The Round House by Louise Erdrich Curriculum support materials prepared by Glenda McCarthy for Billings Public Schools Contemrporary Indian Education for All texts like Louise Erdrich’s The Round House engage readers with relatable characters. Erdrich’s novel is also a page-turner, a crime novel with a young protagonist in pursuit of justice. Equally important is the opportunity for sutdents to delve into some Native specific issues, such as the disparate lack of justice caused by inaqequate resources and limitations to tribal sovereignty. On a more positive note, readers can enjoy Anishinaabe stories; hopefully these arouse respectful curiosity about Native worldview among non-Native readers and the opportunity for identification and pride among Native readers. Unless otherwise specified, page numbers referenced throughout this document refer to the paperback edition. Erdrich, Louise. The Round House. Harper Collins, 2012. Montana Common Core Standards for ELA Study of The Round House allows readers to address numerous reading standards for literature at the grade 11-12 level, including: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly (within cultural contexts, including those of American Indians) as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain. For example, The Round House allows students to analyze statements and inferences about Christian (Catholic), Anishinaabe and legal concepts of morality and the pursuit of justice.
who aren’t white, including people like the Ojibwe? Do you think there is prejudice against Native Americans? How is this portrayed in the book? Contrast these with examples of kindness and fairness. 16. “My father remembered that of course an Ojibwe person’s clan meant everything at one time, and no one didn’t have a clan; thus, you know your place in the world and your relationship to all other beings.” How has modernity --- and westward expansion --- transformed this? Has our rush to the future, and our restless need to move, impacted us as a society and as individuals? 17. Race, politics, injustice, religion, superstition, and the boundary between childhood and adulthood are explored in The Round House. Choose a theme or two and trace how it is demonstrated in a character’s life throughout the novel. 18. The only that God can do, and does all the time, is to draw good from any evil situation,” the priest advised Joe. What good does Joe --- and also his family --- draw from the events of the summer? What life lessons did Joe learn that summer of 1988? Thematic Focus The Pursuit of Justice Throughout the novel, Erdrich develops the theme of different approaches the pursuit of justice. Reading excerpts in the packet focus on some of these: Anishinaabe stories from Mooshum – pp. 179-181 Catholic/Christian perspective – p 253 explanation – pp. 299 – 300 Bazil’s thoughts – pp. 305-307 After reading these excerpts, students can “take a line for a walk,” copying a line/lines and then following with their own thoughts. Another reading strategy would be to DICE the texts. D – what disturbs you? I – what intrigues you? C – what confuses you? E – what enlightens you? What types of evil are you familiar with? Material evil? Moral evil? Have you confronted evil in your life on a personal level? How do “victims” of evil deal with it? Are there similarities based on their experiences? with a partner, small group or the whole group. Misogyny and Violence Against Women