Summary Of This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona

When they returned back to the reservation, Victor knew that he still could not be seen talking to Thomas for fear of being ridiculed for talking to the crazy storyteller. “Victor knew that he couldn’t really be friends with Thomas, even after all that had happened. It was cruel but it was real.” (Alexie P. 518) Victor in a way was thankful for Thomas’ help but seemed too proud to admit it to Thomas. Victor knows that Thomas would remain the crazy storyteller. In a way Victor felt ashamed of himself.

In Sherman Alexie's “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 father's 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 out for him. A trip to gather his father's remains turns into a journey of reviewing his life and choices.

The book “This Is What It Mean to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie illustrate friendship and care with both friends then she goes deep into Native American belief and culture. The way she show it in the book is Thomas show that he still cared for Victor though of what his father was going through in life and still wanted to keep a stronger friendship bond. The relationship between Thomas Builds-the Fire and Victor is intriguing. The trait that Thomas has of constantly story-telling is how history is passed on in many cultures, especially in the Native American culture. Even though their relationship changed over the years, he is still the one that Victor takes with him to Phoenix. I think the fact that Thomas had the money to go was

Victor went to the Tribe council and asked for money and they only gave him

The story begins "Just after Victor lost his job at the BIA [Bureau of Indian Affairs], he also found out that his father had died," indicating to the reader that this is a third-person narration by the use of Victor, he, and his. Sherman continues with "there was still a genetic pain . . . as real and immediate as a broken bone" to show the depth of Victor's loss. Sherman also states that this pain was "soon to be" transformed into something, foreshadowing that Victor's pain would not fade with time but rather grow and intensify.

In short story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” by Sherman Alexie, characterization and symbolism played major roles to make the story appealing to the readers’ hearts. The author does well by creating two opposite characters and making them work together. Victor and Thomas are two characters that have a bit of a stranded past that seems to linger into their present relationship together.  The two don’t seem to get along very well at all during the first part of their journey but as they progress towards Phoenix Arizona storytelling; the thing that at first seemed to tear them apart was able to bring them together.  The element of storytelling evolves and these changes enable the characters to move from the memories and pain

In the story “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 Victor is able to complete his journey. Thomas Builds-the-Fire’s character shows uncanny heroism, faithfulness to his friend, and the courage to overcome obstacles.

Sherman J. Alexie, is a short story written in the first person focusing on two Native American Men who grew up together on a Reservation for Native Americans but have been estranged from each other since they were teenagers. Victor who is the narrator of this story is a young man who lost faith in his culture and its traditions, while Thomas our second main character is a deeply rooted traditional storyteller. In the beginning of the story Victor, our Native American narrator learns the death of his father. Jobless and penniless, his only wish is to go to Phoenix, Arizona and bring back his father’s ashes and belongings to the reservation in Spokane. The death of Victor’s father leads him and Thomas to a journey filled with childhood

The future is unclear to see because of the multiple interpretations to one event. Seeing events and only being able to describe a possible outcome is what the character Thomas Builds-the-Fire in Sherman Alexie's, "This Is What it means To Say Phoenix, Arizona," can do. The ability has been once praised in cultures around the world but is now looked down upon. Thomas has lost a lifestyle that he was never able to have because he follows his ability including his friendships he has created. For this reason, Thomas Builds-the-Fire is now an outcast to the town's society; however, he looks after his old friend Victor because of his loyalty to Victor's father, believes in his visions can help his community, and the chance of obtaining new visions.

So the officer said, ‘is there a reason you stole that candy bar, son? Did you not have enough money or something?’ I wailed, ‘yeah… I guess so. I don't know… maybe I was bored. I'm sorry. I don’t want to go to juvenile hall!’ The officer replied, ‘look, son, I'm not going to take you to juvenile hall; you're way too young for that. But what you did is against the law and you can’t come back into this store again.’ I said, ‘well, my friends were doing it and said it was easy. They weren't caught and I didn't think I’d get into all this trouble!’ Then he said, ‘Wait, other boys are stealing? Could you tell me their names and do they live around here?’ I asked, ‘can I get a free candy bar and a lawyer if I do?’ He coldly said, ‘No.’ I divulged, ‘Okay. Reza is the one I've known the longest and his friend Kyle stole too. They live in the same apartment complex as me.’ Yeah, I was a douche for

Narrating is a mind boggling some portion of indigenous societies. It is a strategy in which social history is gone down from era to era. What is more, it is likewise used to address moral inquiries, offer counsel and life lessons. This is valid for some societies and social orders including Native Americans. The topic of narrating is additionally a found in Sherman Alexies' short story, "This is What it Means to Say Phoenix Arizona".

My story began on September 12, 2000, in Phoenix, Arizona. I was born to my mother, a faithful member of the gospel, and my father, an alcoholic. These two traits did not function well together and they ended up getting a divorce in 2001. This would start a new chapter that took my mother, three sisters and I to Elko, Nevada. Nearby was the reservation of my Native American (NA) tribe, the Western Shoshone. My NA heritage came from my father, so when he left my life, he took the culture with him. My grandmother did all she could to include me in the tribe by making me traditional NA items such as moccasins and shawls.

“This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”: The Road to a New Beginning

Alexie’s story “This is What it means to Say Phoenix Arizona” is about the journey of two characters that have similar backgrounds but have two different outlooks on the world that surrounds them. Vince the protagonist of the story is able discover his flaws as a person, renewed friendship with a person who he Pushed away, and correct some of those flaws he discovered. The interactions between these two characters relate to some real life issues that Alexie has experienced. Issues include having trouble identifying ones cultural identity, dealing with a painful issue and improving oneself. Alexie discreetly reflected these issues in his short story making it feel natural and not forced. Having these characters deal with issues that actual Native

Fondly known as the “Old Pueblo” to its people, the city of Tucson, Arizona offers a wide variety of opportunities to explore the history, culture, and environment that makes this location distinctive and invigorating for all who come to revel in its splendor. The city itself has been home to the indigenous Hohokam people for over 4,000 years due to its arable land, rich resources, and ample precipitation from the monsoon and winter rains. These traits encouraged Spanish settlers to move into the area, who then built the iconic historic landmark Mission San Xavier del Bac—or “The White Dove of the Desert”—to celebrate traditional and spiritual ceremonies. Centuries later after being purchased by the United States in the Gadsden Purchase, famed outlaws and bandits such as John Dillinger and William Whitney Brazelton rampaged the streets of Tucson, starting fires and causing mayhem for Tucsonans, cementing the Wild West roots in the southwest. Today, the people of Tucson express their dreams and passions through art—whether it is shared in a museum, as an interpretive mural on an unsuspecting wall, or