Analysis of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

809 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Chapter 8 essay

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian which was written by Sherman Alexie, combines humor and tragedy to tell a first-person narrative story of Arnold Spirit Jr., a 14-year-old Native American teenager, and the events in his life about pursuing his dreams. This book is a semi-autobiographical novel and it has won the 2007 U.S. National Book Award for Young People's Literature and the Odyssey Award as best 2008 audiobook for young people. The language in this book is simple, humorous and spontaneous, however, tragedies have played a more important part than comedies.

The famous novelist C. S. Lewis once said: “Out of all human events, it is tragedy alone that brings people out of their own petty desires and into awareness of other humans' suffering. Tragedy occurs in human lives so that we will learn to reach out and comfort others." Tragedy make people to care for others, and that’s one of the reasons why Sherman Alexie wrote this book. In the novel, when Arnold told the truth about being poor to Penelope, she didn’t mock him or stop being a friend with him, so did Roger. “But then I realized that she was being my friend. Being a really good friend, in fact. She was concerned about me.”(127) Real Friends care about each other. What’s more, when Arnold’s grandmother’s wake was held, “almost two thousand Indians showed up that they to say good-bye. And nobody gave my any crap.”(159) Even if he was still a “traitor” in his own people’s eyes, they also were aware of that Arnold was just a kid who has lost his grandmother. After Eugene died, Arnold seemed to go to pieces and he couldn’t bear any more losses, he even blamed himself for all the deaths. When one of his teachers at Reardan High School, Mrs Jeremy insulted him fo...

... middle of paper ...

...d to treasure what they have and stop complaining. Arnold’s miserable life can be an inspiration, and his bravery can encourage the readers to pursue their dreams no matter how impossible they seemed. Tragedies make this story convincing.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a book that is painful but joyful at the same time. Those tragedies of Native Americans make it unique. Sherman Alexie has provided young adults a meaningful and enjoyable reading experience.

Works Cited

Sherman Alexie, 2007, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

"National Book Awards – 2007", National Book Foundation (NBF). Available at

Lewis, C. S., public lecture, 1958, Oxford, courtesy of Professor Kip Wheeler

Countee Cullen, My Soul’s High Song: The Collected Writings of Countee Cullen, 1991, Anchor Books

Show More
Related

  • Arnold's Obstacles

    751 Words  | 2 Pages

    Indian culture has been disappearing for centuries since the Native Americans were forced to migrate from their original homes. In the book, The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian, an Indian boy displays how to escape the poverty of his Indian Reservation by going to a wealthy white school, as well as keeping his Indian Culture alive when living on the reservation. The Native American boy Arnold is able to show toughness, courageousness and the capability to overcome obstacles, by illustrating comics and playing basketball. For Arnold, drawing comics and playing basketball is a way to build his character and self-esteem. Without the freedom in writing comics and the self-confidence builder in playing basketball, Arnold would act

    Read More

  • Part-Time Indian Struggles

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    Encountering struggles in life defines one’s character and speaks volumes about their strength, ambition, and flexibility. Through struggles, sacrifice, and tragedy, Junior in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie, adapts to survive difficult situations and faces his problems head-on. As he makes life changing decisions, adapts to an unfamiliar culture, and finds himself amongst misery and heartbreak, Junior demonstrates resilience to overcome adversity and struggles.

    Read More

  • Absolutely True Diary Of Part Time Indian Essay

    556 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the fictional story, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie, a Native American author, describes the problems of a teenager living between two different cultures; one Native American, and the other white. Alexie uses figurative language elements to convince teenagers to be aware and support people living between two worlds in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. By using these literary elements, Sherman Alexie guides the audience to respond emotionally and act upon about the book’s message. Throughout the story, Alexie uses juxtaposition to show the differences between the two worlds the protagonist lives in.

    Read More

  • Growing Up with No Hope in True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    Can you imagine growing up on a reservation full of people with no hope? The character Arnold in the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie did. In the beginning of the book, Arnold was a hopeless Native American living on a hopeless reservation. In the middle of the book, Arnold leaves the reservation and finds out that his sister left too.

    Read More

  • Native Americans in Poverty a Losing Battle: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

    781 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alexie, Sherman. The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. Groningen [etc.: Noordhoff, 2011. Print.

    Read More

  • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

    1013 Words  | 3 Pages

    What do the following words or phrases have in common: “the last departure,”, “final curtain,” “the end,” “darkness,” “eternal sleep”, “sweet release,” “afterlife,” and “passing over”? All, whether grim or optimistic, are synonymous with death. Death is a shared human experience. Regardless of age, gender, race, religion, health, wealth, or nationality, it is both an idea and an experience that every individual eventually must confront in the loss of others and finally face the reality of our own. Whether you first encounter it in the loss of a pet, a friend, a family member, a neighbor, a pop culture icon, or a valued community member, it can leave you feeling numb, empty, and shattered inside. But, the world keeps turning and life continues. The late Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computers and of Pixar Animation Studios, in his 2005 speech to the graduating class at Stanford, acknowledged death’s great power by calling it “the single best invention of Life” and “Life’s great change agent.” How, in all its finality and accompanying sadness, can death be good? As a destination, what does it have to teach us about the journey?

    Read More

  • First Person Narrative in Red Sky at Morning by Richard Bradford

    601 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Arnolds moved from Mobile, Alabama during the War to live year long in Sagrado when Frank had a conviction to serve his time in the U.S. Navy. Once there, Josh met Steenie, a role model, protector, and social educator. Steenie taught him all he needed to know about living in Sagrado, and they soon became the best of friends. Throughout the story, the characters grew as they all learned of new cultural differences. Three cultural differences in the novel were ethnicity, religion, and regional attitudes.

    Read More

  • The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part Time Indian Essay

    619 Words  | 2 Pages

    Picture yourself in a town where you are underprivileged and sometimes miss a meal. In the novel, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” Sherman Alexie wrote the book to show hardships that Native Americans face today. Alexie shows us hardships such as poverty, alcoholism and education. In the novel, Junior goes against the odds to go to an all white school to get a better education to have a better life

    Read More

  • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

    1132 Words  | 3 Pages

    Adolescents experience a developmental journey as they transition from child to adult, and in doing so are faced with many developmental milestones. Physical, cognitive, social and emotional changes are occurring during this tumultuous stage of life, and making sense of one’s self and identity becomes a priority. Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian addresses the challenges of adolescence in an engaging tale, but deals with minority communities and cultures as well.

    Read More

  • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    In my view, intolerance is the unfair act of being treated unjustly by others. This closed-minded action is one that is unfortunately an increasing problem in today’s society for many different reasons. Intolerance is the greatest issue we face regarding discrimination and racism among others, increasing the tension and conflict between people. One example of Junior, also known as Arnold, experiencing intolerance is when he is made fun of by his peers on his reservation in Wellpinit for having a lisp and eye abnormalities. Junior cannot help that he was born with these physical defects and has no control over the fact that he has to live with them. In Reardan, Junior is picked on the antagonist, Roger that creates even more of a struggle for the “part-time Indian”. I believe that the most damaging forms of intolerance for Junior are in Reardan for multiple reasons. For example, when attending school in Reardan, Junior explains the following, “…People had either ignored me or called me names or pushed me. But they stopped after my grandmother died,” (Alexie 159). This part of the story made me wonder, why would it take the death of someone to show that discrimination is such a socially inappropriate gesture to bring upon another person? Wellpinit holds the largest amount of trouble for Junior because his peers discriminate against him racially and physically which are both serious issues. Another example of intolerance for Junior is when he tells his parents that he wants to switch schools, “’Come on, I said. ‘Who has the most hope?’ ‘White people," my parents said at the same time.’” (Alexie 45). This shows clear discrimination between the two races, and an unfortunate viewpoint in the eyes of Junior’s parents. It is almost as if ...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of 'The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian'

    842 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is a humorous and intuitive novel written by Sherman Alexie. The reader gets an insight into the everyday life of a fourteen year old hydrocephalic Indian boy named Arnold Spirit, also referred to as Junior Spirit. He is living on the Spokane Indian reservation and is seen as an outcast by all the other Indians, due to his medical condition. Against all odds, Arnold expands his hope, leaves his school on the reservation and faces new obstacles to obtain a more promising future at a school off the reservation. The novel is told through Arnold’s voice, thoughts, actions, and experiences.

    Read More

  • Experience In Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian?

    1039 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the main character Arnold, also known as Junior, has many health issues, and notably stands out in the crowd. It does not help that he is a poor Indian boy that lives on a reservation, and that he decides to go to an all-white high school. Many of his experiences at school, and on the Reservation, impact his identity. Experience is the most influential factor in shaping a person’s identity because it helps gain confidence, it teaches new things, and it changes one’s outlook on the world.

    Read More

  • The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

    1336 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alexie, Sherman. The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Hachette Book Group, 2007. Print.

    Read More

  • Diary Of A Part Time Indian Essay

    1721 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sherman Alexie grew up on a Spokane Indian reservation, in fact Junior and the story as a whole is based on his childhood; as he also struggled with the effects of poverty, alcoholism, identity, and social injustice. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is follows the life of Junior; a fourteen year old, Spokane Indian boy, who lives on an Indian reservation filled with poverty and addiction. The story begins when Junior decides transfer to a high school called “Reardan,” which is located outside the reservation in a rich white farm town. At first, Junior is a misfit at his new school; he has trouble making friends, mainly because he’s Indian. His transition to Reardan also causes a fight and other conflicts between him and his best friend, Rowdy, who feels betrayed by Junior. In fact, the whole reservation sees him as traitor.

    Read More

  • Arnold Spirit Equality

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sherman Alexie explores equality by showing the opposite of it through his character Arnold Spirit’s life and by showing readers inequality in average life as well. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is about a Native American named Arnold that decides to go to school off the reservation that he lives in, causing people from the rez and at Reardan to dislike him for what he does and who he is.

    Read More

More about Analysis of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Open Document