Throughout the novel, Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, very memorable, powerful and important sections stand out. These sections help move the plot forward, establish or continue the prevailing theme or help the reader learn more about a certain character. One example is; after bearing witness to the Iron Sister, Saul laments the lack of charity, hostility and destructivity of St. Jerome’s, when he says, “When your innocence is stripped from you, when your people are denigrated, when the family you came from is denounced and your tribal ways and rituals are pronounced backward, primitive, savage, you come to see yourself as less than human. That is hell on earth, that sense of unworthiness. That’s what they inflicted on us” (81). This powerful …show more content…
It is like a breath of fresh air, in contrast to the somber and heavier sections mentioned previously. It”s a noteworthy part of the story because it drives the plot forward, as the author displays Saul’s newly found passion for hockey, as well as his brotherly bond with his teammates. In the text, the reader is introduced to concepts such as laughter, expression and freedom. This demonstrates that, in the midst of the most gruelling and sorrowful times at the residential school, Saul has finally found a safe haven. The spirit of the game is an excellent outlet to distract him from the everyday upheaval and abuse. When Saul says, “I ceased to be the Zhaunagush. I became Saul Indian Horse, Ojibway kid and hockey player”, it solidifies and represents his dynamic transformation from being an isolated and broken student, to the best hockey player on the team. In addition, this paragraph also pays homage to the value of brotherhood. For the first time since his grandmother died, Saul knows what it's like to have someone he can count on. The passage connects what the reader knows about finding where you belong in life, with our protagonist, who flourishes into a more confident and hopeful …show more content…
Imagery is used throughout, in order to engage the reader and assist them in understanding things from Saul’s perspective. For example, the sense of sight was touched on when it describes the string of light bulbs, the shadows of the ice and the rocks and spindly trees. It creates a mental image with the use of sophisticated adjectives such as humped, spindly and eerie. Also, the description of the smell is very detailed by saying that it was a “potent mix” of various unpleasing scents. This proves that imagery is a device that is essential in helping the audience imagine the setting, make connections and hold interest. Moreover, this passage is delicately laced with intricate details of the story, and is a familiar vehicle for conveying the novel’s
Shatter the Indian, Save the Man Indian Horse, a novel by Richard Wagamese is a heartening story about a boy named Saul Indian Horse who attended residential school. This novel brings a depressingly believable story of a 1960’s residential school to life, through Saul, an Ojibway boy from northern Ontario. Saul’s character evolved through the challenges that he faced in his adolescent and adult life such as feelings of neglect, abuse and fault due to the gruesome environment that no young child should be in no matter they’re ethnicity. Firstly, Saul began to feel overwhelmed by the system even before he started to attend St. Jerome’s.
Chapter one begins with Gladwell describing junior hockey in Canada. He described the “celebrity” lifestyle these young men have endured and how intense these games were. But then, he goes to talk about how Canadian hockey is a meritocracy or a disgrace rather. These young men are playing Canadian hockey before they even start kindergarten. There are levels for each grade and from there on these players are evaluated and placed on pedestals based on their ability to play.
Saul Indian Horse had a traumatic childhood. He was taken away by white people after having his sibling being taken away from his family. First of, this story started very dark; from the very beginning, Saul had a rough childhood. Moreover, while, he was still a part of the Fish Clan, his gift was his vision; for, he saw (he had a vision) of his ancestors getting crushed by a boulder when he was by the river during the night. Again, when Saul was trying to escape to a better life --after his family had gain hope from regaining Saul’s brother -- Saul’s hope was taken away after he had that vision.
In the story Richard Connell uses imagery to describe the setting. ¨Jagged crags appeared to jut into the opaqueness.¨(Connell, 218) Throughout his writing he includes descriptions that make the reader imagine what the feelings that the characters have are. He says ¨It's like moist black velvet¨(Connell, 215) The imagery that he uses brings the reader into the story and connects them to the setting and describes and appeals to their senses in a way that makes the feel as though they are there.
The novels To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, and Indian Horse, by Richard Wagamese, both have a similar focus around 3 themes. The reader is enlightened on the concerns of abuse, 2ND POINT and racism. A different perspective of these themes is given in the two books and together they create a bigger picture that allows for a better understanding. Harper Lee gives a detached distant view while Richard Wagamese gives a very personal approach. Abuse was perhaps the issue that both novels centered around.
Growing Up Young Loss of innocence is when one is unaware of evil surrounding them especially in children of a young age. Saul remembers his traumatic past experiences and feels better when he talks it through with someone. In the novel, Indian Horse, by Richard Wagamese, Saul is stripped of his innocence, which in turn makes him more violent and causes him to turn to alcohol to cope with and escape from his troubles. Loss of innocence at a young age can forcibly take away one’s dreams, ultimately leading to a life of negativity. Hockey was the only source Saul was able to rely on, but with all the racism and his traumatic past, he is unable to pursue his passion for hockey.
“I understood then that when you miss a thing it leaves a hole that only the thing you miss can fill.” ― Richard Wagamese, Indian Horse. Saul’s story benefits people who read it and helps them know what the natives went through. It helps by telling people to escape if times are tough, teaches people what happened in the residential homes and how Saul was discriminated by people because he was a native.
Through the Medicine Wheel, we are reminded of our lifelong journey that is continuous upon birth and living through youth, adulthood and senior years. In Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse, the protagonist Saul experiences many obstacles which shape and develop his character. Saul’s life can be divided into more than the four stages of life to better understand his journey. Saul’s Life with His Family The time Saul was able to spend with his family was very short due to the effects of the white men.
Author Richard Wagamese conveys a message in his novel Indian Horse displaying the idea of sacrifice. Specifically how people must sacrifice belonging for survival. Wagamese uses Saul 's experiences, choices and general story to express this message. Throughout Saul’s life he is forced to make sacrifices for himself and the people around him in order to survive, his isolation is what gets him through. Everyday people see the reproductions of community and how surviving isn 't an easy thing.
As a literary device, imagery consists of visually descriptive or figurative language that can function as a way to help the reader better imagine the world the author is talking about. In Wallace Stegner’s “The Sound of Mountain Water”, Stegner uses different types of images to make his experience sound vivid and real. “Nouns are necessary, verbs are vital.” As Mr. Cervas discussed in class, “Verbs are full of animation and add life to writing.” Imagery uses movement with verbs.
Friendships are a learning experience that can make or break people. In the novel, Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese it is evident that their friends help characters. Father Leboutiller helps Saul find his passion for hockey. The Kelly family allow Saul to develop as a person. The Moose hockey team helps Saul develop in hockey.
Going on a journey is easier said than done. Especially when emotions, friendships and the past are involved. Society tends to think of journeys to only be physical, getting from one place to the next. And although that might be true other forms of journey’s such as emotional, and spiritual may have a greater effect on people. In the book Indian Horse written by Richard Wagamese, Saul Indian horse goes on a Journey to rediscover his past.
Throughout the novels Indian Horse written by Richard Wagamese and Merchant of Venice written by Shakespeare, being regarded as the enemy of society, having a fear for the events that will come and the quest for an individual or power to gain power and control are apparent and occurring themes that affect characters differently. In both novels individuals are considered to be an enemy of society based on discrimination rather than being an actual threat to society. “When your innocence is stripped from you, when your people are denigrated, when the family you came from is denounced and your tribal ways and rituals are pronounced backward, primitive, savage, you come to see yourself as less than human. That is hell on earth, that sense of unworthiness.
Imagine going to school to learn new things; now imagine going to school to get beaten and never to return home. Indian Horse, written by Richard Wagamese, is a very emotional book that enables people to see what true horror it was to take part in Residential Schools as Saul Indian Horse and the after effects his parents portrayed. Wagamese establishes a very strong story line to examine how life was in Residential Schools including pain, punishments, and suffering. Punishments included mouths being washed out with soap, children being beaten (sometimes to death), laborious chores, strict rules to be followed along with certain religions, and racism. Residential schools caused Saul Indian Horse to forget his Ojibway heritage, follow his hockey
Chapter 1: Meaningful ideas one could take from this chapter could be the metaphorical or the constant hidden meaning in quests that characters take in a story. This will help students as they will delve deeper into the meaning of a quest, adventure, mission, or task the protagonist must partake, and not solely read the surface of the text. Also, students must realize and implicate the idea that characters act in self interest rather than for the reason they give in the story. Chapter 2: One can analyze many ideas from this chapter. For example, the idea that characters involves the act of communion.