Contemporary American Indian Voices Assignment

(Slide 4) What does the "faint red light from the west" symbolize?

A) the spirit of the old man in the red blanket

(Slide 3) Leon knocked at the old carved door with its symbols of the Lamb. While he waited he looked up at the twin bells from the king of Spain with the last sunlight pouring around them in their tower. —"The Man to Send Rain Clouds," Leslie Marmon Silko What do the bells from the king of Spain symbolize?

B) The bells symbolize the Spanish influence on Pueblo traditions.

(Slide 2) Leon knocked at the old carved door with its symbols of the Lamb. While he waited he looked up at the twin bells from the king of Spain with the last sunlight pouring around them in their tower. —"The Man to Send Rain Clouds," Leslie Marmon Silko In the Catholic tradition, the Lamb represents Jesus. What does the image of the Lamb above the priest's door symbolize?

C) The Lamb symbolizes the traditions of the Catholic Church in contrast to Pueblo traditions.

(Slide 4) Leon turned to look up at the high blue mountains in the deep snow that reflected a faint red light from the west. He felt good because it was finished, and he was happy about the sprinkling of the holy water; now the old man could send them big thunderclouds for sure. —"The Man to Send Rain Clouds," Leslie Marmon Silko What other red item or element might be connected to the red light in the west?

red blanket

(Slide 5) Drops of water fell on the red blanket and soaked into dark icy spots. [Father Paul] sprinkled the grave and the water disappeared almost before it touched the dim, cold sand; it reminded him of something — he tried to remember what it was, because he thought if he could remember he might understand this. He sprinkled more water; he shook the container until it was empty, and the water fell through the light from sundown like August rain that fell while the sun was still shining, almost evaporating before it touched the wilted squash flowers. —"The Man to Send Rain Clouds," Leslie Marmon Silko Which type of figurative language is included in this passage?

simile

(Slide 6) Drops of water fell on the red blanket and soaked into dark icy spots. [Father Paul] sprinkled the grave and the water disappeared almost before it touched the dim, cold sand; it reminded him of something — he tried to remember what it was, because he thought if he could remember he might understand this. He sprinkled more water; he shook the container until it was empty, and the water fell through the light from sundown like August rain that fell while the sun was still shining, almost evaporating before it touched the wilted squash flowers. —"The Man to Send Rain Clouds," Leslie Marmon Silko What does the holy water symbolize for Father Paul?

the Catholic burial tradition

(Slide 6) What does the holy water symbolize for Leon?

the Pueblo burial tradition

(Slide 7) The holy water in the story is symbolic. How does the meaning differ for the priest and Leon? Use examples from the text as you explain how both men view the holy water.

the meaning of holy water in Catholic tradition the meaning of water in Pueblo tradition the contrast between the two cultures why the water was meaningful to both groups

(Slide 5) Based on the figurative language, what object is being used as a symbol?

water