In Sherman Alexie’s “The Approximate Size of my Favorite Tumour”, the author uses humour to illustrate allusions of stereotypes in regards to the Indigenous people, based on ideology in North American society. Alexie uses metaphoric imagery to connect the main character coming to terms with his cancer diagnosis, and to magnify how behaviours caused by stereotypes can be detrimental to a person’s self-worth or identity. The story is told in first person narrative, which is being expressed by the main character, Jimmy Many Horses. Throughout the story, the characters all correspond to the main idea that, essentially, racism is a disease, and when it is spread can cause toxic side effects. This notion is exemplified using figures of speech to
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A prime example of metaphoric language with imagery in the story is, “she pushed me aside, adjusted her dreams, pulled on her braids for a jumpstart, and walked out the door.” [Page 203-204]. This line explains, not only the loss Norma feels when she knows she is going to lose Jimmy, but what all the Indigenous people feel on a daily basis losing their freedom, land and dignity. Another form of figurative language that has more than one meaning due to the allusionary aspects, is in the form of a simile, “I wanted to hang my head like a dog, let my braids flap like a tongue in the wind, but good manners prevented me from taking the liberty. Still, it was so tempting. Always was.” [Page 204]. This line exemplifies the notion that being numb to reality is better than to live under his circumstances, but his pride keeps him strong enough to hold his head high. He compares himself to a dog, because a dog’s life is easier and stress free. Lastly, a synecdoche helps to not only resemble race, but to show Jimmy as a whole about how he feels as a Native American with his direction in life “As I stood on the highway, with my big, brown, and beautiful thumb showing me the way.” [Page
A prime example of metaphoric language with imagery in the story is, “she pushed me aside, adjusted her dreams, pulled on her braids for a jumpstart, and walked out the door.” [Page 203-204]. This line explains, not only the loss Norma feels when she knows she is going to lose Jimmy, but what all the Indigenous people feel on a daily basis losing their freedom, land and dignity. Another form of figurative language that has more than one meaning due to the allusionary aspects, is in the form of a simile, “I wanted to hang my head like a dog, let my braids flap like a tongue in the wind, but good manners prevented me from taking the liberty. Still, it was so tempting. Always was.” [Page 204]. This line exemplifies the notion that being numb to reality is better than to live under his circumstances, but his pride keeps him strong enough to hold his head high. He compares himself to a dog, because a dog’s life is easier and stress free. Lastly, a synecdoche helps to not only resemble race, but to show Jimmy as a whole about how he feels as a Native American with his direction in life “As I stood on the highway, with my big, brown, and beautiful thumb showing me the way.” [Page