illustration of main character, Junior, holding a basketball and looking over his shoulder

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Junior learns to trust himself and embrace his dual identity as a "part-time Indian" navigating between his Native American roots and a...

7 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Junior decides to attend Reardan to escape the limitations of his reservation's education system, symbolized by outdated textbooks. Encouraged by...

8 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The main conflicts and ethical issues in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian include Junior's struggle between his identity as a Native American and his desire for a better education at a...

5 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," Junior's statement about "broken dams, floods, and tiny lifeboats" is a metaphor for his life experiences. The "broken dams and floods" represent...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Arnold/Junior is a dynamic character who can be described with a number of adjectives, including resilient, anxious or nervous, and conflicted.

3 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior frequently uses hyperbole to describe his identity in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Examples include describing his parents as "twin suns" essential to his world, and...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

When Junior says, "When it comes to death, we know that laughter and tears are pretty much the same thing,” he means that the pain and suffering of Indigenous peoples can be so preponderant that it's...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Five traumatic events in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian include: Junior changing schools and losing his best friend, getting beaten up and robbed on Halloween, the death of his...

5 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior is confused after fighting Roger because Roger's unexpected retreat defies Junior's expectation of prolonged bullying. Junior, lacking his protector Rowdy, anticipated negative consequences...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Examples of irony in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian include Arnold discovering that Penelope, who seems perfect, has an eating disorder, and his sister Mary, who dreams of romance,...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior's grandmother advises him that Roger's behavior shows respect. After Junior punches Roger for using derogatory terms, his grandmother first suggests he should have walked away but later says...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is often challenged or banned at schools due to its depictions of violence, profanity, alcoholism, and sexuality.

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior's tone in the first chapter is primarily humorous and self-deprecating, using sarcasm and hyperbole to describe his experiences with hydrocephalus and his physical challenges. He makes light...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Gordy serves as an intellectual and supportive friend to Junior in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. He encourages Junior to embrace his love for learning and helps him navigate the...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior's conversation with Mr. P. about his low prospects on the reservation is the inciting incident in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

7 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," metaphors and similes are used to symbolize key aspects of Arnold's life. For instance, Kentucky Fried Chicken is depicted as a metaphor for his...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior throws his geometry book after discovering his mother's name inside, revealing it to be over 30 years old. This outdated textbook symbolizes the pervasive poverty and lack of opportunity on...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior compares their first game against Wellpinit to "something out of Shakespeare" because it embodies the high drama and emotional conflict typical of Shakespeare's plays. The game represents a...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The setting of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" is crucial as it highlights the stark contrasts between life on the Spokane Indian Reservation and the predominantly white high school...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The contrasts between life on reservations and in Reardan in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian highlight disparities in resources, opportunities, and societal expectations. Reservations...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Mr. P wants Junior to leave the reservation so he can pursue a brighter future elsewhere.

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior throws the textbook at Mr. P. out of frustration upon discovering that the geometry book is outdated, with his mother's name in it from over thirty years ago. This realization highlights the...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Rowdy reacts strongly to Junior's decision to attend Reardan high school because he feels betrayed, believing Junior is rejecting their Native American heritage and accusing him of having a...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Humor in Sherman Alexie's novel serves to balance the serious themes of violence, isolation, loss, and racism, making the protagonist, Junior, relatable and memorable. Despite the harsh realities of...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior's membership in the "Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club" signifies his frequent bullying and social ostracism due to his physical and speech challenges, as well as his status as a newcomer at his...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

A text-to-world connection in "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" is the theme of overcoming social obstacles through sports, exemplified by Junior's experience with basketball. In the...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Rowdy calls Junior a nomad because Junior is leaving the reservation. Their ancestors were nomads, and Rowdy believes that that Junior retains these qualities deep in his soul. Although Rowdy is...

3 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

While Arnold attends the reservation school, he and Rowdy share a brother-like bond. Rowdy, who endures abuse at home, often stays with Arnold and protects him, acting as his "best human friend."...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Billionaire Ted makes Junior angry and uncomfortable because Ted's behavior is condescending and patronizing. Despite claiming to appreciate Native American culture, Ted romanticizes and fetishizes...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Rowdy blames Junior for Mary's death because Junior's decision to leave the reservation influenced Mary to quickly marry and move away. Junior acknowledges that his actions indirectly set off a chain...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Rowdy reacts with anger and physical aggression when Junior decides to transfer to another school. He initially believes Junior is joking, but upon realizing Junior's sincerity, Rowdy becomes...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The importance of Turtle Lake to Indian culture is symbolized by its inclusion in the stories of the tribe. It is a mysterious, deep lake that evokes fear and awe. Similarly, the people feel a sense...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Three ways Junior changed after going from the reservation school to Reardan are his increased comfort with his liminal place in society, his realization of his own untapped strengths, and his...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Arnold's dreams center on escaping the limitations of his reservation to pursue education and success, aspirations his parents couldn't fulfill. A...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Junior’s father tells him that if he wants to get big, he has to “dream big.” His father tells him a story about meeting his mother as a way to...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The character Billionaire Ted serves to critique those who superficially engage with Native American culture without understanding it. In the novel, Ted appears at Junior's grandmother's funeral,...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Mr. P's motivation for getting hit with the book was not just to pay a penance, but also to right a wrong that he had created in his past. Mr. P's motivation for getting hit with the book was because...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alcohol abuse profoundly impacts Junior, as it leads to the deaths of several important figures in his life. His father's friend Eugene is killed in a drunken altercation, and his beloved...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Grandma Spirit dies after being hit by a drunk driver while walking home from a pow-wow. Despite her injuries, she tells the doctors to "forgive him," indicating her forgiving nature. The driver,...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Rowdy is portrayed as an angry and aggressive character, largely due to his abusive home environment. His father is an alcoholic who subjects him...

5 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, Junior evolves from a shy, isolated teenager on the Spokane Indian Reservation to a confident individual who navigates the challenges of attending...

3 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The book is set on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Junior has been the victim of prejudice and institutionalized racism since he was born. When his mother's name appears in a math textbook, something...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The setting of this novel is on a Native American reservation in the Pacific Northwest. The characters include Arnold Spirit, Rowdy Papperman, Mr. Papperman, Grandpa and Grandma, Junior Peacock, and...

7 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Junior's relationship with his father is depicted as supportive yet strained by his father's alcoholism, which stems from the hardships of...

5 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

“Rez” is short for “reservation,” the place where Junior, like many Native Americans, lives. He lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation, which, as with many such places, has a number of serious...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior switches to Reardon to seek better educational opportunities than those available at his reservation school, which suffers from outdated resources and unmotivated teachers. However, attending...

2 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, violence deeply affects Junior's life. The root causes include poverty, alcoholism, and systemic oppression on the reservation. This violence...

4 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Deaths significantly impact Junior's life by motivating him to seek better opportunities and avoid the cycle of alcoholism prevalent on the reservation. The losses of his sister Mary, grandmother,...

1 educator answer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior should transfer to a school outside Wellpinit to pursue his dreams, as staying on the reservation may lead to a life of limited opportunities similar to his parents. Mr. P advises Junior to...

3 educator answers

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

What sends Junior into a deep depression is the deaths of his dog and his dad’s best friend.

1 educator answer