There are few fundamental skills in life that are of greater importance than the ability to read and understand the written word. It can take a person of any background as far as they can dream. This is truly evident in the essay‚ “Superman and Me”‚ by Sherman Alexie which tells of the author’s struggle growing up poor on a Native American reservation in Washington State. From a young age‚ his literacy became Alexie’s saving grace‚ thanks to his father who inspired him to begin reading. This
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Sherman Alexie’s “Superman and Me” Sherman Alexie’s “Superman and Me” (pg. 27) is in the genre of auto-biography. The main ideas of this story are Sherman Alexie’s experience of learning to read‚ the power of words‚ Sherman Alexie’s experience overcoming diversity and his path to success. The story begins with him teaching himself to read using a Superman comic book. He could not read the words but‚ used his imagination to create a dialogue he believed went along with the pictures
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Sherman Alexie Reading RR #1 As and Indian Sherman Alexie‚ from eastern Washington‚ expresses how he uses reading as a way to “save his life”. In his short story “Superman and Me”‚ Alexie tells us how he uses his reading to teach himself to write. He then goes on to inspire other young Indians. This young man from the Spokane Indian Reservation shows us that no matter where we come from we are able to go above and beyond. Alexie came from a middle class family. He states that one of his parents
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In the essay “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me‚” Sherman Alexie credits learning to read a Superman comic book with saving his life. As an Indian boy growing up on a reservation in Spokane‚ Washington‚ where being uneducated was not the exception but the rule‚ Alexie was given few opportunities to succeed. The Superman comic book was the book he taught himself to read with‚ which in turn saved him from going down a path that lead to a the life of inferiority and failure. Learning to
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From “Superman and Me” by Alexie 2. In what ways does the description of Sherman Alexie’s father play against the stereotype? Alexie’s father plays a part against the stereotype of Indians because he was “one of the few Indians who went to Catholic school on purpose” (Alexie 110). The stereotype was that all Indians were dumb and incapable of learning‚ but Alexie’s dad stood out of the crowd. Alexei’s father loved reading and loved to learn which put him out of the loop of the stereotype. From “School”
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Sherman Alexie is a Native American writer‚ best known for his works “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven‚” Smoke Signals‚ “What You Pawn‚” and “Indian Education.” In every story Alexie’s style is recognizable‚ making his works incredibly unique to his culture. Within his writings‚ his imagery is beyond belief‚ his description of “He’s got those great big cheekbones that are like planets‚ you know‚ with little moons orbiting them‚” (What You Pawn‚ 1) gives you a picture of Junior. Alexie
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literature. Each of them has added to a growing genre that explores what it’s like to move to this country in pursuit of the ever-elusive “American Dream.” Sherman Alexie is one such writer. However‚ his theme is not one of searching for the “American Dream.” His theme addresses what happens when the “American Dream” lands on you. Sherman Alexie is Native American‚ and his stories expose one of America’s dirty little secrets. In the paragraphs that follow‚ I will review Alexie’s life‚ the genre
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Sherman Alexie Sherman Alexie was born in 1966 and raised on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington. Although born with a severe case of hydrocephalus‚ he astonishingly recovered and learned to read at an early age. Alexie used his social rejection to concentrate on his studies. In 1985‚ he was awarded a scholarship to Gonzaga University where he regrettably began abusing alcohol. His college years can be described as depressing and inspiring. His alcoholism compelled him to convey his
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ENGLlOO Christensen A Cultural Disassociation InThe Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist/ight in Heaven‚ by Sherman Alexie‚ the three short stories‚ "A Drug Called Tradition‚" "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix‚ Arizona‚" and "The Trial of Thomas Builds-the-Fire‚" depict the Native American experience with their own cultural past through Thomas Builds-the-Fire. In "A Drug Called Tradition‚" Victor‚ Junior and Thomas volunteer themselves to the effects of magic mushrooms and go on a trip
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society tries to keep teens shut off and unaware of the real world problems and stereotypes that contain them. Our public thrives off of an ignorant teen population. Sherman Alexie’s writings in Superman and Me are meant to inspire the oppressed peoples to overcome their stereotypes in order to save everyone. In Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie he says “A smart Indian is a dangerous person‚ widely feared…” After reading the entire passage‚ this can apply to any person. A smart teenager is a dangerous
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