Solved Literature Questions: Hope Against Hope
Q: List three different ways that the author reveals the protagonist and his or her life to the reader. Consider the elements of fiction. (You may want to go back to the first two modules and review.) Be specific. Include BOTH your thoughts AND specific examples from the text. Include both chapter name and page numbers. Write at least three FULL sentences for each AND include an example for each. (The example is not part of the three sentences.)
1- The story's protagonist is Arnold Spirit Jr., a cartoonist. The author describes that his character uses images to explain the world. Since he believes that pictures speak more than words in any language. As Arnold says: "I draw because words are too unpredictable . . . I draw because words are too limited." (Ch=1 p.9)
2- The novel has the basic theme of "hope and Joy" as hope can be a source of liberation and joy for the beholder. So, the protagonist has shown this attitude towards life with a fulfilling attitude. The protagonist says that: "You fought off those seizures. You kept your hope. And now, you have to take your hope and go somewhere other people have hope." (P.50 Ch: Hope Against Hope)
So, Arnold jr. provides that message to the people that those who have hope shall spread that to others too. The message is indeed quite resounding. So, hope is a primary motif in the novel.
3- The character seems to be a beacon of hope, but the character develops in a manner where despair seems more evident. As Arnold Jr says: "I guess a fake life inside a cartoon is a lot better than his real life . . . So I draw cartoons to make him happy, to give him other worlds to live inside." (P.28, Ch: Revenge is my Middle Name)
This line indicates that the character is trying to overcome the shadow of deep sorrow by promulgating hope. So, the author depicts the character as swinging between hope and despair, which is the manifestation of a round character, which develops with the development of the plot.
7. List two themes you see emerging. Be specific. Include BOTH your thoughts AND specific examples from the text. Include both chapter name and page numbers. Write at least three FULL sentences for each AND include an example for each. (The example is not part of the three sentences.)
A: Hope, joy, and racisms are repeated motifs and dominant themes in the novel. The character Arnold Jr., the novel's protagonist, is a beacon of hope. Arnold Jr. says: " You fought off those seizures. You kept your hope. And now, you have to take your hope and go somewhere where other people have hope." (P.50 Ch: Hope Against Hope)
So, there is a theme of constant struggle and hope, which is suggested by this expression. Arnold describes that hope Arnold has won through his battle must also be spread to the others.
Similarly, the protagonist feels that the cartoons he draws bring hope to the broken heart and mend them with joy. He says: "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats." P.10 Ch: The Black Eye of the Month Club)
Indeed, a real sense of joy is achieved when an individual tries to fit into a community. And, as "men are social animals." So they get absolute pleasure through acknowledgement in a community. The protagonist also describes it in the following sentence. "Well, life is a constant struggle between being an individual and a community member." (P.144, Ch: Don’t trust your computer)
Racism is another theme which recurs in the writing. Arnold says, “And what's more, our white dentist believed that Indians only felt half as much pain as white people." (P. 6, Ch: The black eye of the month club). So, Indian people could receive only half of the painkillers.
This shows the attitude of White people towards the Indian race.
Through the protagonist, the writer tells that there is no desire among the Indians to stay poor. But, it apparently appears like they were destined to face the music under white supremacy. So, Indians are somehow denied fulfilling their dreams. “Seriously, I know my mother and father had dreams when they were kids. They dreamed about being something other than poor, but they never got the chance to be anything because nobody paid attention to their dreams." (P.15, Ch: Why Chickens mean so much to me)
In a conversation between Mr P and Junior, Mr P says that: “We were supposed to kill the Indian to save the child.'’(P. 41, Ch: Hope Against Hope) These lines suggest the historical event of the mass murder of Indians by Europeans. So it is reflected in the attitude of the White European race towards Indians.
8. Identify two specific conflicts. Review plot and conflict before you answer. Remember, conflict is NOT necessarily between two people. Be specific. Include BOTH your thoughts AND specific examples from the text. Include both chapter name and page numbers. Write at least three FULL sentences for each AND include an example for each. (not part of the three sentences)
A: One major conflict in the plot is the protagonist's struggle for acceptance in both communities. Since the protagonist feels that he feels only like a part-time Indian, it appears like the character is passing through an identity crisis:
As Arnold Jr. says: "Well, life is a constant struggle between being an individual and being a member of the community." (P.144 Ch: Don't trust your Computer) The line suggests an internal struggle of a character who constantly tries to fit in a community.
Since both communities, White and Indian, have remarkable differences, it becomes hard for the character to fit within a community.
Moreover, a conflict within the society suggests that being an Indian is symbolic of less successful. As depicted in these lines: " but some Indians think you have to act white to make your life better." (P. 143, Ch: Don't trust your Computer)
Being an Indian means accepting the status quo in which Indians as a community are marginalized. And, if they move away from that margin, they are no more Indians. At some point, Arnold describes that being Indian may be a sense of weakness, and at other points, he suggests that he feels deep conviction for Indian culture. As in the following lines:
"I love Indians. I love our songs" (P.176,Ch: Wake)
Another conflict which the author face within himself is the struggle for joy. His struggle seems to fluctuate between hope, joy and deep pain. Arnold feels that his struggle to find happiness is the only thing which helps him stay alive. Like: I following lines:
"And I kept trying to find the little pieces of joy in my life. That's the only way I managed to make it through all of that death and change." (P.188, Ch: Valentine Heart)
Between hope and miseries, the author sees his work as a cartoonist as a source of joy for others.
As Arnold says: "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats."
9. How does setting impact the story? (time AND place) Review setting before you answer. Be specific. Include BOTH your thoughts AND at least one specific examples from the text. Include both chapter name and page numbers. Write at least three FULL sentences for each AND include an example. (not part of the three sentences)
A: The story has the setting around 1980, which is set in Spokane Indian Reservation and the town of Reardon in Washington State. The story's location is suggestive of the life of an individual who feels himself in a situation of an identity crisis. For the protagonist, it isn't easy to find what community he fits in.
As it is challenging to relate with either the Indian or white community. As in the following lines: "but some Indians think you have to act white to make your life better.” (P.143, Ch: Don't trust your Computer)
So, the protagonist, at times, feels a sense of joy in Indian culture and arts since he embraces the reign of poverty of a community against getting ill-treated by society. As he finds himself amused with Indian culture. "I love Indians. I love our songs” (P.176 Ch: Wake)
So, the novel depicts a gap between the rich and the poor. And the race is a source of privilege, which has been specific to the setting in which the story is being written. American society has always remained under this yoke of racism. So, the novel provides a grand narrative in the setting in which it has been written.
Q: List at least two specific questions about the book thus far.
A. What does the title of the book suggest about the narrative?
B. Why has the author used 1st person omniscient narrative technique?
Q: What struck you? What was interesting to you? List at least two passages or points of interest. Be specific. If you write about a passage, include chapter name and page number. Explain why it is interesting to you. Explain why you think it is important. (Write at least three full sentences for each.)
A: "And I kept trying to find the little pieces of joy in my life." (P.188, Ch: Valentine Heart)
This line is peculiarly interesting to me because it provides a sense of hope despite the severe challenges that life poses to an individual in the form of death and unacceptable change. I found the line of particular interest because it helps me relate in a liberating sense. It allows me to construct meanings around life. So, joy can be seen in little things, especially in times when there is little reason to express joy and more reason to face despair.
Another part which I found interesting is that the protagonist does not feel a sense of repulsion in accepting part of his identity. As in the following lines: "I love Indians. I love our songs" (P.176 Ch: Wake)
This indicates that an individual shall cherish every part of their identity. No matter what ideas people have regarding those identities? Especially in the American context. The culture and arts of other races must be considered as valuable as different cultures.