Diploma prep Flashcards
Summary in “On the Rainy River”
Summary: Tim, the narrator, flees to a lodge near the Canadian border to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War. Elroy Berdahl, the lodge owner, gives Tim space to reflect on his decision. Tim ultimately succumbs to societal pressure and goes to war, though he views this as cowardice.
Characters in “On the Rainy River”
Tim O’Brien (Narrator): Arrogant, conflicted, embarrassed, shameful.
Elroy Berdahl: Quiet, lives a simple life, mentor/father figure, kind but doesn’t directly show it, humble, wise, sympathetic.
Author of “On the Rainy River”
On the Rainy River by Tim O’Brien
Themes in “On the Rainy River”
Societal Pressure
Following Your True Self
Making Difficult Decisions
Masculinity
Moral Dilemma
Politics Surrounding War
Idea of Freedom
Fear
Escaping Reality
Prioritizing Order vs. Want
Respect and Guilt
Symbolism in “On the Rainy River”
Guns: War and violence.
Blood: Brutality of war; repetition emphasizes how many lives were lost.
Canada: Symbolizes freedom and a new start but becomes a pitiful fantasy.
Fall & Winter: Seasons show Tim must decide before winter stagnation. Winter = no growth; fall = preparation (helping Elroy winterize the lodge).
The Dotted Line: Separates Minnesota and Canada, symbolizing Tim’s choice between fighting and running.
Rainy River: Separates choices of freedom and fighting.
Pig Declotter: Reinforces Tim’s capacity for violence, paralleling war crimes.
Quotes & Notes on “On the Rainy River”
“I was a coward. I went to war.” – Tim concedes to societal pressures.
Elroy stands as a mentor/father figure, guiding Tim silently.
The shift in Tim’s personality: arrogant at first, cowardly in the end.
Shame and embarrassment emphasized as Tim reflects on ignoring his true self.
Summary of “The Yellow Woman”
A nameless narrator is abducted by Silva, a mysterious man who identifies her as the Yellow Woman, a mythical figure. She questions her identity while embracing an affair with him in the mountains. Eventually, she confronts Silva’s violent actions and returns home, struggling to reconcile her sense of reality with the myth.
Themes in “The Yellow Woman”
Identity
Loss of Identity
Love vs. Lust
Taken Advantage of Minorities
The Importance of Storytelling
Characters & Traits in “The Yellow Woman”
Nameless Narrator: References the myth of Yellow Woman but insists she isn’t the mythical figure.
Silva: Mountain man who abducts the narrator and keeps her at his cabin.
Farmer/Rancher: Confronts Silva for stealing his cattle.
Symbolism in “The Yellow Woman”
Potatoes: Symbolize famine, poverty, and having little.
Mountain Top: Narrator sees everything from this vantage point, likened to the eyes of God.
Horses: Power, wisdom, reflecting how the narrator should see herself.
Willow Branches: Represent the connection to family and are used when returning home.
Quotes & Notes on “The Yellow Woman”
The narrator flees family and motherly duties to join Silva.
She repeatedly asks if she is Yellow Woman, and Silva calls her such, causing her to lose her sense of self.
Emphasizes storytelling and its cultural importance.
Myth vs. Reality: Questions whether myths are based on true stories.
Author of “The Yellow Woman”
“The Yellow Woman” by Leslie Marmon Silko
Author of the “Paper Menagerie”
“Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu
Summary of “The Paper Menagerie”
Jack, a biracial boy, grows up feeling torn between his Chinese heritage and American culture. His mother creates magical paper animals, but Jack rejects her love and cultural identity to fit in. After her death, Jack discovers a letter explaining her sacrifices, leading him to regret his rejection of her and their shared heritage.
Themes in “The Paper Menagerie”
Pressures of Society to Fit In
Identity Crisis
Impacts of Racism
Cultural Rejection
Familial and Cultural Expectations
