Angela Smith Mrs. Black Engl. 1102 January 31 2014 Plot “This is what it means to say Phoenix‚Arizona” “This is what it means to say Phoenix‚ Arizona” by Sherman Alexie is about the life struggles of two American Indians named Victor and Thomas Builds-the-Fire. Victor‚the protagonist‚ has not only lost his job but his father as well. With the aid of Thomas he will travel to collect his father’s remains and estate. This story is neatly structured in a standard plot line format‚ built
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the short story‚ “This is What It Means to Say Phoenix‚ Arizona‚” the author Sherman Alexie shows the struggles of Native Americans in a white man’s world. To help us better understand these struggles‚ this paper will analyze the characters‚ theme and setting of this story. The characters of a story is what holds the audiences’ attention. It’s important a storyteller introduce characters in a way that allows an audience the time to take in who the characters are and what issues them
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In Sherman Alexie’s story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix‚ Arizona”‚ he explores the challenging life of two Native American Indian men named Victor and Thomas on the reservation. The story communicates the childhood memories‚ relationships‚ and cultural aspects of Thomas and Victor’s life in Spokane (an Indian Reservation). In this story‚ Victor appeared to be mentally depressed because his father had died just after he lost his job. Although Victor’s father left Victor at a very young age
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The story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix‚ Arizona” by Sherman Alexie’s focuses on Victor and Thomas. Victor and Thomas has grown up and spent their childhood together. Thomas is an eccentric character; he likes to tell same stories again and again and sometimes babble to people. Because of Thomas behavior‚ nobody likes to be around him and listen to him. The tale is about Victor‚ who comes to know about his father’s death from heart attack. Victor has a strained relation with his father‚ and
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Conflict Within Thyself Jermaine Kelly ENG 102 072 Prof. Messina Essay 1 October 2nd‚ 2007. 1 Sherman Alexie’s story‚ "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix‚ Arizona"‚ states mainly how two Native Americans struggle to adapt to modern times and their culture‚ and the conflict they endured within their lifetime. The story focuses on two main characters that embark on a cross-country journey to retrieve a dead father’s ashes and belongings. Victor‚ one of the main characters in the story
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Tribal Ties Sherman Alexies short story “This is what it means to say Phoenix‚ Arizona” tells a story about Victor‚ a broken‚ lonely young Indian man‚ who is shaped by the circumstances of the reservation. He not only finds out that he lost his job but also that his father has passed away due to a heart attack. These series of unfortunate events lead Victor his childhood friend Thomas Build-the-Fire to embark on a journey to Arizona to obtain Victor’s father’s ashes. Although the two former friends
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Reading Log: Alexie – “What Does It Mean to Say Phoenix‚ Arizona” Time started reading: 5:27 Time ended reading: 5:45 Before Reading What do you already know about the author/story? I actually do not know anything about the author or story. I have not heard of either before. Notice the title: does it give you any ideas about what the story may be about? Based on the title‚ “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix‚ Arizona”‚ I was not sure at first whether the story would be a bibliography of his
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enthralling short story by Sherman Alexie‚ "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix‚ Arizona" is rich in symbolism. Much of its appeal lies in its enigmatic usage of symbols. Sherman’s tale of death and renewal relies on three key symbols: the Phoenix (a type of mythical bird which is found in the title)‚ the number seven‚ and in the name of the protagonist’s story-telling friend‚ Thomas Builds-the-Fire. First‚ the title contains a reference to the phoenix‚ a mythical bird that‚ according to Native American
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The character Victor from Sherman Alexie “This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix‚ Arizona‚” is going through trying to get his father’s remains with another character named Thomas. In this story ‘This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona” victor is very dedicated to getting his father’s ashes because he wants to have something to remember his father as. Victor is determined to get his father’s ashes and he want’s to be able to retrieve the ashes of his father. Its obvious in the story that Victor
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darkness in some of his stories. Most of Alexie’s stories do not deal with life on the reservations; most of his stories are life experiences that can influence readers to overcome situations in life. Alexie’s short story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix‚ Arizona” is a powerful written novel that brings two ex-friends together to overcome challenges in life. This story is about two characters Victor and Thomas Build-The-Fire‚
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