CHAPTER RESPONSE
QUESTIONS
“The
Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club” pages 1-6
1.
Why is Junior a member of ‘the
Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club’?
·
Junior is constantly being beaten up by other
Indians on the rez, so he often has a black eye.
2.
Why does Junior draw cartoons? What do the first
two cartoons depict? What does this tell
us about Junior?
·
He draws because words are too unpredictable and
too limited.
·
Drawings are universal – everybody can understand
it.
·
He wants to talk to the world and have the world
pay attention to him.
·
He wants to be a rich and famous artist – the
only way, he says, to be rich and famous.
3.
Describe the style of writing in the first
chapter.
·
Informal, chatty, reflective, humorous, resigned
“Why Chicken Means So
Much to Me” pages 7-13
1.
What does Junior identify as the worst thing
about being poor?
·
One might think being hungry is the worst thing,
but Junior tells how his dog Oscar got sick and needed to go to the vet. Because the family had no money, the dad shot
the dog because it was so sick.
2.
Arnold says, “And hey, in a weird way, being
hungry makes food taste better” (Alexie 8). What does this statement show us
about Junior?
·
Junior is a fairly optimistic, resigned young man
– finds humor or positivity in his situation.
3.
What happens to Oscar? What does this illustrate
to the reader?
·
Oscar got sick, and Junior didn’t have the money
to take him to the vet.
·
Junior’s father shot him.
·
Illustrates how poor the family is and also how
there is a matter-of-factness to their existence. What needs to be done is done.
4.
How is poverty a cycle for Junior’s family?
·
Everyone in his family has always been poor, his
parents, his grandparents, etc.
·
Junior says his parents come from poor people who
came from poor people all the way back to the very first poor people.
5. Use five adjectives to describe Junior’s
personality so far.
·
Reflective
·
Resigned
·
Positive - optimistic
·
Humorous
·
Insightful
·
Insecure
·
Powerless
·
Respectful
“Revenge Is My Middle
Name” pages 15-24
1.
Describe Rowdy and Junior’s relationship. What do
they do for each other?
·
Rowdy and Junior are best friends
o
Rowdy protects Junior – has since he was born;
o
Junior draws
2.
What is the Spokane Powwow?
·
A celebration of Indian heritage – dancing,
eating, games
3.
What does Rowdy do to the Andruss brothers? Why?
What does this demonstrate about his friendship with Junior?
· After they beat up Junior, they get drunk and pass out à Rowdy shaves off their eyebrows and cuts off their braids, probably the
worst thing that can be done to an Indian
“Because Geometry Is
Not a Country Somewhere Near France ” pages
25-31
1. Describe Mr. P.
·
He is skinny, old, lazy; a “weird old coot,”
non-demanding; shows up for class, wearing pajamas, lonely old man
2. Why is Junior so cynical about white
teachers?
·
Calls them “liberal, white vegetarian do-gooders
and conservative, white missionary saviors
3. What angers Junior about his geometry book?
· The geometry book was used by his mother 30 years ago. He is furious that the same old book is still
being used. He says the fact that he is
studying from the same book his parents studied from “is absolutely the saddest
thing in the world.”
“Hope
Against Hope” pages 32-43
1.
Why does Junior throw his
geometry book? What does it signify?
· When he realized the age of the book, he says, “My hopes and
dreams floated up in a mushroom cloud.”
As a result, he is absolutely furious and wildly and angrily throws his
book. This signifies his disappointment
and anger – his hopes are dashed.
2.
Why does Mr. P 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”
(Alexie 40).
· He says all the Indians should get smashed in the face because
they have given up on themselves.
3.
What is Mr. P’s advice to
Junior? Why does he give him this advice?
· He tells him to leave the reservation. Tells him not to give up. He said if Junior stays on the reservation,
Mr. P will kill him. He said that
Junior has been fighting since he was born, and he needs to leave, telling
Junior that he will find more and more hope the farther and farther he gets
from the reservation.
“Go
Means Go” pages 44-47
1.
How do Junior’s parents
react to his decision to change schools? What does this show about them?
· They are surprised but supportive – they understand what motivates
him to leave.
· They want a better life for their son.
· They warn him that the community will respond very negatively.
· They may recognize that staying on the reservation is hopeless.
“Rowdy Sings the Blues” pages 48-53
1.
How
are sporting results used to compare the two schools?
· In every competition between the two
schools, Reardan annihilates the rez, both athletically and academically.
2.
Why
is it significant that Rowdy performed well at most competitions?
· After each loss, Rowdy vowed to beat them.
· Rowdy does well, but the deck is stacked
against him – there are too many able people at Reardan.
3.
How
does Rowdy react to Junior’s decision to move schools? Why does he react in
this way?
·
Rowdy
is absolutely furious – insists Junior is joking.
·
Rowdy
punches Junior in the face after Junior touches Rowdy on the shoulder to
console him.
4.
How does Rowdy disguise his
pain?
·
By
screaming and punching Junior.
·
Calls
Junior a “retarded fag.”
“How
to Fight Monsters” pages 54-66
1.
Why is Junior deemed to have
betrayed his tribe?
· He goes to a school off the reservation, a school that the rez
school has a big rivalry with (Rowdy says he doesn’t even drive through the
town of Reardan).
2.
Describe the cartoon on page
57. What does this symbolize about Junior’s insecurities?
· Many of Junior’s insecurities have to do with appearance: his
physique and what he is wearing.
3.
How does the confusion over
Junior’s names demonstrate his change in culture?
· Junior is his name on the rez, and Arnold is the name he adopts in
the white community à He is changing who he is to fit in.
4.
How do the students react to
Junior at Reardan?
· They stare at him.
· They call him offensive names – Roger keeps calling him Chief.
· Roger tells a very racist joke about Junior’s heritage.
5.
How could Junior have
reacted to being called names?
· Instead of punching Roger, he could have tried to talk with Roger
sensibly.
· Tell Roger that it’s not okay.
6.
How does the fight illustrate
the differences in social codes?
· Indian Rules re: fighting – pp. 61-62 – physical fighting is a
common occurrence – is the social norm.
· In Reardan, the kids don’t physically fight.
· Junior is confused by the difference in behavior.
7.
‘Maybe I was telling the
world I was no longer a moving target.’ How is this a significant moment for
Junior?
· Junior is telling the world that he will fight back – he is not a
victim, a hopeless person, or a moving target for the world to attack.
“Grandmother
Gives Me Some Advice” pages 67-73
1.
Junior says, “I realized how
much of my self-worth, my sense of safety, was based on Rowdy’s fists” (Alexie
68). How does Junior learn to stand up
for himself?
· He punches Roger back
2.
What is Junior’s
grandmother’s advice?
· He should have walked away
· He should have kicked him in the balls
· You have punched the alpha dog
“Tears
of a Clown” pages 74-76
1.
What does Junior’s story about
Dawn illustrate to the reader?
·
Junior is attracted to girls out of his reach.
·
Junior is a sensitive, emotional kid – cries a
lot
·
Rowdy is Junior’s secret keeper – his best friend
– losing his friendship is a giant loss
“Halloween” pages
77-81
1. How does Junior try to establish a connection
with Penelope?
·
By remarking on the fact that both are dressed as
homeless people.
·
He decides to collect money for the homeless when
he goes out on Halloween.
2. How does trick or treating remind Junior of
Rowdy?
·
Junior realizes that if Rowdy were with him on
Halloween, Junior never would have been jumped because Rowdy was his protector.
·
Junior also hopes one of the three attackers was
not Rowdy.
”Slouching Toward
Thanksgiving” pages 82-98
1. How does the author illustrate Junior’s
loneliness?
·
Grows a zit on the end of his nose
·
Plays catch with himself
·
Alone all the time – “white kids did not talk to
me. “They barely looked at me.” – Zero, zilch, nada
·
Rez (Indian) à road to Reardan (less than Indian) à Reardan (even less than that
·
“It was the loneliest time of my life.”
2. What
is significant about Junior speaking up in class?
·
Jr. is usually totally quiet in class
·
Jr. shows how smart he is – goes really badly
3. How does Mr. Dodge reply and how does this
make Junior feel?
·
Mr. Dodge shows how racist he is – treats Jr. like
an idiot
·
Thanks Gordy for info but doesn’t thank Junior
4. Examine the cartoon of Junior’s journey to
school on p. 88. Contrast this to how you normally get to school.
·
Getting to school is never easy – every week it’s
different – no gas, hungover father…
5. What does Mary do? Why?
·
Gets married to a Flathead Indian – a card player
who is willing to gamble
·
Calls parents from reservation in Montana
6. How does Junior become friends with Gordy?
What do they have in common?
·
Because Junior recognizes Mary’s courage, he
decides to ask Gordy to be his friend
·
Gordy first worries that Junior is hitting on him
– Junior reassures Gordy that he just wants friendship
·
They study together (Jr. doesn’t share his
dreams/secrets with Gordy, like he did with Rowdy
·
They also talk about books
“My Sister Sends Me
an E-mail” pages 99-100
1.
Summarize Mary’s email in three bullet points.
·
She’s looking for a job as a waitress
·
She wants to have 10 kids and stay on the
reservation (ironic because she has run away and left one reservation only to
another reservation)
·
She says she is very happy
·
Whites and Indians co-exist mostly peacefully
·
The reservation is big – there are five towns
·
They go to a hotel for their honeymoon – she
orders Indian flatbread – reminds her of her grandmother
“Thanksgiving”
pages 101-103
1. Why does Junior think of Rowdy at
Thanksgiving time?
·
Because Rowdy is always at their house at
Thanksgiving
·
They always have a pumpkin pie eating contest
2. Describe the cartoon Junior draws.
·
Cartoon –Arnold and Rowdy as superheroes
·
Brings cartoon to Rowdy’s house –
3. Why is Rowdy’s
respect still so important to Junior?
·
Junior really cares about Rowdy
3. How does Rowdy’s father regard the cartoon?
·
Rowdy’s dad says it’s kind of gay à Arnold asks the dad
to give it to Rowdy
·
As he leaves, he sees Rowdy with cartoon à Rowdy flips him off
Is this type of
reaction typical in today’s society?
·
Yes, in some cultures more than others
How could the fear of
being considered ‘gay’ limit male interactions?
·
Can limit sharing of real emotions
·
Junior is emotional – does share his feelings
“Hunger Pains” pages
104-113
1. How does Penelope and Junior’s friendship
develop?
·
Junior leaves a boring class and hears Penelope
throwing up in the bathroom
·
He can’t go in, so he knocks on the door and
waits
·
He confronts Penelope about being anorexic à she corrects him,
saying she’s bulimic
·
She opens up, telling him why she is bulimic
2. How are Penelope and Junior using each other?
·
Junior uses her to move up in the popularity
chain
·
She uses him to make her father angry
·
She also uses him to appear not as perfect
3. What advice does Junior give Penelope? Is it
good advice?
·
He tells her not to give up
·
He says she won’t make it halfway around the world
if she doesn’t eat (her very specific dreams [she’s a freshman] are to travel
the world and to be an architect)
“Rowdy Gives Me
Advice About Love” pages 114-117
1. Why does Junior refer to how ‘white’ Penelope
is? What is the effect of this?
·
Emphasizes the racial divide between them – the
difference in appearance
·
Idealizes her – raises her on a pedestal – “most
perfect vanilla dessert”
2. Gordy claims, “White girls are privileged.
They’re damsels in distress” (Alexie 116). What does this mean?
·
White girls are like princesses – society also
perpetuates this idea; reminder of what society values
·
They have more opportunities/money/advantages
·
Example Gordy provides: the one white girl who
goes missing in Mexico is written about repeatedly, even though hundreds of
Mexican girls also have disappeared
“Dance, Dance, Dance”
pages 118-129
1. Why is the novel called The Absolutely
True Diary of a Part-time Indian?
·
Junior says, “I was half Indian in one place and
half white in the other. It was like
being Indian was my job, but it was only a part-time job.”
2. Examine the cartoon on p. 120. Analyze each
of the pictures. Why do you think Alexie presents the information in this way?
·
Each is a portrayal of what it’s like to be
poor. Pictures say more than words
often. Easy to understand.
3. How do Penelope and Roger react to Junior’s
admission that he is poor?
·
With compassion – Penelope kisses him and Roger
lends him money and drives him home many times
4. What does Junior learn by the end of the
chapter?
·
“If you let people into your life a little bit,
they can be pretty damn amazing.”
“Don’t Trust Your
Computer” pages 130-132
1.
What does Junior email Rowdy
and how does he reply? Why does this make Junior laugh?
·
Junior really misses Rowdy, so
he sends him a digital photo of his smiling face à Rowdy sends Junior a digital photo of his bare butt à It made Junior laugh but also made him depressed. He laughs, appreciating that Rowdy is
completely unrepressed – he is crazy-funny-disgusting, unlike many of the kids
at Reardan.
2. Why do the people at home call Junior an
‘apple’?
·
Red (Indian) on the outside and white on the
inside (looks like an Indian but acts like a white person)
3. What does Gordy say about the role of the
tribe? How is this applicable to Junior?
·
If a person isn’t good for making food, shelter,
or babies (productive for the tribe), then the person would be tossed out. The community protects itself against
predators – it survives because the people trust each other.
“My Sister Sends Me a
Letter” pages 133-134
1.
What does Junior think of Mary’s ‘gorgeous new
place’?
·
According to Junior, her gorgeous new place (a
Airstream trailer) looks like a TV dinner tray.
“Reindeer Games”
pages 135-149
1. Why does Junior try out for the basketball
team?
·
Junior tries out after talking with his father,
who tells him that “you have to dream big to get big.”
2. What happens at try-outs? Why does Junior get
in?
·
Junior is sent sprawling by Roger during one drill
(1-on-1 full court), but he runs the 100 laps, does every drill without
complaining, and makes a sweet jump shot.
·
He makes the team because he is perseverant and
is an excellent shooter.
3. Why does Junior say “it was like something
out of Shakespeare” (Alexie 142) when he discovers their first game is against
Wellpinit?
·
The fact that their first game is against
Wellpinit is almost like a perfectly set-up wrong way to start – he is playing
against his friends, who already feel like he is a traitor – bound to be very
intense.
4. What happens when Junior enters the gym? How
does he react? Why?
·
The noise completely stops, and all the tribal
members turn their backs on him – a display of contempt
5. What happens during the basketball game?
Write a short news report.
·
Junior runs onto the court, and someone throws a
quarter at him, hitting him in the forehead, causing a cut that requires three
stitches.
·
Junior re-enters the game, goes for a lay-up, and
is knocked unconscious when Rowdy slams his elbow into Junior’s head.
·
Junior goes to the hospital in an ambulance, the
Coach visits him later in his room, and the two talk all night.
Are there questions and answers for the remaining pages?
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