Skip to main content

#8 Interpret/explain/explore the context and significance of the last line of the book (230) (Jack W.)

At the end of the book, Rowdy and Junior shoot hoops all through the night, and Junior states, “We didn’t keep score” (Alexie 230). This quote explores how in basketball and in life people think everything is about the score. This signifies that when Rowdy and Junior work over their obvious traits that make them different, they realize that life is not a race, nor something where you have to keep score, and they end up reviving their friendship above the rest of the tribe’s prejudice against Junior leaving the rez. This friendship relinquished joy between both Junior and Rowdy after the losses that they both suffered. For example, When Junior and Rowdy were talking about Junior going off and being a “nomad”, Junior states, “I would always Love Rowdy. And I would always miss him, too. Just as I would always love and miss my grandmother, my big sister, and Eugene” (Alexie 230). When Junior comes to this realization, he notices and understands how everybody thinks one has to be white to have hope and if one is Indian, they will not have hope and therefore, a bad future in life. With everything Junior has been through in the last year, the good parts and the bad parts, playing basketball through the night with Rowdy healed the hole inside of him where he never thought would be filled, which was a representation of joy and Junior’s friendship with rowdy.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#7 Explain the humor/irony of the title of the chapter, “Rowdy and I Have a Long and Serious Discussion About Basketball.” (Hayley)

The humor and irony of the title of the chapter “Rowdy and I Have a Long and Serious Discussion About Basketball." is the fact that Junior is trying to show that he is upset about winning but then Junior and Rowdy are going back and fourth about being faggots. This is shown in the quote on page 197, where Rowdy says, "'We'll kick your asses next year.' Rowdy wrote back. 'And you'll cry like the little faggot you are.'". This quote shows that they are trying to joke around by saying that “Rowdy and I Have a Long and Serious Discussion About Basketball", but really it is trying to say that they are having a short discussion and are really just joking around. In conclusion, Rowdy and Junior are showing irony and humor through the title of the chapter, “Rowdy and I Have a Long and Serious Discussion About Basketball.”
Post a Comment
Read more

#7 Summarize the cartoon on 182. What is the significance? What does it show about Junior? What is his dilemma? (Sophia K.)

The image on page 182, represents how much hope exists at Reardan as opposed to Wellpinit. The crowd at Wellpinit is shouting “White-lover!” as a way of draining Arnold of self esteem, causing him to question his loyalty. However, the crowd at Reardan shouts “Destroy them Arnold!” as a way of boosting him with confidence. In the cartoon on page 53, Rowdy screams, “You white-lover! You Suck! I Hate You!”(Alexie 53). All of those insults are supposed to make Arnold doubt himself, therefore not go to Reardan, but in Arnold’s case losing hope just makes him want to try harder to gain hope.  The lack of hope in Wellpinit is contagious, so he always feels deflated there, but at Reardan, everything is different, he and everyone around him have an optimistic view of the future. The dilemma is that Arnold doesn’t know who’s side he is on. He doesn’t know if he is part of the reservation or if he is “white”, and it is confusing him. If he chooses to return to the reservation again, he will ...
1 comment
Read more
Examine the cartoon on page 12. What is the relationship between poverty and dreams? (Katie B.) On the cartoon on page 12, poverty is shown relating to dreams in the way that being poor makes it harder to achieve a dream. Junior explains that if his family had had more money, his parents probably would’ve followed their greatest dreams, “But we reservation Indians don't get to realize our dreams. We don't get those chances. Or choices. We're just poor. That's all we are” (Alexie, 13). Junior says that his family’s lack of money created a barricade for his otherwise talented parents. His mother and father truly are good, hardworking people but their living situations, financial situation, and Native American heritage work against them stopping them from pursuing a dream.
Post a Comment
Read more