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Sherman Alexie's This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona

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In Sherman Alexie’s “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” an Indian boy named Thomas is forgotten and survives by telling stories, as compared to Janice Mirikitani’s “Suicide Note” were a young Chinese girl is forgotten and overlooked by her parents and jumps to her death, or in Percy Bysshe Shelly’s “Ozymandias” were a grandiose statue of Ozymandias is also forgotten. In these 3 literary pieces you will see that no matter the situation, things are overlooked and forgotten. A young Chinese girl, an Indian boy, and even a pharaoh, can be easily forgotten and lost forever. In the short story “Thomas Builds-the-Fire” Thomas has been pushed aside and forgotten. At times he feels alive only through his stories. At an early age
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Mimeomia—as defined by The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows is "the frustration of knowing how easily you fit into a stereotype, even if you never intended to, even if it’s unfair, even if everyone else feels the same way" (Koeing). Often individuals grow a sense of shame towards their culture. Said individuals will try to minimize or shield their cultural involvement to hide what they are so humiliated by—their bones, their blood. In the short story, “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Victor, a Native American who has recently found out his father has passed away and how he must journey with his cousin, Thomas Builds-the-Fire, to collect his father’s remains and property. By navigating through

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One day while the kids were at school and Velma went to the laundromat , she returned to find her house on fire and Thomas died from smoke inhalation . Velma’s suffering appeared short after another misfortune continued. A few months after Thomas died another fire broke out this time destroying the home. Later Velma and her children fled to Velma’s parents and waited for the insurance check.

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Thomas finally found his calling as a writer. But, Thomas didn’t start off in the colonies great, he came off a boat sick and with a disease. He survived this unlike many others he was wrapped in a blanket and carried off a boat. A doctor volunteered to take care of him.

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The Captivating Tale of a Man Named Victor The short story titled, “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix” by Sherman Alexie presents a somber tone, describing the tragedy that encompasses Victor’s life. Shortly after losing his job, he discovers that his father, who he was hardly in contact with, has passed (Alexie 246). He embarks on a journey with his old friend, Thomas Builds-the-Fire, to his father’s home.

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In William Faulkner’s story “Barn Burning”, the reader sees a young boy who struggles with his relationship with his father Abner Snopes. Sarty, the young boy, knows what his father has done is wrong. Because of this he is stuck in between being faithful to his father and family and telling the truth about what his father has done. As the story progresses it is easy for readers to see him struggle more and more with trying to keep his father’s actions a secret. He begins to think about himself and the consequences he could face for what Abner is doing.

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The scene then changes to the narrator’s childhood, a lonely one at it. “I lay on the bed and lost myself in stories,” he says, “I liked that. Books were safer than other people anyway.” The main narrative starts as he recalls a

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