L1 Summary of Sherman Alexie's "The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me"
Sherman Alexie wrote "The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me" with the purpose of informing his readers of the challenges he faced as a young Indian boy that was not supposed to be educated by societies standards. Alexie used his own personal experiences as a young smart Indian to express his point of view.
His love of books derived from his love and adoration of his father. At the age of three, Alexie recalls how he taught himself how to read by analyzing a Superman comic book. Telling the story to himself by utilizing the pictures to create the story. He then went on to realize the purpose of a paragraph, saying "a paragraph is a fence that held words". Alexie then in turn looked at everything in that way. By utilizing this method he created, it enabled him to gain the knowledge of reading.
Upon entering school on the reservation he fought with other children daily. The children played the role of the dumb Indian while at school so they wouldn't be ridiculed as they did him. Alexie was arrogant, smart and determined not to be that stereotype regardless of any suggestions. His drive to propel forward encompassed his life, in high school he chose public schools instead of the reservation. He still faced the same ridicule but never let it interfere with his goal to prove to the world that Indians can be educated, too.
Sherman Alexie wrote "The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me" with the purpose of informing his readers of the challenges he faced as a young Indian boy that was not supposed to be educated by societies standards. Alexie used his own personal experiences as a young smart Indian to express his point of view.
His love of books derived from his love and adoration of his father. At the age of three, Alexie recalls how he taught himself how to read by analyzing a Superman comic book. Telling the story to himself by utilizing the pictures to create the story. He then went on to realize the purpose of a paragraph, saying "a paragraph is a fence that held words". Alexie then in turn looked at everything in that way. By utilizing this method he created, it enabled him to gain the knowledge of reading.
Upon entering school on the reservation he fought with other children daily. The children played the role of the dumb Indian while at school so they wouldn't be ridiculed as they did him. Alexie was arrogant, smart and determined not to be that stereotype regardless of any suggestions. His drive to propel forward encompassed his life, in high school he chose public schools instead of the reservation. He still faced the same ridicule but never let it interfere with his goal to prove to the world that Indians can be educated, too.
