Chief Joseph’s Surrender Speech Flashcards
Which tribe did Chief Joseph belong to?
The Nez Perce
In which year did he surrender?
1877
In which year did he give a speech to President Rutherford B. Heyes?
1879
Was Joesph successful in his speech?
No. His people were re-settled to the Coalville Indian reservation
What is the importance of the repetition of “my heart”
Heart had a cultural significance to Native Americans
“___ chiefs are killed”
“Our” - personal pronoun connotes unity
What does “no blankets” suggest?
Poverty, and their struggle
What is the significance of “little” children?
The pre modifying adjective makes them seem more vulnerable
Where is antistrophe used?
“Freezing to death” at the beginning and end of a sentence in the second paragraph
What technique is used within “sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more”
Extended sibilance
What might “against the white man” imply?
That there has been a race war
“_____ I shall find them amount the dead”
“Maybe” - modal verb adds uncertainty - more sympathetic
What is implied in the first sentence of his speech in Washington (1879)?
“At last implies that his group had been marginalised and ignored until now
What are “cannot understand,” “break his word,” and “promise,” all examples of?
Pragmatics of broken promises
Which phrase is repeated in the first paragraph of his speech?
“I cannot understand” - stresses the issue that he isn’t being listened to
“Great Father Chief : the Next Great Chief; the Commissioner Chief; the Law Chief ; and many other law chiefs” shows…
Shows the listeners that all these people have been let down, and nothing is changing.
What does the modal verb “shall” imply?
A lack of progress in terms of the promises that have been made
What do “my dead people” “my country” and “my father’s grave” imply?
That he is still possessive of his country
Which word is repeated to reinforce Joseph’s point that nothing is being done, and that he is pessimistic?
“Not”
Give an example of anaphora in the second speech.
“Good words” (repeated 3 times)
Which oxymoron does Joseph use about the promises of the white man?
“Good words and all the broken promises”
What rhetorical question does Joesph ask his listeners?
“If you tie a horse to a stake, do you expect he will grow fat?
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.”
This is an allegorical metaphor which represents Chief Joseph’s people, and how they can’t stay in one place
What power dynamic techniques does Joseph use?
He requests change rather than demanding it. E.g. “I only ask,” “let me,” “I would like”
What might “I know my race must change” mean?
It is defeatist - he knows that he needs to work alongside the white people, and won’t keep his power
What does chief Joseph say that is complimentary of the white men?
“We cannot hold our own with the white men as we are” - he admits they cannot compete
What does repetition of the word “free” highlight?
The lack of freedom that himself and his people have
Give an example of submissive language used by Joseph
“I will obey” - he is trying to bargain that he will obey if they allow him freedom
What religious link might be compared to “white man treats the Indian as they wish treat each other”?
Treat others as you yourself wish to be treated
What does “women” imply?
Wrongs that have been done to women- taboo at the time of a “civilised” society, implying wrongdoing on a social scale
What does “Great Spirit Chief above” show listeners?
That he is trying to appeal to the white man’s idea of God and Christianity, appearing civilised and westernised
What does “Hin-man-too-yah-lat-kekht” mean?
Thunder rolling down the mountain
