There There Prologue: Discussion Questions

Fall 2022        ANG-G31        V. Copeland        

        There There Prologue: Discussion Questions

Task: Read the pages 1–11 from There There by Tommy Orange. Then, answer the comprehension questions below.

Please submit your answers to the following questions on Friday, Sept. 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the latest. Submit a Word compatible file (.docx, .doc, or .rtf) in the “dépôt de travaux” on LEA.

Questions

1. Orange states: “We’ve been defined by everyone else and continue to be slandered despite easy-to-look-up-on-the-internet facts about the realities of our histories and current state as a people” (7). Discuss this statement in relation to how Indigenous people are described in the media and/or popular culture.

In the media or popular culture, the indigenous communities are often depicted a certain way and the stereotypes presented are often harmful to their communities. Often, they are painted as abusive, drunks, wild, rebellious and many more harmful ways. In the statement, Orange explains that the whole world is describing them in a certain way that is often a misinterpretation instead of reading up on the historical facts and cultures of the indigenous community. Instead of talking about the centuries of harm done by white Americans, false interpretations are put out to the general audience and thus greatly harming the indigenous communities

1. Orange describes the “Urban Indian” on page 11. How does his portrait of urban Indigenous life conflict with stereotypes we encounter about Indigenous people?

The stereotype is that the indigenous communities are strictly in rural and remote areas. However, in his description of the urban indigenous life, we find out that it is not true and the indigenous life living in cities is the same as the ones living in reserves. His last two sentences on page 11 depict well what I am trying to say. ‘’ Being Indian has never been about returning to the land. The land is everywhere and nowhere.’’

1. What tone does the author set for the reader in the prologue? Explain your answer.

Orange uses a serious and fearful tone that leaves us with no words. He describes a series of indigenous life massacres and how Americans were celebrating the death of hundreds of indigenous people.

1. Violence against Indigenous people is detailed throughout the prologue. Why do you think the author is including a discussion about historical violence at the beginning of the book?

I believe he includes this discussion to depict the facts from the stereotypes. He also includes all the gross details to try to bring awareness to years or even centuries of maltreatment of the indigenous communities.

1. Identify a metaphor in the prologue. Quote it and provide the page number. Describe the significance of the metaphor.

‘’The Indian head in the jar, the Indian head on a spike were like flags flown, to be seen, cast broadly’’. (page 5 line 23-24).

After killing indigenous people, some American felt so proud that they kept the head in a jar as a trophy. The Indian head wasn’t actually flown like the flag but it was of such great pride and importance that it almost felt like it was the American flag which is very important in American culture.

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