The Last Class Before the Midterm

The homework for next week is to study for the midterm.  Take a look at the midterm guide on this blog as well as at the sample midterm.  We are following the same format for this test.  Let me know if you have questions.

I also handed out copies of the assignment sheet for the paper on fiction.  Perhaps your paper will be on one of these questions.

We watched part of Bill Moyers' (relatively) recent interview with Sherman Alexie:  https://montgomerycollege.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=16705&xtid=53456  The segments we watched were "Living In Between Cultures," "Alien in Your Birthplace," "Tribalism," and "Alexie Reads 'Tribal Music.'"

Compare and contrast this interview with Moyers' earlier interview with Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris.  What light do these interviews shed on Native American culture and writing for you?  What light do they shed on Erdrich and Alexie's work?  Consider that Alexie is almost twenty years younger than Erdrich, so he is from a different generation.

How does Alexie depict the reservation in his two stories?  Consider how Erdrich depicts it in "The Red Convertible."

Why does the narrator in "The Lone Ranger..." leave the reservation?

Why does "The Lone Ranger..." jump around in time?  How does that affect you as a reader?

What do you make of the ending of "What It Means..."?  of "The Lone Ranger..."?

How does Alexie's "black and white" thinking affect the stories of his that we've read?

Apply the concepts of "living in between cultures," "alien in your birthplace," and "tribalism" to "Everyday Use" and/or "The House on Mango Street."  Consider that these stories are not about Native Americans.

Choose one story that we've read so far.  Which theme does it appear to illustrate?

Choose one story that we've read so far.  Discuss the impact of the narration whether it is first person or third person, whether it is naive, reliable, or unreliable, whether it is omniscient, limited, or objective.  If it is in third person, is there a center of consciousness?

Choose one story that is in first person and another story that is in third person.  Consider the pros and cons of each method.  How does each method shed light on the story's events and on character?  How does each method allow the writer to develop his/her theme?  How does each method affect you as a reader?

After our discussion, do you believe that the mother in "Everyday Use" is a reliable narrator?  Why?  Why not?

How did it help you to look at Dee and Maggie's perspective as well?