Indian Education

Consider the episodic structure of “Indian Education.” How does the story’s use of vignettes reinforce the story’s themes and character arc? How does it compare to traditional coming-of-age stories?

Analyze how the story juxtaposes Junior’s academic and athletic achievements with his experiences in a system that marginalizes and stereotypes him. In what ways does “Indian Education” critique the American myth of meritocracy?

Examine the story’s allusions to historical trauma and identity erasure. In what ways does “Indian Education” function as postcolonial literature?

Alexie depicts life on the reservation as lacking in opportunities for social and economic advancement. How do the people in Junior’s life claim agency in this adverse environment, and what does the story suggest about the value of their coping mechanisms and survival strategies?

What role does irony play in “Indian Education?” How does it illustrate both the injustice that Junior experiences and his way of coping with it?

How does Alexie contrast reservation life with off-reservation experiences in “Indian Education”? What does this contrast teach Junior about assimilation, cultural identity, and class divides in America?

Discuss the significance of the bullying and fighting that Junior experiences and observes among his classmates. What motivates this violence?

How does “Indian Education” blur the line between individual and collective experience? In what ways does Junior’s voice function as both a personal narrative and a representative account of Indigenous youth?