Preview

Diary Of A Part-Tame Indian Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1808 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Diary Of A Part-Tame Indian Analysis
All people are different and the characters in “The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-TIme Indian” demonstrate this. The main character Arnold “Junior” Spirit shows that even though you may be born in the same place and time as others you are different. This is the case with Junior and his best friend Rowdy, while they were born in the same town at the same time Junior’s drive to get more out of life set him apart from Rowdy. This was demonstrated by his push to change schools, his determination not to remain poor, and accepting the help of others around him. One of the biggest differences between Junior and Rowdy is their attitudes towards school. Junior wanted to leave his school at the reservation and transfer to Rearden. Going to the school in his reservation upset Junior. He showed his frustration by saying, “my school and my tribe are so poor and sad that we have to study from the same dang books our parents studied from” (Alexie, 31). Juniors school was poor and they couldn't afford to buy new resources. Wellpinit was poor and Junior didnt got angry …show more content…
P gave him advice to leave the reservation. Mr. P’s advice to Junior was to leave the Rez so he wont give up on hope. Soon as Juniors parents got home he asked his parents to transfer him to a different school. Then his parents started to name the schools that all the poor kids attended such as Springdale and Hunters, but Junior refused. Junior wanted to go to Rearden because it was one of the best small schools in the state, had a computer room, huge chemistry lab, two basketball gyms, and a drama club. But going Rearden made Junior feel like a Part-Time Indian. The reason he feels like an Part-Time Indian is because he felt like he belonged to two tribes. Junior felt like he had to play two different roles, when he is at his reservation he was Junior and when he went to Rearden he was known as Arnold. So he becomes a multi-tribal
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Vanishing Indian Summary
    • 386 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Vanishing Indian Summary

    The idea of “Vanishing Indian “was introduced by European settlers who arrived in North America. Both the ideas of “Vanishing Indian” and the “Indian Problem” became a part of creation of Canada after war of 1812. The settlers motive was to control and colonize First nation people as well as their lands. First Indians were disappearing due to mass epidemics, after that they were being pushed out of the territories and many first nation peoples were dying because of starvation and disease which ultimately decreased their population…

    • 386 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Arnold Spirit Analysis
    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Arnold Spirit Analysis

    In this section of the novel, Rowdy and Junior reconcile over a discussion on how most Native American’s are no longer nomadic as their ancestors used to be, and the only nomadic person on the entire reservation was Junior. Knowing that he and Rowdy would part ways someday or another, Junior started tearing up. Rowdy tells him to stop crying and throws him a basket ball, and the two play until the sun sets. This illustrates the emotional side of Junior by showing that he often can’t control his feelings and emotions. Junior realizes himself that he can get emotional at times, and this can be seen on page (FILL IN THE PAGE WHEN YOU HAVE THE BOOK), where he says,” And that made me cry. Man, I’ve always cried too easily. I cry when I’m happy or sad. I cry when I’m angry. I cry because I’m crying. It’s weak. It’s the opposite of warrior”. The…

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Part Time Indian Conflicts
    • 135 Words
    • 1 Page

    Part Time Indian Conflicts

    The major reason for the conflict in his family is Rowdy’s father. His father was a violent alcoholic who beats his wife and son. The only thing Rowdy and his father have in common is the violent personality. Which was passed down from father to son. Rowdy would fight with everybody boys and girls. He punches everything or everybody who is on his way.…

    • 135 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Diary of a Part-Time Indian Essay
    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Diary of a Part-Time Indian Essay

    “The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian” (PTI) is a novel written by Sherman Alexie. The novel follows a Native-American teenage boy named Arnold who lives on a reservation that has to suffer through the troubles of being the only Indian teenager in an all white school at Reardan. The challenges that confronted him when he started at Reardan seemed menacing, but through his personal spirit and courage he was able to achieve success at the school. Some of Arnold’s successes include his triumph in the Varsity basketball team as their “secret weapon”, his academic efforts and his charismatic persona which helped him blend into the all white school.…

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Different Perspective On People From The Reservation By Sherman Alexie
    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Different Perspective On People From The Reservation By Sherman Alexie

    When reflecting our ancestors’ history or our current conflicts, the majority of the conflicts occur due to the different perspective of race, religion, and culture. In the novel, Mr. Dodge denies Junior’s knowledge about Petrified Wood because Junior was an “Indian” from the Reservation. To eagerly be correct, Mr. Dodge sarcastically mentions how "there’s so much amazing science on the reservation” (Alexie 85). By using a mixture of sarcastic tone and a rhetorical question, Alexie shows Mr. Dodge’s perspective on people from the Reservation (Indians) and how they are less educated in the field of Science than Rearden. Furthermore, different perspectives of race are shown when Roger says to Junior “Did you know that Indians are living proof…

    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Indian Rez
    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Indian Rez

    In Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, one of the major players in Junior/Arnold Spirit's life is the Rez. The Rez affects JUnior so much as a person and how he sees the world. The difference between Reardan and The Rez really changes Junior as a person because he begins to see how the rez keeps people down and how it can affect his life badly.…

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rearden-Personal Narrative
    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Rearden-Personal Narrative

    Nobody thought that it would be possible for an Indian to bring back a victory for Rearden, one of the many all white schools. Junior decided to transfer to Rearden and this decision turned many heads. Most of the Indians in the Reservation were extremely dishonoured by his choice and decided to seclude him from their community. Not only did he lose his community but, he also lost his only best friend Rowdy. Despite all that, Junior knew that it was best for him to leave all of this behind so that he can have a better future. Fighting through the verbal abuse that he faced at Rearden he decided to showcase his skills after joining their varsity basketball team. He travelled back to his hometown of Wellpinit to play his first game of the season…

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    We Beat Wellpinit Analysis
    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages

    We Beat Wellpinit Analysis

    First, the development of knowledge of a collective identity based exclusively on Reardan fosters Junior’s sense of insight of unity and purpose. As seen when Junior states, “We beat Wellpinit by forty points. Absolutely destroyed them.” (194) Junior identifies himself as a student who attends Reardan, who plays on the basketball team and not as a hopeless child on the reservation with the declaration of “we”. Junior’s insight of purpose was to defeat a part of himself (Wellpinit) in order to hope (Reardan). The loss of individual…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A Part Time Indian Analysis
    • 339 Words
    • 2 Pages

    A Part Time Indian Analysis

    How do people survive poverty? In the book A Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie you can find out how one teenage boy named Junior survives it. In the book Junior lives on a Rez. As you read you see Junior display integrity, asperation, and perseverance in the face of poverty.…

    • 339 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Part Time Indian Hero
    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Part Time Indian Hero

    He is very sentimental and sensitive. He is afraid of being by himself in a new world. Not having Rowdy in Reardon High School, makes it a little bit harder for Junior because people will make fun of him and could also hurt him. On page 54 Junior says, “I’m scared dad.” Dad replied, “You can always go back to the Rez School.” Junior does not want to go back to the Rez School because he could get hurt and he also won’t be able to get a good education. Junior already made the decision of going to a different school and he was not going to give it up just because he was scared. Junior has conquered some of his weakness. An example in which show us that Junior has overcome one of his fears is when Roger made a racist comment about Indians. He said, “Did you know that Indians are living proof that niggers fuck buffalo?” Junior punched Roger in the face and then challenged him to fight but instead Roger walked away from Junior. This is a big achievement for Junior because this time he didn’t have to depend on Rowdy to help him out. Little by little, Junior is defeating his…

    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Part Time Indian Book Should Be Banned Essay
    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Part Time Indian Book Should Be Banned Essay

    The books gets violent when Junior’s friend Rowdy punches him in the face. Junior is punched in the…

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Part Time Indian
    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Part Time Indian

    When Junior decides to attend Rearden, he becomes two people-the “Indian” Junior and the “white” Arnold. However, in the end of the book, his two personalities come back to one, and life for Junior is how it should be. Junior has Rowdy again, Arnold needs not to lie to his Rearden friends, and Junior can finally find hope. So sometimes, the risks are worth the gain, and the gain is worth the risks. You only have one life, so you might as well be happy with…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Everyone Outside The Reservation Essay
    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Everyone Outside The Reservation Essay

    To begin on Juniors reservation there are many alcohol related incidents that lead to death on the reservation. Juniors sister left the reservation to make her life as if t were a Romantic Novel.Miss Warren explains. “Arnold. I'm sorry”. She said. “But I just got a phone call from your mother. Its your sister. She's past away” (Page 201). Later on in the story you find out the cause of her death was alcohol (Page 205). This proves and goes to show that not everything isn't all it's perceived to be and that nobody is guaranteed another day. Juniors grandmother was a kind old lady till she met her end returning home. Junior explains,” In fact last week, she was walking back home from mini spokane tribal community center, when she was struck and…

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian
    • 1506 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian

    Junior clearly states that deaths are common on the rez, but that doesn’t mean they are easy to deal with. Junior loved his grandma dearly, but sadly her life took a turn for the worse. He explains, “In fact, last week she was walking back home from a mini powwow at the Spokane Tribal Community Center, when she was struck and killed by a drunk driver” (157). It took Junior a little while to wrap his head around this tragic event, but he adds that even when she has passed she is a better person than any of them. Although his grandma’s death was unexpected, Junior didn’t show any signs of depression and stayed optimistic throughout the whole process. Although it’s not surprising for Indians to die on the rez, it isn’t as common for those outside the rez, like at Rearden. Junior states, “I’m fourteen years old and I’ve been to forty-two funerals. That’s really the biggest difference between Indians and white people” (199). Deaths are something that Junior has to endure, but it doesn’t get easier going to funeral after funeral. He never intentionally feels sorry for himself, and he uses sarcasm to lighten the mood on dark situations like this one. Ultimately, this is how Junior stays optimistic during times of struggle, like death. Junior has lost many loved ones in his life, and his sister is included. She was someone…

    • 1506 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Part-Time Indian
    • 886 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Part-Time Indian

    Junior decides to leave his old school, Wellpinit, and transfer to Reardan halfway through his freshman year of high school. His old school is located on the reservation or “rez” as Junior abbreviates it, and the majority of the students are Native American. At his new school, Reardan, the students are predominantly “white” causing Junior to face many predicaments. For one, the rez is “twenty-two miles to Reardan” (54), which is another conflict from Juniors past, which then leads for Junior and his family. His family lives an average life for an Indian family living on the rez, but driving their son 22 miles to school is very expensive. “Getting to school was always an adventure”(87), as most days he would have to walk. But a great deal of the time “somebody was usually heading back to the rez, so I’d usually catch a ride.”(87) Reardan is further away in more ways than one. It was very different from everything Junior was used to, including the people. “Reardan was the opposite of the rez. It was the opposite of my family. It was the opposite of me.” (57) Junior is an outcast, both in school and out of school, and he does everything he can to make himself fit in. “We were poor enough to get free lunch, but I didn’t want to be the only Indian and a sad sack who needed charity”(55) He was constantly looking for ways to become a “part-time white kid” at Reardan, but knew he would always be a “part-time…

    • 886 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics