Arbeitsblatt: The absolutely true diary of a Part-Time Indian

THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF PART-TIME INDIAN SHERMAN ALEXIE The absolutely true diary of part-time Indian Monday 8th February Monday 15th February Monday 29th February Monday 7th March Monday 14th The black-eye-of-the-month-club to Because geometry is not country somewhere near France p.11-42 Hope against hope to How to fight monsters p.43-77 Reading comprehension Grandmother gives me some advice to My sisters sends me an email p.78-109 Thanksgiving to Dont trust your computer p.110-139 My sister sends me letter to March Monday 21st March Monday 4th April Wake p.140-173 Reading comprehension Valentine Heart to Rowdy and have long and serious discussion about Basketball p.174-202 p.203-233 (the end) Because Russian guys are not always geniuses to Talking about turtles Final Exam The Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club 1. Why is Junior member of ‘the Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club? 2. Why does Junior draw cartoons? What do the first two cartoons depict? What does this tell us about Junior? 3. Describe the style of writing in the first chapter. Why Chicken Means So Much to Me 1. What does Junior identify as the worst thing about being poor? 2. ‘And hey, in weird way, being hungry makes food taste better. (p. 8) What does this statement show us about Junior? 3. What happens to Oscar? What does this illustrate to the reader? 4. How is poverty cycle for Juniors family? 5. Use five adjectives to describe Juniors personality so far. Revenge Is My Middle Name 1. Describe Rowdy and Juniors relationship. What do they do for each other? 2. What is the Spokane Powwow? 3. What does Rowdy do to the Andruss brothers? Why? What does this demonstrate about his friendship with Junior? Because Geometry Is Not Country Somewhere Near France 1. Describe Mr P. 2. Why is Junior so cynical about white teachers? 3. What angers Junior about his geometry book? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hope Against Hope 1. Why does Junior throw his geometry book? What does it signify? 2. Why does Mr say the following? ‘Every white person on this rev should get smashed in the face. But, let me tell you this. All the Indians should get smashed in the face, too. (p. 40) 3. What is Mr Ps advice to Junior? Why does he give him this advice? Go Means Go 1. How do Juniors parents react to his decision to change schools? What does this show about them? Rowdy Sings the Blues 1. How are sporting results used to compare the two schools? Why is it significant that Rowdy performed well at most competitions? 2. How does Rowdy react to Juniors decision to move schools? Why does he react in this way? 3. How does Rowdy disguise his pain? How to Fight Monsters 1. Why is Junior deemed to have betrayed his tribe? 2. Describe the cartoon on page 57. What does this symbolise about 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Juniors insecurities? How does the confusion over Juniors names demonstrate his change in culture? How do the students react to Junior at Reardan? How could Junior have reacted to being called names? How does the fight illustrate the differences in social codes? ‘Maybe was telling the world was no longer moving target. How is this significant moment for Junior? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grandmother Gives Me Some Advice 1. ‘I realized how much of my self-worth, my sense of safety, was based on Rowdys fists. How does Junior learn to stand up for himself? 2. What is Juniors grandmothers advice? Tears of Clown 1. What does Juniors story about Dawn illustrate to the reader? Halloween 1. How does Junior try to establish connection with Penelope? 2. How does trick or treating remind Junior of Rowdy? Slouching Toward Thanksgiving 1. 2. 3. 4. How does the author illustrate Juniors loneliness? What is significant about Junior speaking up in class? How does Mr Dodge reply and how does this make Junior feel? Examine the cartoon of Juniors journey to school on p. 88. Contrast this to how you normally get to school. How many kilometres is twenty-two miles? 5. What does Mary do? Why? 6. How does Junior become friends with Gordy? What do they have in common? My Sister Sends Me an E-mail 1. Summarise Marys email in three dot points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thanksgiving 1. Why does Junior think of Rowdy at Thanksgiving time? 2. Describe the cartoon Junior draws. Why is Rowdys respect still so important to Junior? 3. How does Rowdys father regard the cartoon? Is this type of reaction typical in todays society? How could the fear of being considered ‘gay limit male interactions? Hunger Pains 1. How does Penelope and Juniors friendship develop? 2. How are Penelope and Junior using each other? 3. What advice does Junior give Penelope? Is it good advice? Rowdy Gives Me Advice About Love 1. Why does Junior refer to how ‘white Penelope is? What is the effect of this? 2. ‘White girls are privileged. Theyre damsels in distress. (p. 116) What does this mean? Dance, Dance, Dance 1. Why is the novel called The Absolutely True Diary of Part-time Indian? 2. Examine the cartoon on p. 120. Analyse each of the pictures. Why do you think Alexie presents the information in this way? 3. How do Penelope and Roger react to Juniors admission that he is poor? 4. What does Junior learn by the end of the chapter? Dont Trust Your Computer 1. What does Junior email Rowdy and how does he reply? Why does this make Junior laugh? 2. Why do the people at home call Junior an ‘apple? 3. What does Gordy say about the role of the tribe? How is this applicable to Junior? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . My Sister Sends Me Letter 1. What does Junior think of Marys ‘gorgeous new place? Reindeer Games 1. Why does Junior try out for the basketball team? 2. What happens at try-outs? Why does Junior get in? 3. Why does Junior say ‘it was like something out of Shakespeare (p. 142) when he discovers their first game is against Wellinpit? 4. What happens when Junior enters the gym? How does he react? Why? 5. What happens during the basketball game? Write short news report. And Partridge in Pear Tree 1. Describe Juniors Christmas. Red Versus White 1. What good things about his culture does Junior realise? 2. Why does Junior describe his grandmother as tolerant? Wake 1. ‘We all have to find our own way to say good-bye. (p. 161) How does Junior do this? 2. Who is Billionaire Ted and what is his story? 3. ‘We lived and died together. (p. 166) What does this show about Juniors community? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Valentine Heart 1. How does Junior cope with his grief? 2. What do Juniors cartoons (pp. 170 171) reveal about his emotions? 3. What happens in Mrs Jeremys class? Why is this so significant to Junior? In Like Lion 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. How does Junior explain his improvement in basketball? What does the cartoon on p. 182 demonstrate about his feelings? How does Sherman Alexie build tension towards the game? What is the Reardan game plan? Is this successful? How does Coach give his team confidence? What happens during the game? Why does Junior cry when the game is finished? What does he realise? Rowdy and Have Long and Serious Discussion About Basketball 1. Why is the chapter title humorous? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Because Russian Guys Are Not Always Geniuses 1. 2. 3. 4. How does Mary die? How does Junior react to Marys death? Why does he react in this way? Why does Junior feel responsible in some way for Marys death? How do the students at Reardan show they care? My Final Freshman Year Report Card 1. Describe Juniors report card. Remembering 1. What realisations does Junior arrive at? 2. What tribes does Junior belong to? How does this help him feel better? Talking About Turtles 1. 2. 3. 4. Why do Junior and Rowdy climb the tree? What does this symbolise? How does Rowdy compare Junior to nomad? ‘We didnt keep score. (p. 230) What does the final line signify? Do you think Rowdy and Junior will remain friends? Explain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PRE-READING: BACKGROUND NOTES As part of your class study of The Absolutely True Diary of Part-time Indian, answer the following research questions using the internet and your school library. Who are the Spokane Indians? Where are they located? What is their history? What are their customs and traditions? Why were reservations set up in America? What was their goal? Has it been successful? What are some of the issues and problems facing Native Americans? Where in America is the Spokane Indian reservation located? How big is the reservation? How many people live there? ‘Thats how we were taught to teach you. We were supposed to kill the Indian to save the child. (p. 35) What does Mr P. mean when he says this? Why were they encouraged to ‘kill the Indian culture (p. 35)? What do Americans celebrate at Thanksgiving? What is the Bureau of Indian Affairs? What is the Spokane Powwow? How can the plight of the Native Americans be compared with the journey of the Indigenous Australians? How are their experiences similar? How do they differ? .