Sherman Alexie

a story about the journey of two Native Americans, Victor and Thomas, to Phoenix, Arizona to pick up the ashes of Victor’s deceased father. As they embark on their journey the relationship between the two men gets closer. In this short story Sherman Alexie uses third person omniscient to allow the reader to see multiple perspectives to demonstrate the theme of taking care of each other. Throughout the story the speaker shifts from the present to the past to give background information on…

After a loved one has passed, many try to find the piece of them that is missing. In the short story "What You Pawn I Will Redeem" by Sherman Alexie, Jackson Jackson attempts to earn over nine hundred dollars to "win" back the regalia from his grandmother at the pawn shop. Unfortunately the one day he has to earn the money for the regalia, he only comes back with five dollars, the amount he originally began with. Superficial readers would believe that Jackson goes on the journey to only win the…

Sherman Alexie’s, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian” is the account of Arnold Spirit, also known as Junior. Junior is the novel’s narrator and while he is witty and seemingly proud of his heritage in the beginning of the story, it appears the point of the novel is to show us Junior’s transformation. He begins life on the reservation, attending school in Wellpinit, Washington. Eventually, he transfers to an all-white high school twenty-two miles from the reservation in Reardan,…

What is your best accomplishment? In Sherman Alexie’s story “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” Jackson is the main character in this story who is static and the protagonist. The story is in first-person because it comes from his point of view. Jackson strives to overcome his alcoholism to achieve his goal. He comes across people with similar difficulties and learns how they have given up their goals which encourages him to pursue his. Jackson is a sympathetic character who struggles with an internal…

their capability to express themselves, and give them inspiration in a way that other means cannot. In stories, such as Jeanne-Marie Leprice de Beaumont’s version of “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie, inspire a main theme about finding one’s own fate and identity that is shaped by their poverty, family, and departure that is certain to give inspiration to children to learn and find their own purpose…

Walking in Multiple Worlds On page 57 of “The Absolutely True Diary of A Part Time Indian, “ by Sherman Alexie, Arnold draws a comic expressing how he feels, “white” and “Indian” depending on where he is and how he acts. Like Arnold, I often feel as if I am part of different “tribes”, or groups, depending on the circumstances I am in. Arnold felt most associated with the groups, “white” and “Indian”. I feel most associated with the tribes “obedient daughter”, “good student” and “rebellious…

A single action about one homework assignment does not define me as a bad student. In the novel Flight, by Sherman Alexie, he uses the characters Zits, Jimmy, and Zits’ father to convey the message that actions do not define people. Alexie uses Zits to convey the message that actions don't define people. When Zits is put in jail for pushing his foster mom and later shoots up a bank, Alexie is not making us conclude that Zits is a bad person. These actions do not define Zits. “They keep…

Our traditions shape our identity as a person, but we can also break away from our customs to create our own identity. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is about a high school student named Arnold who leaves his life on the reservation in attempts to find success. He struggles with finding his identity in this new environment. Arnold sees himself as having two different halves, Junior the outcast from the reservation and Arnold from the white high-school at…

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman is an anecdotal novel that was both clever and diverting. The fundamental character, Arnold Spirit Jr, is an Indian kid experiencing the delayed consequences of Hydrocephalus. He lives on a destitution stricken Indian hold, home to drunks, addicts and abusers. Because of his therapeutic conditions he experiences various physical disfigurements that make him a prime focus for badgering. In any case, those are the slightest of his issues.…

Sherman Alexie was born on October 7, 1966 on the Spokane reservation in Willpinit, Washington. He is the author of several novels that have won him various awards. He is a director, a performer and screenwriter. Indian killer was Sherman’s second novel and was published in 1996. Alexie lives with his wife and son in Seattle Washington. Indian Killer is the story of John Smith, a twenty seven year old Native American man who at birth, was adopted by a white couple. Smith’s obvious mental illness…