Monday, November 7, 2016
#4. On pages 82-84, Junior explains how alone he feels. Why does he feel this way? How does what happens in the science class reinforce this feeling? (Lucian W.)
Junior feels lonely because he is not noticed or heard. What happens in science class lowers his self-esteem even more, as once again he is not listened to even though he’s correct. It takes a white boy to prove to the teacher that Junior was in fact correct, and even then Mr. Dodge doesn’t credit Junior for what he said : “Mr. Dodge thanked Gordy, but didn’t say another word to me” (Alexie 86). It was hard enough for Junior to get along with the just the kids, but now that his teachers aren’t on his side either, it’s going to make it much harder for him. It’s not like the students at Reardan are outright mean to Junior, it’s just that “those white kids did not talk to [him]” (Alexie 83). With no one paying attention or even talking to Junior, it’s going to be hard for him to stay at Reardan.
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I like how you acknowledged that Junior needed someone white to prove he was correct in Science class, and the extreme loneliness and humiliation he endures at his new school. Although this moment in science class taught his classmates a thing or two about petrified wood, you made a good point that standing up like this will make it even harder for Junior/Arnold to survive at Reardan. Without teachers like Mr. Dodge on his side, it will be much harder for Junior to score good grades and therefore succeed.
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