Analysis Of The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian By Sherman Alexie

Words: 666
Pages: 3

Throughout the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, native American Sherman Alexie expresses some personal issues faced during his life through the protagonist Arnold ‘Junior’ Spirit. Alexie engages the reader from the beginning by using specific writing techniques and form, creating empathy towards the Spokane Indians. Junior’s relationships and friendships establishes a constant change throughout the storyline, thus captivating and engaging the reader.

Alexie uses many writing techniques to engage the reader such as emphasising and making relatable many crucial points throughout the novel. Written as a fourteen year old boy’s diary involving teenage slang and dark humour, it creates a personal voice and provides further insight to Junior’s personality, ensuring the reader can relate to him. Alexie also uses repetition and lists to emphasise emotions, important phrases and the underlying morals throughout the storyline such as ‘I realised that sure, I was a Spokane Indian. I belonged to that tribe. But I also belonged to the tribe of American immigrants. And to the tribe of basketball players.’ which emphasises the importance of Arnold’s realisation that he doesn't just belong to one tribe furthermore discovering his true identity. He also uses crude, generally inappropriate words such
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Written as a fourteen year old boy’s diary involving teenage slang and dark humour creates a personal voice and further insight into Junior’s personality, ensuring the reader can relate to him. The author creates empathy towards the Spokane tribe to engage the reader and make aware issues throughout indigenous cultures by emphasising the death rate and misuse of alcohol. The constant need for Junior to adapt to the varying relationships throughout the novel create contrast and suspense and cause the reader to have sympathy for him, thus engaging the