Why does Junior make a list of things he likes?

I think that Junior makes a list of good things in the world because so many bad things
have happened to him, he wants to see the good. He was depressed after his
grandmother and Eugene died, “I was joyless… I was so depressed that I thought about
dropping out of Reardan” (173). However, now that he sees that his classmates and
friends understand him and stand up for him, he feels hope, and he feels happier. Junior
knows that he isn’t alone, and although their protest didn’t go the way they had hoped,
Junior learned that there is still good in the world, and that there are still people who are
there for him. “I used to think the world was broken down by tribes… by black and white.
By Indian and white. But I know that isn’t true.” (176) So instead of focusing on all the bad
things in the world, Junior makes a list of all the good things in life, no matter how small.
He’s drawing things he doesn’t like, to relive his anger and sadness. “It became my
grieving ceremony.” (178) Now that Junior understands that the world can be horrible
and wonderful at the same time, I think he will be stronger and able to overcome more
challenges that may come in the future.

How do you think his classmates protest had an impact on him?

Why do you think Junior says that tears are the same as laughter?

How does Eugene’s death further effect Junior’s depression?

Why does Junior say he would always love his tribe? What do you think this reveals about Junior?
Riana Desai

When Arnold’s grandmother died, Junior says “People had either ignored me or called me

names or pushed me. But they stopped after my grandmother died… I would always love [my tribe]

for giving me peace on the day of my grandmother’s funeral” (160). This quote symbolizes

that the death of Arnold’s grandmother affected not only Arnold but his whole tribe. Death

was hard for this tribe because losing one person felt like losing more of the small community

they had. Arnold, later on, states that “Each funeral was a funeral for all of us. We lived and

died together”(166). This tribe is so close and tight-knit, that everybody knew Arnold’s

grandmother and they were in pain when she was killed. For this reason, the tribe can forgive

Arnold because they realize why he left the reservation. Arnold left because he was seeking

hope in a new place where he would find an opportunity to become more than himself. He

wanted to experience a real life in a place where he could be happy.

Arnold respecting his tribe shows how he respects and he tries to look for the best in people.

This is shown because Arnold forgives his tribe. The book highlights his tribe forgiving him,

but the truth is that Arnold was the one with the right to be mad. All he did was try to find

more hope and opportunities, and his tribe was not supportive of his decision. They had no

right to be mean to him because Arnold still lived on the rez. He didn’t completely leave, yet

his tribe was really mad. They were jealous that he had enough courage to walk off to

Reardon in one day.

Who do you think has the right to be mad? Arnold? His tribe?
Do you think that more Indians will follow Arnold and move to Reardon hoping for a better life

Why does Junior say he would always love his tribe? What do you think this reveals about Junior? Thomas Fulginiti

Junior said that he will always love his “tribe” because even though the majority of the time

when he is around his peers he is hated and bullied, but now they stood up and showed sympathy for him. Throughout the novel gruesome events have occurred from pretty much every

individual he has met. The only person that all the time was supporting Arnold was his

Grandmother. When she passed away the “tribe” felt his sadness and responded in an

exceptional manner. “We were stunned because almost two thousand Indians showed up to

say goodbye. And nobody gave me crap (159).” Also the page 175 shows how all of his

classmates are no longer going to let him be oppressed and made fun of by students and

teachers. Both communities, Wellpoint and Rearden, are starting to put herself in his shoes

and understanding what he has gone through his entire life, especially now. This reveals to

Arnold that there will always be love and support for him and he will always love everyone

else no matter what.

Before now why was Arthur chosen to be disliked? Why?

Did Author betray his tribe or does he still love it?

If you were Arnold and you were told to choose to go either Rearden or Wellpoint (not thinking about

location and wealth) which would you choose?

How is Arnold's perspective changing? (Free Response) -AntotheGreat

Arnold's perspective is changing. At the start of the year, even though he stuck out like a sore thumb, he felt like a part of his tribe. Now, he doesn't feel like a part of his tribe. In fact, Arnold feels so disconnected from them that he says "these dang Indians"(144), as if he isn't one of them, and doesn't feel proud for his tribe at all when they "won by thirty points"(147), his middle school dream. The people on the rez say that he's a traitor and a white lover, which is becoming true because they exclude him in that way. Because no one on the rez accepts him, he's finding his community in Rearden, with Penelope, Gordy, and Roger, and is leaving the community in Wellpinit behind, which is shifting his views. He has no reason to have any concern for the other people on the rez since none of them are part of his community anymore. With the passing of his grandmother, he feels even more disconnected. 

This chasm between him and the rest of his tribe will probably continue to grow, and Arnold will become integrated into the Rearden community. This will probably result in even more resentment by his neighbors, and quite probably more incidents like the basketball game. 

Will the chasm between Arnold and the rez community continue to grow? Will Arnold become a full-fledged member of the Rearden community? Will Arnold and Rowdy make up?

Malik Spaloss G block


The reason Arnold tried out for the basketball team was because of the idea that his dad had about “dream big”.

His father tells him a weird story about him meeting his mom and he says “ Your mother was

thirteen and i was five when we first met?” How ? She helped me get a drink from a water

fountain”. Arnold was freaked out but now he sees that they are married so he believes that since

his dad dreamed big he should to. Arnold’s first game is against his old school and when

he walks out he gets yelled at and people continuously say “ Arnold sucks”. But Arnold is not fazed

by this and he wants to use this anger as a benefit. When he goes out for his first play he gets a

quarter thrown at him and has to get stitches by Eugene and luckily he gets to go back out and

play but when he is going he slams into rowdy and get tooken out. At the end of the game he

talks to the coach and he is proud how Arnold can go back out there and keep playing.

This impacts him because he now knows that his coach actually cares for him and he

finally has someone to count on. Arnold’s grandmother explains one of her best gift which is

even though back in her day Indian tribes did not accept other races or homeless or gay people

but she did and she talked with them. The Indians sense of tolerance has changed because of

the influence in white culture and because of that they did not accept those people.


Questions:
1, why do you think the kids at the Rez treated Arnold this way when he faced them?
2. How do you feel about Arnold's dad? if good why? if not why?

On page 132, Gordy says: "Well, life is a constant struggle between being an individual and being a member of the community." Explain this quote and how it relates to Junior, and also to a main theme in the novel. Charlotte Trodden.

When Gordy says "Well life us a constant struggle between being an individual and being a member

 of the community.", it seems like a normal Gordy quote. He always says weird deep things that are

 way too mature for a Freshman. But, when thought about more deeply, it is clear that this quote

 relates to Junior's life. For example, on page 20, when talking about Rowdy, Junior says, "I am his 

friend, his best friend, his only friend. He wouldn't hurt me." This shows that Junior is part of a tribe

 or a community. He has a tight community too not only with Rowdy but with his sister,

 Grandmother, Mother, Father and other friends. But, when Junior is at Rearden, or on his way to

 Rearden, he has no community to be a part of. This is shown on page 83 when Junior is talking about

 his time at Rearden and says "It was the loneliest time of my life." He also says "I woke up on the

 reservation as an Indian, and somewhere on the road to Rearden, I became something than that

 Indian. And once I arrived at Rearden, I became something less than less than less than Indian." This

 all changes in "Slouching Towards Thanksgiving" and "Hunger Pains" when he befriends Gordy, 

Penelope, and eventually many others. This relates to the main theme of identity in the novel because

 Junior is trying to figure out who he is and one of the main parts of identity is who the person is 

friends with and who they associate themselves with.

Questions

1: What is one example of identity in the chapters we read for homework?

2: How is Junior's identity starting to show in his actions and words?

3: How does Junior feel about Penelope and Gordy and how they are affecting him (use text support)? 

Junior says that the night of the Winter Formal was one of the "best nights of his life." Why? Explain. Do you think it could be a great night, but also confusing for Junior at the same time? Why?---- Max B-P

When Junior and Penelope go to the Winter Formal as a couple, they, “danced every single dance”
(123) and had a great time.
Junior is also a bit confused because he was worried people would make fun of him, except it was
just the opposite when he walked into the party in his dad’s old polyester suit.
The baffling and awesome part for Junior was that Penelope liked the suit and because of that, the
whole school did as well.
The people who made fun of him and the ridicule he faced at first disappeared that night so that now
he was the highlight of the party.

The dancing was the biggest aspect of the night and despite his uncoordinated nature, Junior kept on dancing the whole night and
no one even mentions that he is poor, an Indian, or an outsider. That is what Junior like best about the
night, that he finally was fitting in in the wealthy,
racist town he attends school in. Junior and Penelope also are seen as an “item” by the whole school
and by pure association, Junior becomes popular.
Also, the second part of the evening was great for Junior but was also wildly unexpected. He was at
the restaurant with the cool jocks,
Penelope and he when the person who had bullied him, Roger, gave him money to pay for the food.
Despite his being Indian and despite Roger suspecting Junior was poor, the football star helped out
his “buddy”.
Both examples resulted in Junior being happy and feeling included. That is why this night for Junior
was categorized as the best one of his life.

Questions to Think About... feel free to make up your own!

How did the Winter Formal change Junior's perception of Reardan?

How does Junior now view his relationship with Penelope after he exposed himself for being shallow?

What do you think is next to come in the chapter novel?

How do you think Roger will act now that he knows Junior is poor?