Sherman Alexie and Joy Harjo

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It is well known that Native American cultures have been rich in oral traditions. Storytelling is but one aspect of that. Yet amongst the Native American poets covered in class there seem to be differing views of storytelling. Sherman Alexie looks at storytelling in "How To Write the Great American Novel" as that which has been stereotyped and mainstreamed into the dominant culture, while Joy Harjo seems to view storytelling in "Deer Dancer" as vital to the survival of culture. This essay will examine the storytelling aspects of both works. Alexie's poem "How To Write the Great American Indian Novel" blends several dilemmas at once. Underlying to the poem and the act of writing the `Great American Indian Novel' is the awareness in all Colored people of a catch-22: that they are seen solely as a reflection of how White America views them. In the case of the Native American they are either seen as a less-than-articulate `Noble Savage'/ mystic, a caricature who greets white men with a monosyllabic `How', or a brute savage/ reservation drunkard. Likewise, the Native American is expected to feel shame for the stereotypes that have been thrust upon him; regardless of whether individuals of the dominating culture take stock in the accepted stereotypes or not, the Native American still feels critical eyes on him always, and senses the act of be labeled. If he tries to configure himself into the dominating culture, and comply with the set standards of Whites he is then seen as a `a credit to the race', an `apple Indian`, and a `sellout`, poorly imitating White culture without truly fitting in. Similarly, any Native American who does not try to comply with the standards of White culture is at risk of playing into the brutish, reserv... ... middle of paper ... ... to rebuilding the community of `broken survivors' and central to storytelling as a means of surviving the disintegration of culture. In conclusion, the aspect of storytelling is quite prevalent in both "How To Write the Great American Indian Novel" as well as "Deer Dancer" yet the both poets have taken such dramatically different views of storytelling in the poems. Regardless, each is able to make their particular viewpoint seem plausible and coherent by reinforcing their ideas with metaphors. Alexie continuously uses stereotypes to show the mainstream aspect of storytelling, especially when Native Americans don't get to tell their own stories. Harjo repeatedly uses the idea of `dreamtime' to play up the nostalgia aspect of storytelling, being able to forget despair and be lost in a story or myth which has turned into reality through the power of language.

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