Thomas King's The Truth About Stories

In the book, the Truth About Stories, Thomas King sheds light on the power of stories. King explicitly enforces that one must take caution in the way he or she tells a story, since it will shape one’s thoughts, decision-making and future (2). Through the use of literature, King weaves his way through native history, anecdote by anecdote, informing his readers about the importance of storytelling. “Stories are wondrous things,” the author writes. “And they are dangerous.” (9). To prove this, King mentions two creation stories; the differences in these stories is the way in which they are told. The first is a famous native story called, “the woman who fell from the sky”; this story is told in a complex, persuasive way (10-20). This story discusses a society emphasizing the value of cooperation as the animals work together to create a better world (21-22). The second story, a Judeo-Christian biblical story, describes a Western Capitalist society. It is told in a historical, punitive and direct fashion, underlining a society of boundaries and punishment. King highlights that storytelling is not just simply telling a story, rather it is how the stories are told. King uses these particular stories to show how different stories shape people’s perspectives, which impacts their ideas, thoughts and decision making. Therefore he addresses how sensitive storytelling may be, for once a story is told, it can never be taken back (10). This is true in all realms of life, cautioning

One Good Story, That One, a short story by Thomas King, tells of white anthropologists coming to visit an Aboriginal man seeking the “Indian” creation myth. Due to ignorance towards Aboriginal cultures they leave satisfied with a whimsical retelling, of their own creation myth.

“The Truth About Stories is that that’s all we are”.(King 2003,p. 2).Stories have a great importance as they make people more joyous and creative. Stories let the narrator to speak but he is not really the one who is speaking. The narrator retells the stories in merely same language but totally in different tone. These stories improve ones belief towards life. The narrator interacts with the listener through

In “The Truth about Stories”, Thomas King, demonstrate connection between the Native storytelling and the authentic world. He examines various themes in the stories such as; oppression, racism, identity and discrimination. He uses the creational stories and implies in to the world today and points out the racism and identity issues the Native people went through and are going through. The surroundings shape individuals’ life and a story plays vital roles. How one tells a story has huge impact on the listeners and readers. King uses sarcastic tone as he tells the current stories of Native people and his experiences. He points out to the events and incidents such as the government apologizing for the colonialism, however, words remains as

It is very clear that every person is different from one another. However, before coming to college, I did not get to observe this very often. Growing up I did not witness much of a difference between myself and those around me. This had to do with the fact that we were all growing up with many of the same influences. Although my friends and

Thomas King portrays absorbing and idiosyncratic reasoning behind why Aboriginal stories are the forefront of cultural erudition in his text The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative. Aboriginals rely on storytelling to, “teach about cultural beliefs, values, customs, rituals, history…” and to, “pass on the… teachings of our ancestors” to ensure the continuity of tradition and information (Hanna & Henry, 1995). King authenticates the importance of keeping Aboriginal heritage alive as he delicately balances detail with knowledge in his five stories that paint an illustration of how stories shape both Aboriginal and Western societies. Discussions that King engages the reader in include topics such as Aboriginal identity, capitalism, colonialism,

When I look out into the world it does not take long for me to realize that we are all different in a plethora of different ways. We all grow up in many different societies and

Every person is different and there are so many different ways in which people differ from each other examples are appearance, ability, gender, talent ,race and many more.

According to Canassatego, “We know our lands are now become more valuable: the white people think we do not know their value; but we are sensible that the land is everlasting, and the few goods we receive for it are soon worn out and gone.” Canassatego is talking about the land surveyors trying to purchase the Native American land for cheap. Canassatego also notes that “Your people daily settle on these lands, and spoil our hunting.” He is talking about the land scalpers trying to take the Native American land while there gone hunting and the people are scaring off the game they hunt. Canassatego writes that “If you have not done anything, we now renew our request, and desire you will inform the person whose people are seated on our lands, that that country belongs to us, in right of conquest; we having bought it with our blood, and taken it from our enemies in fair war…” He is trying to let the English know that they do not appreciate the land surveyors coming onto their land and trying to take the land that they fought and worked so hard for away from them. Canassatego is desperately informing the English that the settlements spoil Native American hunting, as well as that colonial horses eat grass that is meant for deer.

What makes us different from one another? Is it the color of our hair, the different shades of pigment in our skin, or the intelligence and beauty that a person may have?

“ You can tell a true story if you just keep on telling it” Tim O’Brien

War is one person doing their job against another person doing their job. Many of the soldiers talked about the truth of doing the job they were asked to and the things they did were a result of it. Soldiers became to realize what they were doing is wrong but also isn't wrong at the same time. It's either kill or be killed and this is the tough desciscion they were faced with. they talked about how you prepare yourslef and they said each man is different it's all mental whe preparing to get flown into a drop zone. Tim O'Brien wrote, "If a story seems moral do not believe it... Then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie"(65). Meaning, if what these men in wr did seems right and moral to you then it's probably not true

“I’m gonna go after Sarah!” Luke screamed over the noise and without second thought, he took off running. My eyes went wide as he was immediately lost in the crowd of walkers.

We can’t judge people based on the way they look. I believe we need to stop evaluating people based on the color of their skin or the way they dress without knowing them personally. We need to stop judging people wrongfully based on where they originate from. In my example, I was born Hispanic. Being seen differently from others is something I have no control over. This needs to change because people do not have a say over where they were born. Birth is a gift in any country, but I’m being judged unfairly and treated differently because of where I was

Many people tell stories to inform others about themselves. Throughout my life people in my family have told me many stories, and behind each story there is a purpose. The stories I was told growing up were about experiences that people in my family have had or things that I have done. These stories mean a lot to me because through these stories different family members reveal many things about themselves. They want me to understand their ideas, beliefs, or feelings about a certain subject. They want people to praise or admire what they have done or accomplished. Funny stories are told to humor or embarrass someone, usually me. Other stories express that we are not alone in the world, and there are other people,