I M Not The Indian You Had In Mind Essay

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What do the works, “As Canadian as Possible under the Circumstances” and “I’m not the Indian you had in mind” have in common? The dissection of these writing pieces revealed that they do in fact have multiple similarities. Those ideas are the use of identity, stereotypes as well as double meanings.
Firstly, the poem, “I’m not the Indian you had in mind,” is oozing with stereotypes and irony. Talking about how people assume “Indians” are the figure found in history books wearing hides and a headdress is a common stereotype and misconception. The quote, “With wolf and eagle by his side,” as well as “the boys who sing around the drum” make the truth in the statement genuinely visible. Thomas also speaks that “He may well have a secret song, a dance he’ll share, a long lost chant,” supporting the stereotypes that Indians are perceived to be like. …show more content…

In Linda’s work she talks about identity and Canada. She clearly states “Distinctly Canadian identity in the face of a colonial past,” which connects to Thomas King’s work where he is distinctively describing the “Indian” that people have engraved into their minds. He repetitively says “I’m not the Indian you have in mind,” as well as “he may well have a secret song, a dance he’ll share, a long lost chant,” which in turn connects to Linda also speaking on culture in Canada.
Lastly, half of the poem, “I’m not the Indian you have in mind,” has a double meaning behind it. The first half of the poem is all about our perception of what we believe an Indian is. Linda Hutcheon talked about“Dual allegiances,” in her writing. These two authored works blend together in a sense because they both seem to follow the ideology of a double meaning hidden within Canadian beings; between having a set perception of something such as a stereotypical Indian to the irony of Canadian culture both are examples of double

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