1. Survival = Anger x
Imagination
--Sherman Alexie, “Imagining the Reservation”

2. Frustration x Old
Hobby(Childhood) = Positive
Changes
--Ashley, Kaitleen and Sarah, “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in
Heaven”

3. Rage – Purpose ≠ Progress
Repetition
--Joanna, Tessa and Nicole, “Every Little Hurricane”

4. Spirituality x Tradition =
Nostalgia
--Anna, Madelyn, Danielle and Kianna, “A Drug Called Tradition”

5. Tradition =
Faith(Future + Past)
--Joyce, Elena and Jessica, “A Drug Called Tradition”

6. Hallucinations x Ritual = Culture
Spirituality Drugs
--Greg, Tianna and Anna, “A Drug Called Tradition”

7. Aftermath of Colonization =
U.S. - Native American + Reservations
“help” of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
--Kaitlin, Eva and Nicole, “Indian Education”

8. Change = “Little
Hurricanes” + Memories
--Luz, Allison and Catie, “Every Little Hurricane”

9. Victor = Present
Thomas X
(X = Unification or Future)
--Ryne, Astrid and Ana, “This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix,
Arizona”

10. Curiosity + Hope =
Connection to Past/Culture
--Chloe, Jay, Aysha and Michal, “A Drug Called Tradition”

11. Sherman Alexie Equations Exercise
FITEN272L. FreerFall 2012
Pedagogy: After discussing the historical and literary context of Alexie’s book of
stories, as well as some of its themes and formal innovations, students were asked
to explore the meaning of the equation Alexie employs in “Imagining the
Reservation,” and then to write an equation which explained the meaning behind
another story in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.
Thanks to my summer teaching assistant at Columbia for creating a first version of
this exercise.