Click on the "comment" button below to leave your blog post. I suggest you type your response first in a word document, and then copy and paste it into the comment box. When using book titles in your post you should set the title off with the underscore key: _How I Became a Ghost_ (as the comment box does not recognize italics). If you are signed up to be a discussion leader, your blog post should be at least 500 words of original prose (do not duplicate anything other bloggers have already said here) in which you engage with the text for the week critically AND pose an original discussion question. If you are signed up to be a responder, your post should be 250 words in length and respond to, answer, extend, or disagree with a question or thought from another student's post. Be sure to write your full name and word count at the bottom of your post. The cut-off time for this blog post is Friday, March 25 at midnight (for discussion leaders) and Monday, March 28 at midnight (for responders).Discussion Leaders: Alison M., Michelle, and Jonathan
Responders: Amanda, Vincent, and Gianna
In Tim Tingle’s _How I became a Ghost_, the narrative is largely based on elements of magical realism. Isaac is presented to the reader by explaining that he is a ghost, he wasn't always a ghost, and that when he was alive he was able to see things before they happened. This is explained in the first paragraph of the novel. This is very important to the novel because Isaac is able to see flashes of things later to come in the story, such as the old man and woman who were burned alive in their home by the soldiers. This is very traumatic for Isaac early in the beginning of the novel, he is afraid and unable to understand the reason for the warm shivering and the visions that come along with it. This ability is later revealed to him and shows that Isaac is very special child because he is able to see the ghost of his Choctaw ancestors and other Choctaw who had recently died being relocated . This ability gives Isaac the responsibility to grow up quickly because of the traumatic circumstances that his family and tribe are going through, forced to walk the trail of tears away from their homes.
ReplyDeleteThis narrative of Isaac follows HIntz and Tribunella’s models of the child as an adult. Isaac is forced to grow up quickly, before moving he was only a child required to perform chores for his family farm. After the forced relocation he was prepared to leave his families temporary camp to help find where the soldiers were keeping Naomi. He understands that he must be brave and do all he can to help his family, and the family of his new sister Nita. Isaac shows the most courage and maturity when he understands that he will soon become a ghost. This understanding would debilitate most children, who death is the scariest thing one as a child could imagine. He doesn't let this affect him knowing that he is a part of the strong Choctaw tribe and once he did become a ghost he would join his ancestors. This shows the strong link between his people and the spiritual realm. This spirituality among the Choctaw people is shown to be widely believed because of the unquestioning acceptance of Isaacs powers to see ghosts. This is very important to the novel because without the acceptance, Isaac would surely be taken less seriously when reveals his ability. If the context of the story was set in modern day time period I believe it would be harder for people in his community to help him understand his unique ability, rather he would be looked at if he was reacting insanely because of the traumatic circumstances that he was in.
I believe that elements of magical realism are what make this novel so interesting. Unwavering spiritual belief among the tribe shows their link to nature and to their people as a whole. This gives Isaac remarkable bravery and strength through extensive traumatic experiences that he is forced to deal with as a young Choctaw child being forced to walk the Trail of Tears.
Jonathan Meerman 524
In Tim Tingles _How I Became a Ghost_, the journey of a young man and his Choctaw Tribe of people are depicted in a way that both honors their sacred traditions and explores elements of the supernatural. Isaac’s ability to see and communicate with ghosts is the most intriguing aspect of the novel. The Choctaws belief in the supernatural gives them a type of hope which they so desperately need. Even when they are faced with such abuse and disease there communication and unity with the world give them a type of wisdom that is vital to their survival as a community. Isaac’s Father explains the power of striving forward and not dwelling in the past by stating, “You cannot keep your eyes on the bloody footprints you have left behind you. You must keep your eyes on where you are going” (90). The Fathers advice is logical because even though Choctaw people and their society are systematically being dismantled there is still hope that they can forge together and use their beliefs to create a new future. The Choctaws spiritual beliefs give them a type of resiliency, because even though they may be killed they will never fully leave the earth that they are a part of. Near the end of the novel, Isaac begins to realize his role in the tribe’s quest to save Naomi and speaks bravely to his people by stating, “If they scatter Nita’s bones, we will gather them. If they burn her bones, we will gather her ashes. We are Choctaws. We are stronger than the soldiers” (125). The spiritual nature of the Choctaw people allow them to feel brave when they are faced with fear. The gift that Isaac has is essential to the quest, not because of what he can actually do but that it restores hope to a group of people who have little to celeberate.
Delete315 Word Count
In Tim Tingle’s _How I Became a Ghost_ the book begins with Isaac as the “Talking Ghost”. This is the title of the first chapter and in the first paragraph Isaac tells the reader that this book is written by a ghost. Isaac says that he is the ghost. “I am not a ghost when this book begins, so you have to pay very close attention. I should tell you something else. I see things before they happen. You are probably thinking, I wish I could see things before they happen. Be careful what you wish for.”(1) This is an important passage, as it tells the reader that the protagonist will not live through the entire book, that at some point, he will die. It also sets the reader up to accept that there will be ghosts in this book, it is not something to be afraid of but something that is normal. This introduction of ghosts also leaves the reader open to accept other things that western cultures may not normally experience in their own culture and in books written by western authors, such as the shape shifting of Isaac’s friend Joseph.
ReplyDeleteThere are several ways this introduction and style can influence the reader. First, by noting that Isaac is going to become a ghost at some point in the book, the reader at every point of impending danger wonders if this is the moment that Isaac is going leave this life and become a ghost. It makes the book more suspenseful. The reader is always on the edge, wondering and rooting for Isaac to make it through this scrape and hopefully through the next. Then when the reader least expects it, the bottom drops out and it is done. Secondly, by introducing the reader to a non-western culture where magical realism is normal, the reader understands why Isaac while at first confused by his visions, is frightened by the painful images he sees, like the sores on Old Man and Old Woman, but not by their ghosts when they appear to him. This is because the Choctaw people believe that their ancestors are always with them, it is not magical to them it is real, and normal. Debbie Reese, whose blog, American Indians in Children’s Literature, relates why this is important. Westerners often portray Native Americans using stereotypes, Native storytellers like Tim Tingle let their readers know that Native Americans are more than the stereotypes. Isaac and his belief in ghosts and shape shifting is a normal cultural belief. This is not magic, this is not childish make believe, it is part of being Choctaw.
I think Tim Tingle used this opening paragraph to communicate to the reader that this is not a normal western type book, but a book based on the beliefs of the Choctaw, and their experiences on the Trail of Tears. This is not an easy book, there is abuse of the Native people by the American government, there is hardship and murder, but there is also hope and wonder and humor. I also think it allows a western reader to acknowledge that ghosts and other things they are traditionally told do not exist, do exist, if you just open your eyes and believe, you may be able to witness events like these.
I believe I have had this kind of experience, my father who had passed away came to me in a dream, the content of the dream frightened me, but my father comforted me, and the words he used convinced me that it was him. I didn’t know the full impact of the dream until about a month later, and his comments in the dream helped me to get through a very difficult time in my life. What do you think, do ghosts exist? Have you ever seen or experienced a ghost or perhaps a shape shifter? (word count 645)
Tim Tingle’s novel _How I Became a Ghost_ illustrates the horrific story of the Trail of Tears for the Choctaw Indians. In order to really impact the reader and help them to better understand the story, Tingle uses the elements of historical fiction and magical realism, he also includes aspects of life that are completely specific to the Choctaw culture.
ReplyDeleteMagical realism is a genre that blurs the line between the real world and fantasy. It allows magic to subsist in ordinary life in a way that is believable to the reader. This style is present throughout _How I Became a Ghost_ because in the Choctaw culture as well as many other Native American cultures, ghosts and magic are a significant part of their traditions and beliefs. One passage from the novel that demonstrates magical realism is on pages 43-44, where Mister Jonah appears to Isaac for the second time. This is a significant passage because Isaac admits that he is scared and says, “Sometimes I know too much.” But Mister Jonah comforts him and explains that not only he and his wife but also hundreds of other Choctaws who have passed away are constantly watching over them and helping them from the other side. Many people believe that their ancestors stay with them and may even be able to communicate with them; this would be an example of magical realism in the novel because there is no set boundary between realism and fantasy. Other examples include Joseph’s ability to shape shift into the panther and Isaac being able to talk to Jumper, his dog. What are some additional examples of magical realism in the novel? What might be the importance of these examples to the novel as a whole?
_How I Became a Ghost_ is a work of historical fiction, so it incorporates actual historical aspects such as setting and events with characters and dialogue that may be fictional. Many of the traumatic events in the novel including the soldiers giving Smallpox infected blankets to the Choctaws and the poor treatment and horrible conditions that they faced are actually true. It is important that Tingle include these disturbing, graphic events so that the reader can really grasp what the Native Americans on the Trail of Tears went through and also to evoke emotions within the reader. One traumatic passage from the novel is on pages 122-123, where the soldiers are looking for Naomi and they are ruthless in their search. They approach the camp of the tribal elders and shoot at the tree branches above them, knocking one old woman unconscious. It is a significant passage because it shows how truly malicious the soldiers were and how little they cared about the Native Americans whose lives they were turning upside down. As a reader do you think if Tingle didn’t include this passage or other traumatic passages that the novel would have the same effect?
Throughout _How I Became a Ghost_, Tim Tingle uses language and cultural aspects that are specific to the Choctaws. For instance, the words “hoke” which means, “okay” in Choctaw and “yakoke” which means, “thank you,” are used many times in the novel. Another way Tingle incorporates the Choctaw culture is on pages 109-110, where in italics there is somewhat of an aside so that Tingle can explain the history and the significance of the bonepickers. The story of the bonepickers is in italics because it shows that it is taken specifically from Choctaw legend that was passed down to him, just as all the words in other parts of the book that are in Choctaw language are in italics. Do you think this passage could be in italics for another reason? Without this passage would you still understand the importance of the bonepickers? If it weren’t for the inclusion of these specific aspects of Choctaw culture, the reader wouldn’t get nearly as much out of the novel. Tingle does a great job of bringing the pain of the Trail of Tears to life as well as giving the reader a better understanding of Native American culture.
Alison Marek
Word Count: 682