a school dance after he becomes overheated at a basketball game but it is assumed that he has been drinking instead. The teacher vociferously remarks, “I know all about these Indian kids. They start drinking real young.” Without much guidance from his family, as they are often distressed and using alcohol as an escape, Sherman graduates as valedictorian and holds many awards. By leaving his reservation, Sherman proves that even in the face of failure and uncertainty, a student can have a bright future.
1.) Explain how you think Alexie achieves a unique and original writer’s voice in his writing.
I believe that Sherman achieves a unique and original writer’s voice in his writing by channeling a relatable tone when he narrates his elementary school years. At the end of each paragraph, he summarizes with a lesson that he learned but in a simple, almost child like, explanation. For example, in second grade when Sherman is forced to “stand straight for fifteen minutes, eagle-armed with books in each hand” he realizes that “gravity can be painful”.
2.) Does Alexie use techniques of “defamiliarization” in the narrative? In the context (story) of Alexie’s narrative, what feels familiar? Unfamiliar?
Sherman uses techniques of familiarization in the narrative when he “hears the white girls’ forced vomiting, a sound so familiar and natural to me after years of listening to my father’s hangovers.” Similar to the bathroom noises, he utilizes the familiarity of self pity when he describes how on the reservation his family is served canned beef that “even dogs wouldn’t eat”.
3.) How does Alexie use language to either familiarize or defamiliarize his readers with certain circumstances of his youth? To what effect--what is he hoping to convey or achieve?
Sherman uses language to familiarize his readers to the harsh realities of racial discrimination with certain circumstances of his youth. In elementary school, Sherman was very outspoken, took on challenges and was unshameful of his race. I believe that Sherman is trying to convey the importance of perseverance and self-respect with this narrative.
1.) Explain how you think Alexie achieves a unique and original writer’s voice in his writing.
I believe that Sherman achieves a unique and original writer’s voice in his writing by channeling a relatable tone when he narrates his elementary school years. At the end of each paragraph, he summarizes with a lesson that he learned but in a simple, almost child like, explanation. For example, in second grade when Sherman is forced to “stand straight for fifteen minutes, eagle-armed with books in each hand” he realizes that “gravity can be painful”.
2.) Does Alexie use techniques of “defamiliarization” in the narrative? In the context (story) of Alexie’s narrative, what feels familiar? Unfamiliar?
Sherman uses techniques of familiarization in the narrative when he “hears the white girls’ forced vomiting, a sound so familiar and natural to me after years of listening to my father’s hangovers.” Similar to the bathroom noises, he utilizes the familiarity of self pity when he describes how on the reservation his family is served canned beef that “even dogs wouldn’t eat”.
3.) How does Alexie use language to either familiarize or defamiliarize his readers with certain circumstances of his youth? To what effect--what is he hoping to convey or achieve?
Sherman uses language to familiarize his readers to the harsh realities of racial discrimination with certain circumstances of his youth. In elementary school, Sherman was very outspoken, took on challenges and was unshameful of his race. I believe that Sherman is trying to convey the importance of perseverance and self-respect with this narrative.