Sherman Alexie references or alludes (allusion) to various key historical, fictional characters and events in his stories. Here are a few definitions/descriptions that may help you:
- HUD: Housing and urban development (department of the U.S. government).
- Drugs: Native Americans have a higher risk for alcoholism and drug use. Many Native American tribes used "drugs" like tobacco and peyote as medicine for spirit walks or to contact the "other" world. European settlers introduced Native Americans to alcohol--Native Americans introduced European settlers to tobacco.
- Jimi Hendrix: In the 60's, the hippies were interested in celebrating Native American culture. You can see that in their dress and anti-government protests. They often saw "Indians" as the original people before the government held power over the people. Jimi Hendrix was a guitar player/musician who attended Woodstock. Notice how he's dressed.
- Desert Storm was the name given to the Gulf War with Iraq in 1990.
- Crazy Horse: Sioux leader and military figure
- Lakota: one of the 500 tribes.
- Totem animals
- The Lone Ranger & Tonto & the meaning of the word: Kemosabe
- Powwow
- Vision Quest
HOMEWORK: Please complete the short story collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Write a 3-5 paragraph review of the book, particularly explaining what you learned about the art of short story writing from Sherman Alexie. Use specific examples from his stories to support your statements. This critique/review is due Dec. 1.
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