House Made of Dawn
Written by N. Scott Momaday...
N. Scott Momaday
Feel free to share one that you like!
Part 2: The Priest of the Sun
The Communal Search for Identity Continues
The Communal Search for Identity Continues
Let’s get it out of the way…
Initial Impressions?
- Was this part a more enjoyable read?
- Were the flashbacks more coherent?
- Is Momaday making more sense?
Recurring themes?
- Power of language/speech.
- Nanapush and The Priest of the Sun ->Both exemplified the power of speech and storytelling.
- Others?
- Others?
Abel’s Grandmother
-What is important about her relating to language and speech?
Her language is “confined to speech”
Important Text
1)
“It represents a very rich literature which, because it was never written down, was always but one generation from extinction. But for the same reason it was cherished and revered.” (pg. 86)
2)
“Angela put her white hands to his body.
Abel put his hands to her white body.” (pg. 89)
This part is preceded by a powerful sentence at the end of a description of him suffering from alcoholism.
“His body, like his mind, had turned on him: it was his enemy.” (pg. 89)
Abel put his hands to her white body.” (pg. 89)
This part is preceded by a powerful sentence at the end of a description of him suffering from alcoholism.
“His body, like his mind, had turned on him: it was his enemy.” (pg. 89)
Significance of the trial flashback?
- Power of language/speech?
- Universal terms - murder and death.
- Abel’s shoes?
- Significance?
Milly
Her first words
“No test is completely valid… Some are more valid than others”
-Thoughts?
What do we think about Milly?
Differences between Milly and Angela?
The Importance of Light and Fire
The next time the Priest of the Sun was going to conduct a prayer meeting.
The Importance of Light and Fire
The next time the Priest of the Sun was going to conduct a prayer meeting.
- Is this scene how you traditionally think of a priest conducting a prayer meeting?
- What happens when the fire diminishes?
- Thoughts on any of the quotes? (Benally's?)
Differences between war flashback and drunken injured scene?
- How did Abel act at war?
I wish I knew Fat Josie
- Who was she to Abel?
Grandma dies and Abel heads back, in heading back a lot of memories are forefront.
- Predictions for the next part?
Thoughts on part 2 after our discussion?
No comments:
Post a Comment