Monday, 9 April: Louise Erdrich, “Indian Boarding School: The Runaways” UA 26-27

Reader: Talli Ortiz

Born 1954-

Louise Erdrich is a Chippewa Indian on her mother’s side and a German-American on her father’s side of the family.  She began writing at an early age and vividly remembers receiving awards/encouragement from her parents, “My father used to give me a nickel for every story I wrote”.  Attended Dartmouth College and Johns Hopkins University.  Has written several novels and children books, including Love Medicine.

“People in [Native American] families make everything into a story…People just sit and the stories start coming, one after another.  I suppose that when you grow up constantly hearing the stories rise, break, and fall, it get into you somehow.”

1. Louise uses personification (giving human characteristics to inanimate objects) throughout the poem.  What is the significance?

2. Louise herself attended boarding school. Why do you think she remembers this part of her past more vividly than other occurrences?

3. How does the color green represent shame?