(Click the themes infographic to download.)
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a novel about hope, and how important it is to have it and how it helps us stay afloat. In this novel, we see the consequences of people and even whole communities that lack hope. Why is it important to hope? Who has the most hope? Why do only white people seem to have hope? Why does Arnold have hope?
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Questions About Hopes, Dreams, and Plans
- Did Arnold's parents have dreams, hopes, and plans? What were they? Did they come true? Why or why not?
- Think about Mary and her dreams. What happens to them?
- Why did using his mother's geometry book crush Arnold's dreams?
- What are Penelope's dreams?
- Why are the words "you can do it" (25.140) so powerful for Arnold?
- What do you think will happen to Arnold after high school? What will happen to Rowdy?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
The power of hope is limitless. If we can still dream, then we can imagine ourselves out of even the darkest situation.
When others believe in you, it's so much easier to believe in yourself.