What does the horse symbolize in Indian horse?
One day, Slanting Sky came through the land leading a strange creature. He led the creature back to his people and told them its name: horse. … Saul’s family name is a constant reminder of his proud heritage. But it is also a symbol of the demise of his people and their culture, as this passage foreshadows.
What does alcohol represent in Indian horse?
Like his parents before him, Saul becomes an alcoholic—partly, it’s implied, as a reaction to the tragic turn his life has taken, and to numb the pain of having his dreams taken away from him. Saul takes comfort in drinking.
What do the children smell all afternoon after playing by the River Indian horse?
That night, Saul and his classmates sneak back to the school with the smell of fish still on their hands. They spend the night with their heads pressed to their hands, inhaling the smell.
What does God’s Lake symbolize in Indian horse?
Gods Lake. Gods Lake symbolizes the value of personal heritage and family. When Saul makes a pilgrimage to Gods Lake as an adult, he has a vision of…
What is the main message of Indian horse?
Family and Tradition. Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse takes its title from the protagonist Saul Indian Horse’s family name, so it’s no surprise that family (and the traditions that families preserve) is one of the book’s central themes.
Why is God’s Lake important in Indian horse?
When at God’s Lake as a child, a place special to the Indian Horse family, Saul learns more on the history of his family. “[He] could see a camp of a dozen wigwams at the foot of the great cliff. … The land plays a vital role in helping Saul know where he is going by teaching him his family history and where he has been.
What is the new dawn Centre Indian horse?
Saul Indian Horse is an Ojibway, a native Canadian, who finds himself at the New Dawn Center (“They call it a treatment facility.” page 2) to deal with his addictions. He is asked to tell his story, the story of how he came to be in this place a place where the choices are change or death.
What is the purpose of Chapter 39 in Indian horse?
It shows how resistance to oppressive circumstances can take many forms—a theme which ties this seemingly strangely-placed chapter into the themes of the previous chapter, in which Saul finally lashed out against his racist opponents and was punished for doing so.
What does fish symbolize in Indian horse?
Each expression that describes the fish were stark. They were symbols of sadness and wish. As a reader, the expressions were helpful for imaging. How the kids of the residential school felt, how much they missed their home.
Who commits suicide in Indian horse?
Chapter 39
Jerome’s, Rebecca Wolf, who commits suicide in front of the kids while singing an Ojibway song.
Why is hockey important in Indian horse?
The most important and explicit symbol in the book is the game of hockey. After being forced to attend St. Jerome’s school, Saul Indian Horse discovers that he’s a naturally gifted hockey player. … Again and again, Wagamese uses hockey as a symbol for Saul’s life more generally.
What is a theme in Indian horse?
The underlying theme of this novel is discrimination and how racism and stereotypes can affect a human being. Throughout this novel, people had expectations for what Saul should be. While at St. Jerome’s he realized that he was not there to learn, but to be stripped of all culture and thrown into a white faced world.
What is the symbolic significance of the eagle feather in Indian horse?
Both Bald and Golden Eagles (and their feathers) are highly revered and considered sacred within American Indian traditions, culture and religion. They are honored with great care and shown the deepest respect. They represent honesty, truth, majesty, strength, courage, wisdom, power and freedom.