English
254
Native
American Literature
Dr. Susanne George
Bloomfield
OUTSIDE
BOOK ANALYSIS REQUIREMENTS
I. Plot Synopsis
Give title, author, original
date of publication, publisher, and number of pages. In your own words, briefly
summarize the work. (250 words)
II. Critical Analysis
What is the
relationship and/or attitude of the characters to the land/the West? Are the
characters, White, or Indian, well-rounded, human beings who are realistically
depicted? If not, are they romantically or stereotypically defined? Explain,
giving specific examples from the text to support your views. Discuss the
importance of American Indian history, culture, legends, and or stereotypes in
this work. *Pick one or two of the
above ideas and explain in detail. Use quotations from the work to support your
interpretation (750 words).
III. Comparative Analysis
Compare and/or contrast this work to
another work we have studied in class. Possible areas for analysis might
include the authors' use of theme, symbolism, conflict, and character
development; their emphasis on historical or cultural aspects of the period;
their acceptance of or deviation from popularly accepted myths or stereotypes.
Again, choose only one or two areas of comparison and go into depth. Use
quotations from both works to support your comparison. (750 words)
IV. Reader-Response
What is your personal response to the
book? Some questions you might consider are the following: What is the major
theme of this book? Does it have any redeeming social, political, or personal
values? Does it exemplify any universal truths? Is the book factual and
realistic? Did you enjoy reading the book?
(250 words)
**Follow the above format. Label Parts I,
II, III, and IV. In addition to the critical thinking in the analysis, grammar,
punctuation, correct form, and the degree of difficulty of the book will also
be considered. Parts II and III are the most important and will weigh more
heavily in determining the overall grade for the Book Analysis.
**Author not on suggested list must be
approved by professor.
A FEW SUGGESTED AMERICAN INDIAN WRITERS
AND THEIR BOOKS*
Alexie,
Allen, Paula Gunn (Laguna Pueblo/Sioux). The
Woman Who Owned the Shadows
Bruchac, Joseph (Abenaki).
A Boy Named Slow: The True Story of Sitting Bull
Cook-Lynn,
Deloria, Ella Cara (Yankton Sioux).
Deloria, Jr., Vine (Standing Rock Sioux). Custer
Died for Your Sins
Dorris, Michael (Modoc). A
Yellow Raft in Blue Water.
Eastman, Charles (Wahpeton Dakota Sioux).
An Indian Boyhood, From Deep Woods to Civilization
Erdrich, Louise(Ojibway). Love Medicine, Beet Queen, Tracks,
The Bingo Palace, Antelope Woman, The Master Butcher’s Singing
Club
Glancy, Diane (Cherokee). Pushing the Bear: A Novel of the
Trail of Tears
Hogan,
Linda (Chickasaw). Mean Spirit
Hopkins,
Sarah Winnemucca (Northern Paiute). Life Among the Piutes
King,
Thomas (Blackfoot).
Kingsolver,
Barbara (Cherokee). Animal Dreams, Pigs in Heaven
Marshall, Joseph III (Lakota). The
Dance House, The
Mathews,
John Jospeh (Osage). Wa’Kon-Tah
Mcauliffe, Dennis (Osage). Bloodline:A True Story of Oil, Greed and Murder on the
Osage Reservation
McNickle, D'Arcy (Cree/Salish/Kootenai).
Wind from an Enemy Sky
Momaday, N. Scott(Kiowa).
The Way to Rainy Mountain, The Names,
House Made of Dawn
Mourning
Dove )Okanogan/Colville). Co-ge-we-a
Ortiz,
Simon (Acoma
Owens, Louis (Choctaw/Cherokee). The
Sharpest Sight, Bone Game, Wolfsong,
Silko, Leslie,Marmon (Laguna Pueblo). Ceremony, Storyteller
Young Bear, Ray (Meskwaki).
Remnants of the First Earth, Black Eagle Child: The Facepaint Narratives
Vizenor, Gerald (Choctaw). Bearheart:
The Heirship Chronicles, Earthdivers:
Tribal Narratives on Mixed Descent, Griever: AN American Monkey King in
Welch, James (Blackfeet/Gros
Vent). Winter in the Blood, Fools Crow, Death of Jim Looney,
The Indian Lawyer, Killing Custer,
The Heartsong of Charging Elk
Zitkala-Sa (Dakota Sioux). American Indian Stories
* For plot synopses, see A Literary History of the
American West in the library, or go the Amazon.com or BN.com on the Web.