Comparing Black Elk Speaks and The Lone Ranger and Tonto FistFight in Heaven
Traditionally, Native American Literature has been an oral genre. Although Native American Literature was the first American literature created, it has been the last to be recognized -and, to some extent, is still waiting for full recognition (www.usc.edu). With the Indian being forced to assimilate, their literature was forced to take on a written form. Although the traditional way of storytelling has changed, Native American Literature has survived. In it's written form, it is being shared with a larger population. Black Elk Speaks (Neihardt 1932) and The Lone Ranger and Tonto FistFight in Heaven (Alexie 1993) are two Native American works of literature that have gained recognition. Although they are similar in that they tell the Native American experience, they are also different in that they tell the experience from different times in history.
Both books tell the story of the Native American's day-to-day struggles. Black Elk Speaks tells of the Indians struggles during the middle '80s of the 19th century. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven tells the modern day struggles of the Indian. Although the books are written at different times in history, they still tell of the prejudice, disease, poverty and day-to-day struggle the Native American faces in the attempt to live in two worlds. In Black Elk Speaks the Indians were fighting to survive and keep their land. The white man (Wasichus) took away the Indian's land, brought in diseases, and killed their men, women and children. Although the Indians during this period in history suffered a great loss, they did manage to survive.
Sherman Alexie tells of the Indian...
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...ght in Heaven. New York: HarperCollins, 1993.
Kirkus Reviews. "Amazon.com: Editorial Reviews: The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven." 1 July 1993. < obidos exec www.amazon.com>
Ts/book-reviews>. "Native American Literature." 10 October 2000. < isd www.usc.edu> archives/ethnicstudies/Indian_lit.html>.
Neihardt, John G. Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Ogalala Sioux. New York: William Morrow, 1932.
Walker, Jr., Theodore. "Vine Deloria, Jr. on the authenticity of Black Elk Speaks." 24 March 1997 <http://www.smu.edu/~twalker/blkelk0.htm>. 10/23/00.
Whitson, Kathy J. Native American Literatures: An Encyclopedia of Works, Characters, Authors, and Themes. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, Inc, 1999.
Young Adults Books. Rev. of The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. 11 March 1996. .
Connell, Barry O'., Dictionary of Literary Biography, Native American Writers of the United States. Ed. Kenneth M. Roemer. Vol. 175. Detroit. Gale Research Co., 1997.
In chapter six of her book Making the White Man 's Indian: Native Americans and Hollywood Movies, Ange Aliess explores the topic of how Western have begun to change recently. The changes that she references in the film Dances With Wolves are also present in the film Winter in the Blood as well as in the 1491s shorts, even though the 1491s are a comedy group and not a Western genre. Aleiss describes the ways in which Native Americans reacted to Native portrayals in the film Dances With Wolves, and they tended to see the film’s better sides in contrast with critics. In Winter in the Blood, there are many stereotypes that are explored in ways that make the characters seem more real and less stereotypical as the backstories are revealed, despite
Debo, Angie. A History of the Indians of the United States. 6th ed. Norman: aaaaaUniversity of Oklahoma Press, 1979.
...744,” in The World Turned Upside Down: Indian Voices from Early America, ed. Colin G. Calloway (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 1994), 101
King, Thomas. “Let Me Entertain You. The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005. 61-89. Print.
Black Elk, F (2000). Observations on Marxism and Lakota Tradition. In Brunk, T., Diamond, S.,
Brown, Dee, Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West, New York, Bantam Press,1970
... of her boyfriends states to her when she was not in an upbeat mood, “Why the hell don’t you stay home and not go spoiling everybody’s evening?” (Parker 199) Parker is reiterating her the idea that women were not meant to be anything but positive and upbeat in this society. It even states that “even her slightest acquaintance seemed irritated if she were not conspicuously light hearted.” (Parker 199) Thus the idea that women were made to be positive and upbeat continues in her world.
Calloway, C. G. (2012). First peoples A documentary survey of American Indian history (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
and lock her in there", this was said by Mrs. Reed to Bessie and Abbot
No one expects to divorce when they get married but nearly half of all marriages will end in divorce or separation. Divorce can be costly, with court fees and attorneys. Dr. Doherty, noted marriage scholar and therapist has determined a list of risk factors that are attributed to marital problems and divorce. The first three: Young age, less education and less income are coincidently other topics brushed upon in this paper. Impulsive decisions made by younger people to marry leads to children which leads to financial instability. Once a couple has children, they are unlikely to further their education because of lack of time. Divorce also has a negative effect on
Alexie, Sherman. "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. New York: The Atlantic Monthly Press, 1993. Print.
Alexie Sherman’s, “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” displays the complications and occasional distress in the relationship between Native-American people and the United States. Despite being aboriginal inhabitants of America, even in present day United States there is still tension between the rest of the country, specifically mainstream white America, and the Native-American population. Several issues regarding the treatment of Native-Americans are major problems presently. Throughout the narrative, several important symbols are mentioned. The title itself represents the struggles between mainstream America and Native-Americans. The theme of racism, violence, and prejudice is apparent throughout the story. Although the author
Edmonds, Margot. and Clark, Ella. "Voices of the Winds:Native American Legends". New York: Facts on File, 1989.
Around the world divorce is common and known amongst different societies, some with higher rates than others. According to Irvin (2012), in America there is one divorce every 13 seconds. That’s 6,646 divorces per day, and 46,532 divorce per week. This is a social issue within our society that has many negative effects on everyone facing this circumstance. The divorce rate in the U.S is a problem that shows an increase in its rates compared to the past decades. According to the U.S Census Bureau, around 50 percent of marriages end in a divorce. There are many reasons for divorce from “hard” reasons (e.g., abuse and adultery) to “soft” reasons (e.g., psychological and relational problems). The two most destructive reasons for a divorce is physical violence or alcohol and drug problems, but these reason are less frequently are seen as reasons for divorce. The most common reasons for divorce are the “soft” reasons. According to William, a recent national survey found that 73% said the “lack of commitment” was their major reason for divorce. Other reasons were “ too much arguing, infidelity, marrying too young, unrealistic expectations, lack of equality in the relationship, lack of preparation for marriage, and abuse” (William, p10). Divorce has known to be a second most stressful life event, came before only by the death of a spouse and what is that stress capable? It is dispatching a serious about of anxiety and depression to people’s limbic system as emotional center in the brain. According to Taylor and Beth (2009), the stress of divorce had driven people beyond the normal grief felt in a divorce and into a clinical depression. “Nearly 15 million American adults, or about 6.7 %...