The Descendent: Textual Analysis

In the beginning Grandfather refuses to believe there is a fever until it hit them mother falls ill and they are forced to flee Mattie try’s to stay but mother and grandfather and Eliza force her to go this kills Mattie. But she must go. Grandfather finds a wagon but soon they get kicked off. Mattie finds food but soon realizes that they need more then she falls ill. Mattie wakes in bush hill ( a hospital for the ones with fever) She insists on leaving but is not well enough to go.

First, Matt grows up by accepting his identity. In this book Matt faces a bunch of problems that have to deal with him being a clone. Everybody besides a select

Matt strongly does not put up with Jamie’s family’s thoughts of selling the lake house. He becomes irritated with Linda and tells her “Me and Jamie do not owe you anything.” Linda’s reply of “you owe us everything, if Charlton had not taken you on you would never have been able to make a down payment on that lake house”. This only strengthens Matt’s decision to follow his dreams with Jamie. It is astounding that Matt and Jamie are looked down upon because their life together is

Soon after being deserted on the road, grandfather comes down with a summer grippe and becomes helpless. Mattie then needs to take care of them both by finding food and water. This shows responsibility because she not only had to take care of herself, but of her grandfather too with no help from anyone, and no one to tell her what to do.

* As the boat moves along the river Leah reminisces about when Dad was dying. We find out all the details and that Leah was mad with her mum after her dad dies. As the boat trip becomes “over” there is a connection with her father’s passing. Leah says, “We’ve been through a lot eh?” They are starting to heal and become closer to one another.

In Chapter 2 of Ancestral Lines, Barker explores many concepts relating to the Maisins methodology of subsistence. Barker outlines three main methodologies that the Maisin use to sustain their lifestyle: horticulture, reciprocal relationships and trade. The major items needed for the Maisin to subsist include food,Tapa cloth and a social system (Barker 2016; ). When discussing the concept of horticulture and its importance Barker specifically references the garden as a means of not only providing food for families but also determining gender roles, connecting with ancestors, developing morals and establishing a political identity (Barker 2016; ). The concept of the garden liases with his exploration of the role of different reciprocal relationships

In the middle of the book, Matt encounters a situation that changes his life forever. He was stuck in a hospital room waiting for the doctors to take him in the operating room to do the heart transplant. With Celia’s help, he escapes from the hospital and El Patron. Celia had poisoned Matt so that El Parton wouldn’t steel his heart, “…enough to kill anyone already weak who tried to steal his

Chapter three of Ancestral Lines begins with Barker being taught how to paint a Tapa (a personally designed cloth) by two elder women, as the process is explained Barker compares the Tapa cloth to society “composed of basic elements that fit together to produce a whole.” (Barker 2017:75) Barker also breaks down the “three key facets of contemporary social organization: The socialization of children into gendered adults, the formation of kin- based groups and categories, and the formation of alliance between groups through marriage exchanges and life crisis ceremonies.” (Barker 2017:75-76) Things to note about children in general and as socialized gendered adults: when a child is born, they are not considered ‘socially human’ and are believed to be vulnerable to attacks from spirits because their souls are not yet attached to their bodies. Mothers are the main source of care. Girls are often put to work first, assisting their mothers with cooking, cleaning, and caring for infants. Boys contrastingly help their fathers with hunting, building, and protecting. While inequality is prevalent, women are not without power and enjoy high levels of security and influence. They also believe that men

Richard Van Camp's, The Lesser Blessed, contains elements that classify the novel with both Indigenous and Modern genres. Featuring both genres in a text can lead to contradicting themes that form a binary. This binary has the potential to limit the extent readers can connect to the story, suggesting the presence of a barrier. Barriers hinder the readers' lack of understanding or relatability to either Indigenous or Modern works of literature. This paper will serve to analyze how Richard Van Camp deconstructs the binary by having the sides work together rather than against one another. Furthermore, this paper will discuss how by breaking down the binary, Richard Van Camp is allowing his novel to be accessible to all readers.

Matt is a middle class man who becomes obsessed with the need to get revenge on his son’s death. His son Frank is killed by a man named Richard. He is the husband and dads father of the women his son is in love with. This is what leads Matt into killing someone he wants pay back for his son death. Matt kills because he loves.

Despite this setback, LaBeouf bravely perseveres and recovers her. In the end, Tom Chaney dies and Mattie returns to her mother because of LaBeouf’s brave actions. The Texan’s continuous courageous acts through dangers and setbacks display his strong

Matt was afraid to kill Strout, “Matt had not told Willis he was afraid he could not be alone with Strout for very long, smell his smells, feel the presence of his flesh, hear his voice, and then shoot him (Dubus 55).” Matt knew he would feel guilty afterwards, just like Kyle did in “Cons”. Kyle was the drunk driver who killed a teenage girl. He was never the same person after the accident that forever changed not only his life, but the young girl’s family’s life. Kyle is constantly reminded because the young girl’s father sends him notes reminding him of what he did. He feels guilty for ending a life. “Lisa woke in the middle of the night and saw Kyle standing at the window in his underwear, staring out (Walter 84).” Kyle would often find himself not able to sleep because he would relive the night of the accident. He felt such agony within himself he would reflect on his actions even by staring out a window. Not only did Matt and Kyle feel guilty, all the teenage boys in “Greasy Lake” also felt guilty. The teenage boys who never meant to kill anyone fled the scene as soon as they thought they were going to jail. An altercation between the boys and another young boy turned ugly and they didn’t know how they were going to explain that to the

While Matt tries to understand his existence a grasping cast of characters is threatening him such as sinister and El – Patron’s power hungry family. Matt is also surrounded by a perilous army of bodyguards and mindless slaves who toil in the poppy fields in Opium.

But after they are released from jail, they go to Weaver’s house, burn it down, kill almost all of the animals, and steal all of his college money. It is assumed that they did it because they are mad because they got jail time and because he’s an African American. He is left back in the North Woods, working to take care of his ma who was injured during the house raid and not going to college. Weaver might go to college though, because Weaver’s ma is being taken care of by a neighbor, and Mattie gave him some money to get to college. Overall, though Weaver faces many obstacles to get to college, he eventually perseveres and there is a possibility that his dream will be

Literary Heritage is definitely a requirement of mine to graduate. I lack the experience with literature or thinking critically—except what was required in English 1010 and English 1020. I would not say that I excel in thinking critically. I lack the ability to eloquently apply thoughts to paper. I was drawn to the LGBTQ section of Literary Heritage because all of this learning is best done when learning is interesting. I identify as a lesbian, however, I do not have any formal education with LGBTQ literature—not even just lesbian literature. The only experience I have with reading LGBTQ culture is lesbian fanfiction. That is painfully pathetic. I was really drawn to this section because I would love to learn more about literature and the