Wednesday, Feb. 12 Agenda

• Bell Ringer: 10 minutes independent reading (collect “Thomas Builds-the-Fire” Answers)
• Postmodernism/Contemporary Notes
• Poetry Refreshers
• Louise Erdrich- “I Was Sleeping Where the Black Oaks Move”
• Questions on Next Slide
• • Poet Info: Minnesotan, Chippewa/German-American Ethnicity, writes with characters showing both sides of her ancestry
  • Critics say she “has remained true to her Native ancestors’ mythic and artistic visions while writing fiction that candidly explores the cultural issues facing modern-day Native Americans and mixed heritage Americans.”
  • Close Read the poem: 
  • Literal (1st read) and metaphoric (2nd read) meanings
  • What poetic terms can we see (3rd read through)
  • Connect to myths (characteristics in general)
  Connect to Sherman Alexie (Thomas Builds-the-Fire) (connections in 4th read through)

HOMEWORK: “Hunger In New York City” pg. 950 Blue/handout and questions: answer questions on the poem itself, making sure to identify word choice that supports your answer (you can just identify it directly in the text)

Simon Ortiz

• “one of the nation’s most important Native-American poets,” professor
• Focus on language and oral traditions of the Pueblo tribe (southwestern US)