*The Man to Send Rain Clouds* by Leslie Marmon Silko

advertisement

Ready to work?

 Get portfolio.

 Write today’s agenda in your calendar.

 DOL

DOL

Define “Myth”.

“The Man to Send Rain Clouds” by Leslie Marmon Silko

Mesa – elevated land mass with a flat top

Arroyo – a dry creek

Angelus – bell rung as a call to recite a particular devotional prayer

Cloister – a covered walk in a convent

Last Rites – last prayers given to the dying before being laid to rest

Cassock – Priest’s clothing

Setting

• Big City?

• Village (peublo)?

• Suburban neighborhood?

• Modern day?

• 1800’s?

• America?

• Europe?

• Asia?

Characters

• Leon and Ken – brothers-in-law

• Teofilo – deceased grandfather

• Father Paul – local Catholic priest

• Louise and Teresa – wives of Leon and Ken

Theme - Conflict

Theme – traditions in culture and how they adapt to necessary transitions (changes)

• Compromise

Conflict – culture and tradition vs. outside influences

• Man vs. Society – Native American tradition and

Catholicism

• Man vs. Man – Ken and Leon and Father Paul

• Man vs. Self – Ken and Leon finding a way to mix both traditions. Father Paul reluctantly allowing his beliefs to mix with Native American tradition.

Native American rituals and traditions

• Tied a gray feather in his hair.

• Painted the face.

• Pinch or corn meal and pollen thrown in the wind.

• Request to send rain clouds.

• Wrapped in a blanket.

• Dressed him in new clothes.

• Visits from clan people and neighbors – brought food for the gravediggers.

Catholic rituals

• Louise suggesting Father Paul sprinkling holy water so he won’t be thirsty.

• Bringing Last Rites.

• Sprinkling of holy water.

Traditions in my family

• We always waited on my sister Yvette (who was always late) to arrive so we always told her to arrive an hour earlier than we intended to start.

• After Thanksgiving dinner my Uncle Hector and I each took a recliner in the back living room and slept for a half hour before the game.

Traditions in my family

• My wife and I trade off holidays with our families.

• Every September 11 th we watch United 93.

• Every Christmas we watch While You Were

Sleeping.

• Halloween – watch Bravo’s 100 most scariest movie moments while handing out the “good” candy.

Brainstorming only

• Think about traditions in your family/culture/religion that you have (or still) witness.

• Why and how(what purpose) is the tradition practiced?

• Think of a time you vividly remember these traditions/rituals practiced.

• Jot down ideas for a ½ - full page narrative.

Ticket out the door (T-O-D)

Answer in a complete sentence:

• Why do you think Father Paul agreed to sprinkle holy water on Teofilo’s corpse?

How to Outline

I. Topic

A. Subtopic

1. Detail

2. Detail

B. 2 nd subtopic

1. Detail

2. Detail

I. Topic

A. Subtopic

1. Detail

2. Detail

B. 2 nd subtopic

1. Detail

2. Detail

I. Thanksgiving traditions –

A. Playing cards after dinner

1. Uncle argues the rules

2. Dad drinks too much

II.

Christmas traditions

B. The youngest hand out the gifts.

1. They complain about having to wait to open gifts.

2. Always have trouble reading the tags.

Download