"Amusements" & "This is What It Means"

• Read "I remember ..." and write your own. Categories include: music, people, smells, tastes, places, advertisements, firsts, bruises/scars/broken bones, books, movies, vacations, and sayings.
• Book & guiding question check
• Discussion

Amusements (Internalized Oppression)
1. The plot of a story is the chain of major events. Summarize the plot of “Amusements”.

2. What does the plot tell you about Victor’s attitude towards Dirty Joe? Towards himself?

3. What is the significance of the title?

4. Sherman Alexie repeats the phrase “Crazy mirrors” three times at the end of the story. What is the significance of the crazy mirrors?


This is What It Means ... (the journey)

1. Think about Victor’s character. Describe him in the beginning of the story, the middle, and the end. Does he change? Explain.

2. Think about Thomas’ character. Compare him to Victor. How is he different? Similar?

3. Thomas Builds-the Fire has the ability to see things that others cannot. Why are his peers so unwilling to listen to his stories? What do his stories represent?