Answer the following question after reading Superman and Me by Aheman Alexis

1. What is Superman doing in the comic book panel Aliex remembers? Why is it important to remember this detail at the very end of the essay?

2. In paragraph 7, Alexi repeats a certain verb fourteen times. What is this verb, and what effect does this repetition have? What might Alexie be trying to say about the process of his coming to literacy, in terms of both the effort required and the height of the obstacles encountered (or, given the metaphor introduced in paragraph 4, the thickness of the doors that must be broken through)?

3. Look at Alexie's feelings about his fellow classmates on the reservation. Does Alexie envy his classmates? Why, or why not? How were his difficulties different from those faced by other Indians? 

4. IN paragraph 5, Alexie writes about himself in the third person, in effect dramatizing what happens when one writes the story of one's life. Using the third person, write about a particularly important moment or aspect of your life. Afterward, write a short reflection on the distancing effect of referring to yourself as "he" or "she" (or maybe something else?). How does this type of writing help you learn about yourself?

1 answer

1. In the comic book panel that Alexie remembers, Superman is breaking down the door to save someone. This detail is important to remember at the very end of the essay because it symbolizes breaking through barriers and fighting against injustice. It represents the hope and inspiration that literacy brought to Alexie's life and emphasizes the importance of education in overcoming obstacles.

2. The verb that Alexie repeats fourteen times in paragraph 7 is "read." This repetition highlights the effort and determination that Alexie put into learning how to read. It emphasizes the significance of literacy and the challenges he faced in becoming literate. The repetition also emphasizes the doors that he had to break through, symbolizing the obstacles and discrimination he encountered as a Native American trying to succeed academically.

3. Alexie does not envy his classmates on the reservation. He describes feeling sorry for them because they were denied opportunities and had limited aspirations due to societal expectations and the lack of access to education. His difficulties were different from those faced by other Indians because he managed to overcome the barriers and succeed in the academic world, whereas many of his classmates had resigned themselves to limited futures.

4. When writing about a particularly important moment or aspect of my life in the third person, it allows for a sense of detachment and objectivity. Referring to oneself as "he" or "she" removes the emotional attachment and allows for a more analytical perspective. This type of writing helps me learn about myself by providing a different lens through which to view my experiences. It allows me to analyze my actions and decisions more objectively, gaining insights that I may have missed if I had written in the first person. The distancing effect helps in gaining a clearer understanding of the situation and reflecting on personal growth and development.