In The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie, Alexie states “A smart Indian is a dangerous person, widely feared and ridiculed by Indians and non-Indians alike” (Alexie 364). I would have to disagree with this statement. He is making it sound like just because he is a minority that received somewhat of an education, he should be feared by others. I believe that anyone who is smart and forceful in a community is dangerous because they have the willpower to go to any lengths to uphold their beliefs. On the other hand, I also believe that just because you are smart, you don’t necessarily have to be feared.
Alexie, Sherman, “Superman and Me: The Joy of Reading and Writing.” Los Angeles Times, 19 April 1998. Sherman Alexie shared how his childhood of reading helped him become a better reader and a leader for others. He first read a Superman comic and then went on to bigger and better books. Alexie explains that in his Native American reservation it’s okay for children not to excel in school.
Sherman Alexie, a Spokane Indian boy who taught himself to read by the age of three, grew up being ridiculed for his reading passion. However, since then, he has published numerous books and earned numerous awards, including the World Heavyweight Poetry Bout title in 1998. Alexie was raised with poor/middle-class standards, but was always surrounded by books, his father purchase. Alexie never let the stereotype of Indians slow him down, and refused to fail because he knew he smart, arrogant and lucky. He read every time he had an opportunity including: late at night, during recess, at lunch, after finishing class assignments, and while traveling to powwows or basketball games.
Sedaris wrote that being in his teacher’s classroom was akin to “the presence of a wild animal, something completely unpredictable.” Alexis employs analogical statements between “Superman” comic books and attempts to reach Native children utilizing
Everyone has the potential to read and write and “be a Superman” as long as you set goals and maintain the goals. Alexie smashes the doors of knowledge for himself and other children. “In one panel, Superman breaks through a door” (Alexie 4). He can relate to their situations because he was once there.
At the end of the passage, Alexie takes us back to when he was buried in the snow, however, this time he is not simply retelling an event, he is speaking about his current state. He is letting us know that he is nostalgic for his childhood, because he no longer has the connection with people that he had with his snowball fight friends. When Alexie say that his hands are bare, he is referencing an earlier part of the passage where he was unable to afford gloves. Because of his lack of gloves he is exposed to the “cold” also known as life without connection to others. The purpose of this passage is finally completed when the reader comes to realize this fact, and hopefully to sympathize with the
In the story the joy of reading Superman and me Sherman Alexie tells an emotional story of both hardship and success. He shares his struggles of being a poor Indian kid destined to fail, but he had a desire to be persevere he wanted to be more than the stereotypical uneducated Indian on a reservation and was determined to do so. He was inspired by his father to love books, and with the love for books came the ability to escape from the boundaries of the reservation and the dream to be more. Alexie shares how he taught his self to read with a superman comic book and with his witty metaphors how it shaped his life. I found Alexis story to be emotional, but yet very interesting.
Being a writer of many different styles, Sherman Alexie started off as a poet before writing novels and short stories. His poetic manner continues in the story “Indian Education”. He has a wide array of dry statements mixed with metaphors and statements that are not meant to be taken literally. The trend for each years is that he starts off dry and literal and ends poetic and metaphorical. His description of his interactions with the “white girl” in seventh grade is a great example.
Sherman uses a tone shift between paragraphs five and six the tone of the first part of the passage is gloomy and melancholy by talking about his poor family situation and him being expected to fail. But the tone shifts to inspirational and motivational by using the anaphora to show all the things he did to overcome the stereotype and become an educated successful Indian. Sherman uses an analogy when he first mentions superman breaking down the door to save someone” but he reads it as “I am breaking down the door” superman breaking down the door also refers to Sherman as a teacher when he states "I throw my weight against their locked doors” he is talking about him helping his students by saving their life through education. Sherman not only uses superman as an analogy but also as a symbol Sherman also uses hyperbole when he states “Our house was filled with books. They were stacked in crazy piles in the bathroom, bedrooms and living rooms.”
Alexie uses repetition, metaphors and imagery to convey these feelings and support the main idea. Alexie teaches himself to read by interpreting a Superman comic book. Although he cannot remember which exact comic book it was, the plot of the book, or the means by which he obtained the book, he does remember a specific panel that resonated to him (Alexie 582-583). Alexie writes about a panel where Superman is breaking a door down. “Because he is breaking down a door, I assume he says, “I am breaking down a door” (Alexie 584).
Last year, during my school’s annual recreational trip to Six Flags, I directly experienced this situation of the poem. On the ride to the amusement park, my friend was boasting about how he was going to ride one of the fattest and tallest roller coaster there, but I was only paying attention to the way he confidently expressed himself .When we arrived there, the teachers told the student body groups and who we were going to be partnered with throughout the day. Surprisingly, I was partnered in a group with my friend with whom I sat with earlier on the bus. The fist ride my group visited a ride named “Superman”.
Sherman Alexie’s text, “Superman and Me”, is an inspiring passage about Alexie himself. Within the text, Alexie has a few quotes that help the development of the main claim, or main idea, of the text. One of such quotes is “ I throw my weight against their locked doors. The doors hold. I am smart.
Despite the negative stereotype of American Indians, the objections and disapproval of fellow Natives, and the criticism of others, Sherman Alexie went on to become a successful writer that has inspired many. Alexie overcame many obstacles that would have deterred him from his goal, but he was able to remain steadfast and continue on in his pursuit of writing. As a result, he has published many literary works that include several short stories, poems, and a variety of novels. He allows his culture to seep into his writing, and continues to inspire young American Indians who also desire the path of knowledge.
Alexie used repetitive words to emphasize how Sherman Alexie and Superman have several characteristics. Superman can be seen in the second illustration standing triumphantly on a statue while braveness was shown on his face. Alexie believes that intelligence can save and change people's lives. He reads because he wants to save his life. He reads because he wants to save everybodys
One might ask how it is possible for someone to be a teacher, an award-winning poet, a part-time PhD student and a festival director for Poetry Festival Singapore (PFS) all at the same time. If you are thinking of Superman, you could probably be forgiven. Eric Tinsay Valles is the guy who could split himself up in different places. Not literally, but as he says, through “careful planning” and concentrating on “core activities” such as his family and friends. When ask if he is married, the 49-year-old writer cum poet says that he’s “married to the church”.
