Name: Muhammad Noman Tahir

Roll# 214131

Class: M.Phil 1st (Morning)

Paper: American Literature (Final)

Date: 08-02-2022
Answers of the questions are written below

Q1

Answer

History is witness that marginalized sections of the society

always suffer. Might is right, and big fish eats little fish. Those
who are in power have no one to answer for their deeds, cruel
though. Thus, subjugation of Native Americans by Europe was
not a novel phenomenon, and Native Americans were not the
only and the first creatures of this universe to bear the brunt of
the situation.

There are no two opinions that Native people of America

endured innumerous quandaries and predicaments. One has
every right to take the people of Europe to task. However, a
question arises: if others had power, would they not oppress the
Natives? Surely they did.

It is human nature that one wants to excel in life. In achieving

his goals, he sometimes forgets the norms, moralities and values.
It is an open secret that Europeans looted wealth of Native
Americans. It is human nature for becoming rich that compell
people to commit illegal deeds, not their culture or religion,
because in this world, there is no religion and culture that allows
any individual to plunder others’ property.

Where the history of Native Americans is concerned, it is

disappointed. It is replenished with barbaric and inhuman
activities. The atrocities faced by the indigenous people of
America are manifold. One can not think of such vicious designs
made by the so-called civilized people of this universe. The
more disappointed fact is that America is not the only state
where such violence was perpetrated. Cruel people of Europe
caused havoc across the world. In other words, wherever they
went, they launched their counterfeit operations of civilizing the
world. Subcontinent is prime example of their misadventures
that they came with the aims of trade, but left this unfortunate
land with innumerous challenges. The GDP fell drastically
during their presence.

At the end of 15th century Columbus was given a task to explore

a short way to India. Why so? Since Europe was after wealth,
and India was deemed to be one of the richest lands of the world
in terms of natural resources. Haplessly, America was
discovered. Natives, who did nothing but harmony, peace and
prosperity, were indulged into never-ending crises. Their only
fault was that they were down-to-earth people. They were used
to helping one another solve their issues. However, Europeans
helped them, to a large extent, learn new things, no matter cruel
they were.

It is stated that before European arrival to America, there was no

concept of alcoholism. Nonetheless, along with many other
things, they were told to consume wine.

To mitigate population in America, Europeans gave them

blankets. They used them, and subsequently, they died. They
lost their lives, but Europeans succeeded in carrying out their
plan to reduce people. If they did not do so, it could be
detrimental to their objects of looting the wealth of Natives.

For centuries, Natives have been fighting for their rights.

However, regrettably, they do not seem to be succeeding in their
mission. Several bills were tabled and passed. Nevertheless, in
reality nothing substantial could be achieved in the history.
Schools were made for them, but the children of Native
Americans were not told. Instead they are being trained to hate
their own culture. They were missionary schools. It is estimated
that 35pc of total children in Native America leave schools. This
toll is lower than the other parts of this world. Presently, 27pc
children leave schools in their child-hoods due to penury or
other reasons. This figure is seen in developing states too.
However, In America, the number of fleeing students is high,
which is troubling because, these figures show that it is lagging
behind

So-called civilized Europe claims that life expectancy has been

increased. Is life without basic facilities useful? Life expectancy
is 71 years in America, but it is still less than the rest of the
world.

Efforts are being made by the Native Americans. Whether or not

they succeed it is anyone’s guess.

In short, it can be said with full confidence that problems of

Native Americans could be minimized by the rigorous efforts of
Natives. However, it is next to impossible that Native
Americans will easily be given their fundamental rights

Q2
Answer

It is stated that nature can never be changed. Thus, Sherman

Alexie, in his masterpiece, The Ten Little Indians, endeavors to
tell this phenomenon. It is seen that in the past, whoever tried to
overpower others, change their language, culture and values, did
not fully succeed.

In Native Americans’ scenario, it is observed that they were

deprived of their values. Even then, they remained steadfast, and
did not let others conquer them easily. Despite many attempts by
Europeans, those lived in Spokane Reservation, seemed true to
their land. Through this fictional work “The Ten Little Indians,”
readers come to know about their struggle. Characters, which
are aptly depicted by Alexie, show their enthusiasm towards
their land.

All the characters painted by Alexie, depict his own struggle

towards preserving his land. No one can defeat a person until he
accepts his defeat. Where story “The Search Engine” is
concerned, we know about the struggle of Corliss, protagonist of
the story. She wants to be a poetess, and is seen remove each
and every barrier coming in her way. She is an epitome of
perseverance and role model for others, including males. She
wants to convey if she, despite being a woman, can doo all this,
then others can do too, and they are supposed to follow suit,
instead of putting blame of their own failures on others. “If one
can doo, I can do too.”

Corliss, through her hard work, wants to say that she would
never be ready to accept defeat or yield to Europeans. In doing
so, she realizes her dreams of being a poetess. She also succeeds
in telling the core line of “The Alchemist” “When someone tries
to achieve something, the whole universe conspires to realize his
dream.”

Though white men are powerful and wealthy, even then Corliss
never seems to be copying them. She is happy after knowing
Atwater’s poetry that his book was published. Though he is not
a successful poet, yet his poetry makes her happy the most. In
other words, his poetry strengthens her dreams of being a poet.

Unlike other people, Corliss strongly believes in dreams. She

feels that dreams are true; and they, to a large extent, help
people attain their goals. She thinks that with the help of dreams,
man can achieve whatever he wants.
Atwater seems white. Corliss does not like him, despite the fact
that, like her, he is a poet. She does not like because he looks
white. She can cherish and relish everything but a white man.
Why so? She ponders that white man is responsible for all the
miseries of Native Americans. She is very right in assuming so.

Corliss can have innumerous opportunities after accepting the

hegemony of White men. However, she does not do so because
it is against her values.

To conclude, fact always remains fact. It can never be changed

through power either. Fact of Native Americans is that they can
not change their way of living, and Alexie has succeeded in
proving this truth through the story of Ten Little Indians

Q3

Answer

It is an established fact that powerful is right. Whatever he says,

unfortunately, is considered true and right. No one dares ask
whether he or she is wrong. Many non European people
consider Europe right and true. They have many reasons to
strengthen their argument about them. However, fact can never
be changed, no matter one tries to alter it.

The truth of Europe is that it is the purest form of evil.

America’s celebrated writer Sherman Alexie endeavors to tell
about the barbarity and cruelty of the civilized people of Europe.
One can agree or disagree with him. However, it is hard to
negate his writing style. The way he challenges and breaks the
set rules about writing is up to the mark.

In his collection of poems, “The Summer of Black Widows”

Alexie takes civilized Europe to task about its inhumane
treatment of Native Americans. In his poem, “Why We Play
Basket Ball” he tries to say that it is not a game for Native
Americans. “For us it is War.” They play Basket ball in order to
gain power so that they can trounce giants who have illegally
captured their land. They want to take it back by hook or by
crook. Alexie is also of the opinion that darkness is followed by
dawn, and every night has day. He believes that this cycle of
violence will end one day. However there is no way around to
make his dreams true about liberation other than keeping on
working hard. Alexie is strong believer when one tries to
achieve anything no one can stop him from doing so, no matter
how much difficult circumstances are for him

Natives love their land than anything else. Thus, in one of his
poems, Alexie says, “One can not tear one’s mother’s bosom
with knife.” They love nature too. They deem animals equal to
men. 1.5m buffalos were estimated to be killed. Is it not sheer
violence? Are Animals are made to be needlessly killed? These
are some questions posed by Alexie, which were not asked by
others. They must be answered. If they are gone unanswered,
then it means Alexie is right. If he was wrong, then he would be
told overtly that he was wrong in hurling charges over most
civilized creatures of this universe, especially given their history
of pretending to be advocators of human rights.

Alexie is also staunch believer that no one should blindly

believe in the products of Europe. In one of his poems, he warns
his fellows about using sugar. He knows that it is made for
making them ill, cure instead. He teaches others to eat more
sense than taste. If one eats more taste than sense, he can endure
innumerous problems in terms of getting ill for a long time.
To sum up, Alexie has succeeded in portraying the negative
mindset of Europe. He is of the opinion that people of Europe
can never be sincere with Native Americans. Problems can be
solved only when Native Americans feel the gravity of the
situation.

Q4

Answer

There are no two opinions that Alexie is greatest writers of all.

He is not only a renowned author, but also a scholar. His vision
about life is broad. It is up to a person whether he agrees or
disagrees with him. However, it is unfair that one does not
accept his genius.

“The True Diary of a Part Time Indian” is a best novel penned

by American writer Alexie. It is more an account of his life than
a piece of fiction. In other words, it is an autobiographical novel,
which tells about the struggle of Alexie’s life. It is the struggle
of everyone’s life that tries to get rid of this hellish life.
Alexie, through this novel, tries to depict violence perpetrated
by non Europeans. In addition, he proposes solution how a
person can come out of these crises.

Junior is a Red Indian born on Spokane Reservation with

disease. He tries to learn many things, but since his birth, his
first and foremost goal is to learn about White men. He is into
learning their language. He thinks if he learns their language, he
can learn many things. Besides, he could be able to get rid of
these crises. He thinks that, in doing so, he can help others come
out of crises faced by him.

Junior challenges and insults old books taught by white teachers

to the children of Spokane Reservation. He also bemoans his
mother’s old book. It is used for teaching him and other children
of his age at reservation. Thus, at the behest of his teacher he is
sent to the place where white children are taught.

Junior proves that Native Americans are not violent. They can
provide positive results if they are treated on equal basses. He
not only performs well in studies, but other activities. He, by his
hard work, is able to get position in Basket Ball Team.
Junior is taken to task by Reardon, his one and only friend at
Spokane Reservation. Reardon thinks Junior has left him and
other people of reservation. However, fact lies elsewhere. He
leaves them because he wants to prove that people of reservation
must be given their rights. If they are rendered facilities, they
can work shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the world. He also
wants to convey that, like him, others must be incorporated in
works.

If blacks were inhumane and barbaric, then Oscar, Junior’s

grandmother, would never forget that person who becomes
reason of her death. She, in her life, forgives him. Blacks are
talented. Mary, Junior’s sister is good at writing. However, he
likes images. He maintains that images can portray his feelings
and state of mind.

To tell others about their problems and issues, one should learn
their language. If Junior does not learn their language he could
never be able to tell about his problems and talent. There is no
doubt about it that Americans have not been got their rights.
However, they have been able to get some of them, and
language has played its role to get rights. If Native Americans
had remained silent, no one else would dare talk about them. It
is stated “You have to get freedom, and for it, you have to fight
for it. Nobody will fight for you; you will have to fight for
yourself.”

To conclude, Native Americans could mitigate their crises by

fighting. They call for trying for freedom till the last drop of
their blood. Except fight, there is no way for them to be
considered equal.