Receiving Help
Sherman Alexie's poem, "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona," uses flashbacks, sensory description, dialogue, and other literary tools to illustrate the importance of reunion. In the story, Alexie demonstrates how the news of the death of Victor's father affected him. He says that even though he has not seen his father in years, “there was still a genetic pain, which was as real and immediate as a broken bone,” (Alexie 11). Victor’s father had died and now Victor has to travel to Phoenix, Arizona to recover his father's ashes, money, and his old pickup truck. Victor is joined by his childhood friend " Thomas Builds-the-fire", who finances the trip to Phoenix since Victor did not have the funds. They drove back …show more content…
Victor and Thomas both distributed the ashes of Victor's father. Thomas smiled after Victor handed him half of the ashes. Thomas closed his eyes and, told this story:" I'm going to travel to Spokane falls one last time and toss these ashes into the water. And your father will rise like a salmon, leap over the bridge...and find his way home"( Alexie 26). The reason why Thomas wanted to do that with his half of the ashes is because that was the place where Victor's father helped him with his dream. Dialogue is also used when Thomas tells Victor to listen to him just once. "Just one time when I'm telling a story somewhere, why don't you stop and listen?"(Alexie 27). Thomas always wants to tell stories to Victor, but he never wants to listen to them. Another example of dialogue that the author uses is when Victor and Thomas are driving back to the reservation. As they were driving through Nevada they notice there were no animals. Then suddenly saw the first animal which was a long-eared jackrabbit. "I can't believe this," Thomas said. You drive for a thousand miles...I drive for ten seconds and kill the only thing in Nevada" (Alexie 24). With this quotation Thomas Builds-The-Fire and Victor are having a conversation on why it is a better idea that Victor should be the one that continues to drive all the way to the reservation.
Throughout the whole story of " This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" Alexie continues to use many other literary tools that relate to the theme "the importance of reunion." The above listed literary tools which are flashbacks, sensory description, and dialogue are examples on how they are used to illustrate the theme and how each one connects to it, to have a better understanding. The author allows Victor and Thomas Builds-The-Fire to reconnected
Sherman Alexie's poem, "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona," uses flashbacks, sensory description, dialogue, and other literary tools to illustrate the importance of reunion. In the story, Alexie demonstrates how the news of the death of Victor's father affected him. He says that even though he has not seen his father in years, “there was still a genetic pain, which was as real and immediate as a broken bone,” (Alexie 11). Victor’s father had died and now Victor has to travel to Phoenix, Arizona to recover his father's ashes, money, and his old pickup truck. Victor is joined by his childhood friend " Thomas Builds-the-fire", who finances the trip to Phoenix since Victor did not have the funds. They drove back …show more content…
Victor and Thomas both distributed the ashes of Victor's father. Thomas smiled after Victor handed him half of the ashes. Thomas closed his eyes and, told this story:" I'm going to travel to Spokane falls one last time and toss these ashes into the water. And your father will rise like a salmon, leap over the bridge...and find his way home"( Alexie 26). The reason why Thomas wanted to do that with his half of the ashes is because that was the place where Victor's father helped him with his dream. Dialogue is also used when Thomas tells Victor to listen to him just once. "Just one time when I'm telling a story somewhere, why don't you stop and listen?"(Alexie 27). Thomas always wants to tell stories to Victor, but he never wants to listen to them. Another example of dialogue that the author uses is when Victor and Thomas are driving back to the reservation. As they were driving through Nevada they notice there were no animals. Then suddenly saw the first animal which was a long-eared jackrabbit. "I can't believe this," Thomas said. You drive for a thousand miles...I drive for ten seconds and kill the only thing in Nevada" (Alexie 24). With this quotation Thomas Builds-The-Fire and Victor are having a conversation on why it is a better idea that Victor should be the one that continues to drive all the way to the reservation.
Throughout the whole story of " This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" Alexie continues to use many other literary tools that relate to the theme "the importance of reunion." The above listed literary tools which are flashbacks, sensory description, and dialogue are examples on how they are used to illustrate the theme and how each one connects to it, to have a better understanding. The author allows Victor and Thomas Builds-The-Fire to reconnected