This Is What It Means For Say Phoenix, Arizona - 712 Words

Sherman J. Alexie’s â€Å"This is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona† has multiple interconnecting themes and symbolic ideas throughout his story. Alexie’s story can be simplified as the death of a father changed his son’s life. However, it is more complex than that throughout the story. There are hidden connections all through Alexie’s work. One hidden connection is the character Thomas Builds-the-fire. Thomas is Victor’s childhood friend, and is the reservations goofball, storyteller. Thomas plays a much larger role in Victor’s life than just a childhood friend. Thomas Builds-The-Fire is Victor’s spirit guide, and knew Victor’s life will change as along he visits Phoenix, Arizona to acquire is father’s ashes. Thomas’s prophetic stories began in childhood. When Victor and Thomas were children, Thomas told a story about Victor’s father. The story expressed how Victor’s father felt toward his own family. He said, â€Å"Your father’s heart is weak. He is afraid of is own family. He is afraid of you. Late at night, he sits in the dark. Watches television until there is nothing but white noise. Sometimes he feels like he wants to buy a motorcycle and ride away. He wants to run and hide. He doesn’t want to be found† (Alexie 181). The story Thomas told was highly important because it was true. Thomas knew that Victor’s father would leave the reservation before anyone else. Furthermore, every story that came out of his mouth, he always closed his eyes. As if he is connected to somethingShow MoreRelatedThis Is What It Means For Say Phoenix, Arizona Essay1691 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona†: The Road t o a New Beginning America, the melting pot country, a country in which every one is equal, unless you are created different. In the short story This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona by Sherman Alexie, two men embark on a journey that improves their lives spiritually and allows them to claim the closure that they are both seeking. Although the author s main purpose is to share a story about a man s journey to find peace, he isRead MoreThis Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona Essay745 Words   |  3 PagesLorisa Qumawunu June 7, 2013 English 102 Essay #1(revision) â€Å"This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona† In the short story, â€Å"This is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona†, by Sherman Alexie, I looked at two characters: Thomas and Victor. Thomas Builds-the-Fire is a storyteller on a reservation who everyone ignores because they think he is crazy. Victor on the other hand is a guy who would not dare be seen talking to Thomas. Thomas knows that Victor is inRead MoreThis Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona: Stereotypes Essay1188 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona† discusses the physical and mental journey of Victor, a Native American man in the state of Washington, as he goes to Phoenix, Arizona to claim his father’s remains and his savings account. While on this journey, Victor learns about himself, his father, and his Indian culture with the help of his estranged friend, Thomas Builds-the–Fire. The author, Sherman Alexie, plays on the stereotypes of Native Americans through the characters of Victor and ThomasRe ad MoreThis Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona By Sherman Alexie924 Words   |  4 PagesBethany Furtado Professor Charbonneau Hess English 102 24 October 2017 Thomas Builds-the-Fire In the story, â€Å"This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona† by Sherman Alexie the two main characters are Victor and Thomas Builds-the-Fire. The story is about Victor and Thomas who are childhood best friends that went on a trip from their reservation to Phoenix, Arizona to collect Victor father’s savings account. Throughout the trip, they experience many flashbacks of when they were friends such as whenRead MoreThis Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona by Sherman Alexie1632 Words   |  7 Pages Benjamin Franklin once said that â€Å"Nothing is certain in life except death...and taxes† (Waliwensky). This phrase has rung in the ears of Americans for many, many years. The phrase has stuck around for an extensive amount of time is because of the irony and actuality behind it. While the expression is meant to focus on the inevitability of taxes, Franklin also makes a point that it is impossible to deny the fact that everyone will eventually die. People get caught up in their day to day lives andRead MoreOmniscient Point of View in â€Å"This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona2086 Words   |  9 PagesOmniscient Point of view in â€Å"This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona† The story â€Å"This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona† by Sherman Alexie is a fictional narrative that reflects his experiences during his past and present life. The author allows the audience to become the social media that critiques his life when he evokes important episodes of his life through Victor and Thomas Builds-the-Fire liveliness. In this process, Sherman Alexis uses his omniscient point of view to tellRead MoreAnalysis of This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona by Sherman Alexie1131 Words   |  5 PagesIn Sherman Alexies â€Å"This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona† a man named Victor finds out that his father has passed away. Being next of kin, Victor is responsible for gathering his fathers assets together, which requires him to make an out of town trip. In order to accomplish this Victor needs help. This help comes from the town outcast, Thomas Builds-the Fire. Victor and Thomas were childhood best friends but as they grew older, Victor turned his back on the one that always looked outRead MoreAnalysis Of Sherman Alexie s This Is What It Means For Say Phoenix Arizona ``943 Words   |  4 PagesIn the story â€Å"This is What It Means to Say Phoenix Arizona† by Sherman Alexie, the main character Victor is a full blood Native American, whose father recently passed away in Phoenix, Arizona. Victor must take the trip to collect his father s ashes, however due to his current financial situation he is unable to take his journey. An old friend of Victors, by the name of Thomas builds-the-fire, offers to help fund Victors trip on the condition that he go with him. It is because of Thomas that VictorRead MoreLiterary Analysis of Sherman J. Alexie’s This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona779 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis of â€Å"This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona† In life, everyone experiences a time of hardship, and for the most part, those affected find methods of overcoming the adversity. The idea of getting through hardship is best reflected in; Sherman J. Alexie’s story â€Å"This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona† (274). In the story, victor whose father had recently died from a heart attack has to travel to phoenix Arizona to reclaim his father’s ashes and his truck. Victor is joinedRead MoreNative Americans Analytical Essay1200 Words   |  5 Pagesminorities who have gone through horrid times and still struggle to preserve their traditions. Their submission to the mainstream Anglo-Americans has led to a lot of issues. These are presented in Blue Winds Dancing by Tom White Cloud, This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona by Sherman J. Alexie, and Black Elk Speaks by Black Elk for comparison. Of all the different narratives, pieces, and poems read about native Americans. These three drew particular atte ntion. The similarities between them share the

Dependency Ratio

Definition: The dependency ratio is the number of young and elderly people in a population divided by the total adult population. The larger the dependency ratio is, the greater the burden on the average adult because the needs of the dependents must be met by the rest of the adult population.

Admission Questions Free Essays

There is a Quaker saying: †Let your life speak.† Describe the environment in which you were raised–your family, home, neighborhood or community–and how it influenced the person you are today. (200 words, 2000 characters) I live in a family of four which includes my mom, my grandparents, and I. We will write a custom essay sample on Admission Questions or any similar topic only for you Order Now My mom worked long hours, so my grandparents looked after me and gave me all love and care. I took over the challenging responsibility of regularly giving him eye drops. He hated receiving them and made my job more challenging when he wouldn’t cooperate, but I never gave up. Today I am more confident with all the challenges faced so early in life. I now have a new perspective of my family and self. I have learned to embrace the reality and the facts of leading a positive life. Looking back, I realize that I am lucky to have shared the relationship I have with my grandparents. Instead of turning away from them, I stood by them and coped with them, often setting aside my personal interests. The unbreakable connection I have with my grandparents is truly unique. I have deep respect and care for the elderly because I have learned that every second spent is precious and there is no end to learning. At the end, I learnt that my perception of an incomplete family just never existed and it changed my perception. 2. College of Arts and Sciences: What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way? I like mathematics because it is challenging to me and I enjoy it. I actively seek and investigate its profound mystery. I feel exciting sense of achievement in solving complicated calculus questions and also obtain imagery recognition of a matter from analyzing it quantitatively. Mathematics’ charms and challenges are found in the fact that it is the spirit of all kinds of science. People can conclude the physic principle by studying calculus and can build a program by using mathematics formula. I am confident to continue exploring, studying and challenging mathematics and emerge as a better surprising research associate. How to cite Admission Questions, Essays

Remebering Essay of First Bike Ride free essay sample

Looking back on those days when I use to sit inside my house while everyone else was outside playing on their bikes, skateboards, rollerblading, I was so jealous that It wasn’t me on the skateboard or the bike; although there came one day that it was me on the bike. I was helping out my pastor at the church on a Saturday and he decided to let me and the rest of the guys come over to his house when we were through. When we got there the pastor’s son Josh was asking us if we all wanted to go outside? So everyone agreed including me, but what he forgot to mention is that we would be riding bikes. So I wouldn’t look stupid I spoke up and said: â€Å"Um Josh I don’t know how to ride a bike. † As I stood there with a mortified look on my face waiting for him to laugh at me but instead Josh said: â€Å"For real? Well I guess we can teach it really quick? † I was shocked because He was the better person who didn’t laugh at me although my other friends were looking at me apprehensively. We will write a custom essay sample on Remebering Essay of First Bike Ride or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Josh then stepped back into the garage and pulled out a bike and I had begun to feel nervous and scared. It was the feeling I got when I first rode a rollercoaster my stomach began to get butterflies inside and I wasn’t relaxed at all. Josh began to speak and said: â€Å"Before three o’ clock today, I will teach how to ride a bike without anyone’s help†. With him telling me that it boosted my confidence level up by a little amount. Now after him telling me this he began the bike riding lesson. â€Å" Louis the first thing to learn about riding a bike is balance, so put both feet on the pedal while I push† I felt like a little kid but I was most afraid of the other guys laughing at me while he was teaching. Then when I looked around I noticed that the only people around was Josh, his older sister, and myself. Whenever riding a bike this is the speed it usually is, but on a hill that’s when bike riding is fun! † Josh said. As I was riding the bike it was like I was taking my first baby steps to being able to walk. Although I couldn’t do it by myself I felt as If I have accomplished something for today. It was great! † As I was riding the bike and peddling it began to get to difficult. I was two blocks away from where I started at. So Josh finally notices how far I have gone and yells: â€Å"Louis stop! † I then yelled: â€Å"I don’t know how! Josh how do I stop? †, â€Å"he said: â€Å"Louis use the hand brakes! I had no clue what that was and where it was until a light hinted in my head and told me that it was on handles. I then I pressed it lightly and noticed I began to slow down, but what I didn’t see is that I was running into a tree. So I shifted the direction in less that two seconds and avoided the front of my body from being injured. I was then happy because I didn’t break a single bone in my body and nothing hurt. Shortly I look at my leg and see that I have scraped the back end of my leg from the tree. Right when I began to notice this scratch is when everything began to start hurting. As I hurried back to the house, I noticed that the rest of the guys were playing basketball, so instead I just went inside and asked Mr. Callahan if he had any band aids anywhere, which he did. So I went into the restroom, washed the cut off with water, and then carefully placed it onto the cut. I was very upset that I couldn’t engage in the activity with the rest of the guys, but I did learn something from all of this. People make mistakes, and the purpose of them is to learn from them in life. Because when it comes right down to it, no one is perfect; it is how we are different which is what makes life fascinating. Remebering Essay of First Bike Ride free essay sample Looking back on those days when I use to sit inside my house while everyone else was outside playing on their bikes, skateboards, rollerblading, I was so jealous that It wasn’t me on the skateboard or the bike; although there came one day that it was me on the bike. I was helping out my pastor at the church on a Saturday and he decided to let me and the rest of the guys come over to his house when we were through. When we got there the pastor’s son Josh was asking us if we all wanted to go outside? So everyone agreed including me, but what he forgot to mention is that we would be riding bikes. So I wouldn’t look stupid I spoke up and said: â€Å"Um Josh I don’t know how to ride a bike. † As I stood there with a mortified look on my face waiting for him to laugh at me but instead Josh said: â€Å"For real? Well I guess we can teach it really quick? † I was shocked because He was the better person who didn’t laugh at me although my other friends were looking at me apprehensively. We will write a custom essay sample on Remebering Essay of First Bike Ride or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Josh then stepped back into the garage and pulled out a bike and I had begun to feel nervous and scared. It was the feeling I got when I first rode a rollercoaster my stomach began to get butterflies inside and I wasn’t relaxed at all. Josh began to speak and said: â€Å"Before three o’ clock today, I will teach how to ride a bike without anyone’s help†. With him telling me that it boosted my confidence level up by a little amount. Now after him telling me this he began the bike riding lesson. â€Å" Louis the first thing to learn about riding a bike is balance, so put both feet on the pedal while I push† I felt like a little kid but I was most afraid of the other guys laughing at me while he was teaching. Then when I looked around I noticed that the only people around was Josh, his older sister, and myself. Whenever riding a bike this is the speed it usually is, but on a hill that’s when bike riding is fun! † Josh said. As I was riding the bike it was like I was taking my first baby steps to being able to walk. Although I couldn’t do it by myself I felt as If I have accomplished something for today. It was great! † As I was riding the bike and peddling it began to get to difficult. I was two blocks away from where I started at. So Josh finally notices how far I have gone and yells: â€Å"Louis stop! † I then yelled: â€Å"I don’t know how! Josh how do I stop? †, â€Å"he said: â€Å"Louis use the hand brakes! I had no clue what that was and where it was until a light hinted in my head and told me that it was on handles. I then I pressed it lightly and noticed I began to slow down, but what I didn’t see is that I was running into a tree. So I shifted the direction in less that two seconds and avoided the front of my body from being injured. I was then happy because I didn’t break a single bone in my body and nothing hurt. Shortly I look at my leg and see that I have scraped the back end of my leg from the tree. Right when I began to notice th is scratch is when everything began to start hurting. As I hurried back to the house, I noticed that the rest of the guys were playing basketball, so instead I just went inside and asked Mr. Callahan if he had any band aids anywhere, which he did. So I went into the restroom, washed the cut off with water, and then carefully placed it onto the cut. I was very upset that I couldn’t engage in the activity with the rest of the guys, but I did learn something from all of this. People make mistakes, and the purpose of them is to learn from them in life. Because when it comes right down to it, no one is perfect; it is how we are different which is what makes life fascinating.