Chief Joseph’s Surrender Speech

Question 1

Which tribe did Chief Joseph belong to?

Answer 1

The Nez Perce

Question 2

In which year did he surrender?

Answer 2

1877

Question 3

In which year did he give a speech to President Rutherford B. Heyes?

Answer 3

1879

Question 4

Was Joesph successful in his speech?

Answer 4

No. His people were re-settled to the Coalville Indian reservation

Question 5

What is the importance of the repetition of “my heart”

Answer 5

Heart had a cultural significance to Native Americans

Question 6

“___ chiefs are killed”

Answer 6

“Our” - personal pronoun connotes unity

Question 7

What does “no blankets” suggest?

Answer 7

Poverty, and their struggle

Question 8

What is the significance of “little” children?

Answer 8

The pre modifying adjective makes them seem more vulnerable

Question 9

Where is antistrophe used?

Answer 9

“Freezing to death” at the beginning and end of a sentence in the second paragraph

Question 10

What technique is used within “sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more”

Answer 10

Extended sibilance

Question 11

What might “against the white man” imply?

Answer 11

That there has been a race war

Question 12

“_____ I shall find them amount the dead”

Answer 12

“Maybe” - modal verb adds uncertainty - more sympathetic

Question 13

What is implied in the first sentence of his speech in Washington (1879)?

Answer 13

“At last implies that his group had been marginalised and ignored until now

Question 14

What are “cannot understand,” “break his word,” and “promise,” all examples of?

Answer 14

Pragmatics of broken promises

Question 15

Which phrase is repeated in the first paragraph of his speech?

Answer 15

“I cannot understand” - stresses the issue that he isn’t being listened to

Question 16

“Great Father Chief : the Next Great Chief; the Commissioner Chief; the Law Chief ; and many other law chiefs” shows…

Answer 16

Shows the listeners that all these people have been let down, and nothing is changing.

Question 17

What does the modal verb “shall” imply?

Answer 17

A lack of progress in terms of the promises that have been made

Question 18

What do “my dead people” “my country” and “my father’s grave” imply?

Answer 18

That he is still possessive of his country

Question 19

Which word is repeated to reinforce Joseph’s point that nothing is being done, and that he is pessimistic?

Answer 19

“Not”

Question 20

Give an example of anaphora in the second speech.

Answer 20

“Good words” (repeated 3 times)

Question 21

Which oxymoron does Joseph use about the promises of the white man?

Answer 21

“Good words and all the broken promises”

Question 22

What rhetorical question does Joesph ask his listeners?

Answer 22

“If you tie a horse to a stake, do you expect he will grow fat?

Question 23

What does the following quotation symbolise? “If you pen an Indian up on a small spot of earth and compel him to stay there, he will not be contented nor will he grow and prosper.”

Answer 23

This is an allegorical metaphor which represents Chief Joseph’s people, and how they can’t stay in one place

Question 24

What power dynamic techniques does Joseph use?

Answer 24

He requests change rather than demanding it. E.g. “I only ask,” “let me,” “I would like”

Question 25

What might “I know my race must change” mean?

Answer 25

It is defeatist - he knows that he needs to work alongside the white people, and won’t keep his power

Question 26

What does chief Joseph say that is complimentary of the white men?

Answer 26

“We cannot hold our own with the white men as we are” - he admits they cannot compete

Question 27

What does repetition of the word “free” highlight?

Answer 27

The lack of freedom that himself and his people have

Question 28

Give an example of submissive language used by Joseph

Answer 28

“I will obey” - he is trying to bargain that he will obey if they allow him freedom

Question 29

What religious link might be compared to “white man treats the Indian as they wish treat each other”?

Answer 29

Treat others as you yourself wish to be treated

Question 30

What does “women” imply?

Answer 30

Wrongs that have been done to women- taboo at the time of a “civilised” society, implying wrongdoing on a social scale

Question 31

What does “Great Spirit Chief above” show listeners?

Answer 31

That he is trying to appeal to the white man’s idea of God and Christianity, appearing civilised and westernised

Question 32

What does “Hin-man-too-yah-lat-kekht” mean?

Answer 32

Thunder rolling down the mountain