Week#1_Literary Analysis

Student: Date:

Homework1 Reading Comprehension

Stuck in a Place Between

Where do you belong? For Arnold “Junior” Spirit, the main character in The
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, the answer to that
question crystalizes during his first year stuck between two different worlds. Junior
lives on the Spokane Indian reservation. He was born with a rare brain condition that left
him with a large head, lanky body, and impeded speech—all of which make him a target
for bullies. He is smart and ambitious, qualities that also make him a social outcast on the
reservation. At least he has his best friend and protector, Rowdy, by his side. But that
all changes when Junior leaves his reservation town of Wellpinit to go to the all-white
high school in a neighboring farm town. The decision leaves him feeling like the ultimate
outsider, a traitor on the reservation and a stranger in his new school.

Through courage, resiliency, and help from a few friends, Junior ultimately
discovers a new sense of belonging and self-worth.

Junior faces much adversity both on the reservation and at his new school. Even
before he decides to attend Reardan High School, bullies regularly pick fights with him.

“My all-time record was five wins and one hundred and twelve losses” (62). Rowdy
usually protects him, but he feels betrayed by Junior’s school decision. Labeled a traitor
by his neighbors and without a friend to protect him, Junior becomes fearful of stepping
outside his house. And it’s not as if his home is a sparkling palace. His parents are
supportive and loving, but they, like the majority of other families on the “rez,” are
extremely poor. “It sucks to be poor,” Junior explains, “and it sucks to feel that you
somehow deserve to be poor. . . . Because you’re Indian you start believing you’re destined
to be poor” (13). Being the only Indian at Reardan High School brings another set of
challenges. He initially feels dumber and less worthy than his classmates. He’s bullied
frequently, this time with racist insults rather than violence. And when he’s not bullied,
he’s ignored. On the rare occasions he has enough money for lunch, he eats alone. It’s a
confusing existence in both worlds. At Reardan, he feels “half Indian,” and on the
reservation, he feels “half white.”
Transition
Despite this adversity, Junior’s courage and resiliency lead to positive changes. To
begin with, his decision to attend Reardan High School is extremely courageous. He
knows he has a better chance of getting into college with an education from the
better-resourced Reardan, and the opportunity to improve his future outweighs the
stigma that will follow him on the reservation. After a tough start at Reardan, he stands
up to a bully and earns his respect. He outsmarts one of his teachers, which makes him
realize he’s no less smart than any of his classmates. He works up the nerve to talk to a
crush. He even tries out for and makes the varsity basketball team as a freshman. These
experiences teach Junior the value of stepping outside of his comfort zone.
Throughout the book, Junior defies expectations. He understands the low
expectations of young Indians living on a reservation and sees what happens when his
peers become resigned to them. “We reservation Indians don’t get to realize our
dreams,” he says, “We don’t get those chances. Or choices. We’re just poor. That’s all we
are” (13). He also comes to understand the limited expectations of students living in rural
communities. He says of himself and his crush, Penelope, “We were supposed to be happy
with our limitations. But there was no way Penelope and I were going to sit still. Nope, we
both wanted to fly” (112). Junior's last name of Spirit is appropriate for someone whose
ambitions help him soar past stereotypes.
Yet Junior also discovers that ambition and resiliency are not always enough to
overcome tough circumstances. He also needs the support of other people. For example,
Gordy, the class genius and an outsider himself, is the first Reardan student to stick up
for Junior. They strike up a friendship, which eases Junior’s loneliness. Roger, the
popular bully who Junior stood up to, convinces Junior to try out for basketball and ends
up mentoring him. His basketball coach also does wonders for his confidence. He tells
Junior, “You can do it.” These simple words make a big impact: “Do you understand how
amazing it is to hear that from an adult? Do you know how amazing it is to hear that from
anybody?” (189). And at home, he gathers strength from the support of his family, even
as most others in Wellpinit, including Rowdy, have yet to forgive him.
Without this support system, Junior may not have been able to overcome the
tragedy that strikes his family and community. First, a drunk driver kills his
grandmother. Then his family friend is shot and killed during a drunken argument with a
friend. Finally, his sister, who has fled the reservation, dies during a house fire after a
party. Alcohol is involved in each tragedy, and the book as a whole takes a critical view of
alcohol abuse. “I’m fourteen years old and I’ve been to forty-two funerals,” he laments
(199).Both the Wellpinit and Reardan communities help Junior heal. The tragedies teach
him the importance of having a support system to lean on as well as the value of offering
himself to be leaned upon.

At the beginning of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Junior is

apprehensive to leave the familiar surroundings of Wellpinit, but in the end it was the
right decision. He goes from thinking he “deserves” to be poor to resisting all limitations.
His year at Reardan stretches his imagination to what is possible for his future. It
reveals an inner strength, and teaches him to defy stubborn stereotypes. By interacting
with people who neither look like him nor have the same upbringing as him, Junior sees
new possibilities for himself but also a sense of unity with strangers. “If you let people
into your life a little bit, they can be pretty [darn] amazing” (129). In the end, Junior
finds his sense of belonging resides in both Wellpinit andReardan. His leap of courage is a
lesson for all of us to step outside of our comfort zones, embrace different people and
cultures, and broaden our ambitions.
Respond to the literary analysis.
Answer these questions about the reading.

1. What qualities does the writer highlight as being most important to Junior’s
transformation?
He changes his mentality and feels like he doesn’t deserve to be poor anymore, but
should work to achieve things in his life, and comes out of his shell

2. Pick one of the direct quotations the writer cites from the story. What purpose does it
serve? How does it support the writer’s overall thesis about the story?
“Do you understand how amazing it is to hear that from an adult? Do you know how
amazing it is to hear that from anybody?” (189). It supports the thesis because it
encourages people to step outside of their comfort zones, and encouragement can
change what you do, and how you do it.

3. Which type(s) of conflict from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian can you
identify in the writer’s analysis—character vs. self, character vs. character, character vs.
society, character vs. nature, character vs. supernatural? Explain your answer.
Character vs Society, because part of the story is him combatting racism that is
prominent in other kids and society that he has to combat against

4. How do the themes cited by the writer suggest that The Absolutely True Diary of a
Part-Time Indian is much bigger than one person’s coming-of-age story?
Because it talks about racism and other issues like Alchohol Abuse, which are very
big issues in todays society, that need to be fixed

Homework2 Prewriting to Select a Topic

Identify conflict in popular culture.

Choose a different book, movie, or television show that fits each category of conflict. Then
pick one of your examples and answer the response questions about it. Please refer to
the lecture video sample.

Character vs. Character vs. Character vs. Character vs. Character vs.
Self Character Society Nature Fate/Supernatural
Miles Morales I survived the Bloody Mary by
Spiderman Harry Potter The Hunger Wellington Hillary Monohan
By Jason and the games Hurricane By
Reynolds Deathly By Suzanne Lauren Tarshis
Hallows Collins
By J.K Rowling

1. Why does your selection fit the particular category of conflict? Give at least two reasons.
Note: If you think your choice fits multiple categories, explain why.
It fits this because this is a story because of Harry's conflict against Voldermort and they
both want to get rid of each other. This is the main conflict in the book, so I have classified
this as Character vs Character

2. What is interesting about the conflict from your selection?

It is the culmination of a long series with a very interesting conflict and intertwined plot,
that gets clearer as you read, and it is about magic and a characters struggles against
struggles placed against him, that affect everybody around him

3. How does the character overcome the conflict?

He kills Lord Voldermort, while finding out more about him and the world around him

4. What do you learn about the character through the way she/he faces the conflict?
They are very resilient and struggle through many burdens and conflicts.

5. What lessons about life does the character’s struggle suggest?

You must persevere to achieve the goals you want and work hard

Homework3 Prewriting to Select a Work

Fill in a topic-ideas chart.
Fill in the chart with topic ideas for your literary analysis. Review your answers, and
choose one work to analyze. Please refer to the lecture video sample.

What is the main

Story and author What is the story about?
character like?

Harry Potter by J.K * Harry Potter struggles Brash, and heroic

Rowling against Voldemort, and the Very concerned about
world other people, and
Harrys ambition to kill adaptable
Voldemort

Miles Morales By Jason Miles Morales self-identity Smart, nonconfident,

Reynolds struggle. Miles Morales vs questioning
Spiderman
The Hunger Games By A fight to the death of a adaptable, independent,
Suzanne Collins group of people, to remind skilled
them of their unsupeririority

Homework4 Prewriting to Select your Topic.

Select your Topic.

Take a break, and come back to review your chart above. Choose the best topic for your
essay, and mark it with a star (*).

Topic title: Harry Potter and the deathly Hallows plot

Homework5 Prewriting to Focus on Literary Elements

Answer questions about literary elements.
Answer the following questions about the literary elements in your work. Reread as
needed. Please refer to the lecture video sample.

Characters
● How does the main character change from the beginning to the end of the story?
He doesn’t become afraid of head to head contact anymore with voldemort, and
feels that he can face him, and he is removed from the burden that was placed on him at
birth
 ● What is the character's best trait? Worst trait?
His best trait is being brave and his worst trait is that he can be quite brash
sometimes, and act without thinking about later effects

*Plot
● What conflict(s) occur in the story?
Harry and his 2 friends (along with his supporters) combat Lord Voldemort and his
followers

● What is the most important event in the story, and how is it resolved?
The most important event is when Harry and Voldemort fight at Hogwarts and the
conflict is resolved by Lord Voldermort dying.

Setting
● How does the setting impact the main character?
It isolates them and makes them feel like it is them against the world majority of the
time

● How would the story be different if it were set at a different time and place?
It would be different because Harry would have alot more trouble just going around
society if he wasn’t isolated, and the secret magic conflict might be less hidden from
muggles if they had cellphones, or the technology we have during this time, and that would
conceal him less from Voldemort which would make it harder for Harry to survive

Homework6 Prewriting to Create a Thesis Statement

Write a thesis statement.

Write down the focus of your analysis and an interesting thought or feeling about it. Then
combine both into a single sentence that expresses your thesis.

A sample thesis statement:

 Focus(es) + Thought or Feeling = Thesis Statement

Cassie learns why her Cassie’s experiences with injustice teach

family's land is so her why a tract of land in rural
important in the Mississippi is so important and why her
struggle against family protects it so fiercely.
injustice

Thought or
Focus(es) + = Thesis Statement
Feeling

Harry Potter learns about his Harry Potter learns about his
background and background and how the magical
how the magical world is more intertwined in history
world is more than he thought whilst defeating his
intertwined in enemy, and learning about human
history than he nature.
thought while
defeating his
enemy

Homework7 Prewriting to Find Direct Evidence

Fill in an evidence chart.

Use an evidence chart to jot down key plot points, lessons learned, and quotations that
support your thesis. Please refer to the lecture video sample.

Story title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Thesis Statement: Harry Potter learns about his background and how the magical world
is more intertwined in history than he thought whilst defeating his enemy and learning
about human nature.

Key plot points Lessons learned Quotations

(actions and (character growth) (exact words, thoughts, or
consequences) feelings)

Harry Potter leaves the

Weasley’s House after
Death eaters attack the You shouldn’t be afraid “Do not pity the dead, Harry, pity
wedding of death but accept it the living, and above all those
Ron and Harry have a with bravery who live without love.”-
fight and they Bravery in the face of Dumbeldore
temporarily separate death is the greatest
Harry destroys the first power
Horcrux
Harry is found by Death
eaters, but escapes, but
with the sacrifice of
Dobby’s life
Harry discovers the
Deathly Hallows
Harry steals the 2nd
Horcrux from Gringotts
Harry discovers that the
entire Ministry of Magic
is controlled by
Voldemort
Harry goes to Hogwarts
to find the last 3
Horcruxes
Harry gets killed, but in
this process, all
Horcruxes are
eliminated.
Harry “rises” from the
dead and kills Lord
Voldemort.
Homework8 Prewriting to Outline Your Essay

An outline is an organized list that previews what you want to say in your essay. On the
first level (I, II, III, IV...), write topic sentences that support your opinion (position)
statement. On the second level (A, B...), write details that support the idea in the
topic sentence above it. A sample outline is provided below:

Stuck in a Place Between

Opinion Statement: (Through courage, resiliency, and help from a few friends, Junior
ultimately discovers a new sense of belonging and self-worth.)

I. (Junior faces much adversity both on the reservation and at his new school.)

A. (Even before he decides to attend Reardan High School, bullies regularly

pick fights with him.)
 B. (His parents are supportive and loving, but they, like the majority of other
families on the “rez,” are extremely poor.)

C. (Being the only Indian at Reardan High School brings another set of
challenges. He initially feels dumber and less worthy than his classmates.)

II. (Despite this adversity, Junior’s courage and resiliency lead to positive changes.)
A. (To begin with, his decision to attend Reardan High School is extremely
courageous.)
B. (After a tough start at Reardan, he stands up to a bully and earns his
respect.)

C. (He outsmarts one of his [Link] even tries out for and makes the
varsity basketball team as a freshman.)

III. (Throughout the book, Junior defies expectations.)

A. (He understands the low expectations of young Indians living on a
reservation and sees what happens when his peers become resigned to
them.)
B. (He also comes to understand the limited expectations of students living in
rural communities.)

IV. (Yet Junior also discovers that ambition and resiliency are not always enough to
overcome tough circumstances. He also needs the support of other people.)
A. (For example, Gordy, the class genius and an outsider himself, is the first
Reardan student to stick up for Junior.)
B. (Roger, the popular bully who Junior stood up to, convinces Junior to try out
for basketball and ends up mentoring him.)
C. (His basketball coach also does wonders for his confidence.)

V. (Without this support system, Junior may not have been able to overcome the
tragedy that strikes his family and community.)
A. (Alcohol is involved in each tragedy, and the book as a whole takes a critical
view of alcohol abuse.)
B. (Both the Wellpinit and Reardan communities help Junior heal.)
Outline: Please write as many details as possible in complete sentences, so that your
marking tutor has enough content to help you write better.

Opinion Statement: Harry Potter learns about his background and how the magical
world is more intertwined in history than he thought whilst defeating his enemy and
learning about human nature.

I. Harry Potter learns about his background, and how it is intertwined in magical
history and his enemy’s past

A. Harry learns that he is descended from a person who defied death, but
later accepted it
B. Part of Voldemort's soul is in Harry Potter
C. Harry learns what makes him different from Voldemort, and how they have
magically connected

II. Harry learns about Dumbeldores past and how it built his character
A. Dumbeldores Family troubles
B. Dumbeldore's relation to Grindelwald and how it affected his relationships
in his family
C. Dumbeldores past mistakes and how it influenced his decision’s going
forward

III. Harry kills Voldemort and learns about himself

A. Harry and Voldemort have one last intense face-off
B. Harry prevails over Voldemort rendering him the master of death
C. Harry changes his thoughts about Snape

IV. (Middle paragraph topic sentence 4: etc)

A. (Supporting detail)
B. (Supporting detail)
C. (Supporting detail)