Short Story Forum – Due before midnight Tuesday, 8/314242 unread replies.4242 replies.GUIDELINES: Please answer TWO of the following questions about the short story “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie. PLEASE ALSO RESPOND TO AT LEAST ONE CLASSMATE’S POST.
SINCE THIS IS OUR FIRST GRADED FORUM, HERE ARE SOME REMINDERS/GUIDELINES:
– Please list the question number you response to in your subject line and in your post.
– Please make sure there isn’t coding in your post (this can happen with cutting and pasting). It’s your job to review your post. If there is coding, hit “edit” and delete the coding.
-Your job is to read all posts first and then add NEW information. You can agree with a post, but you need to add insight/an observation as opposed to reiterating what’s already been said. We don’t want to read the same thing over and over.
-Think of the forum as a sculpture with a theme – we’re all adding on new pieces of information that relate to the original concept.
-Be specific/give examples/lines from the text to back up your points.
-Don’t be afraid to pose new questions and compare and contrast to other works of literature (give some background to what you’re referring to if we haven’t read the work in class)
-Aim for about 200 words total for this assignment.
1) List and give a brief description of the main/significant characters in the story.
2) What locations are used in the story? How do they affect the story?
3) What’s the point of view in this story? Would it be a different story if told from a different point of view?
4) What’s the language/tone/pacing of this story?
5) Does Victor’s Native American background affect the way he reacts/deals with his father’s death?
6) Does Victor receive support from his tribal community? Why or why not?
7) Why do you think the author includes the scene with the woman/gymnast on the plane?
8) What is the story of the two Indian warriors Thomas tells on the Fourth of July?
9) How/why does the relationship between Victor and Thomas change in the story?
10) What is the theme/one of the themes in this short story? Explain.
11) Do you see any symbols/motifs (reoccurring symbols) in the story? Explain.
12) Do you think the title of the story works well? Would you keep it? Change it? Why?
13) Why does Victor give Thomas half of his father’s ashes?
14) How do Victor and Thomas end up following the advice of the father?