Group+One+Montana

DATE: 3/21/11 GROUP #: 1 MEMBERS: Steph, Jess, LAURENKAROW
 * Book Group Template**

For your reading of //Montana 1948//, book groups will meet four times to discuss the novel and address each aspect listed below. Take notes on your wiki for each of your meetings and save it to your group’s Wiki, noting the date and members names at the top.

**This is the reading/book discussion schedule. Be sure you have completed each part prior to the book discussion day.**

1) Part One, Monday, March 21st 2) Part Two, Thursday, March 24th 3) Part Three, Monday, March 28th 4) Afterward/Epilogue, Wednesday, March 30th

**Directions: Write your notes for every category below on your group’s wiki space. Be sure to discuss in your groups:**

· Imagery/ Symbolism **Racism** - David first discovered his father's racism when he was about seven. The housekeeper is Indian, and David's father, Wesley, is very racist against that kind. He makes terrible racist comments about them, and it implies that he has a strong hate for them. He doesn't even dislike them, he just holds them to a low class of people. "Nevertheless, he believed Indians, with only a few exceptions, were ignorant, lazy, superstitious, and irresponsible" (34).

· Character Behavior or Psychology: For Part one you **must** focus on characterization of the main characters listed below. **For each character, discuss all three modes of characterization:** You must use textual evidence for each of these three elements of characterization
 * 1. What the character says **
 * 2. What the character does **
 * 3. What others/narrator says about the character **

Narrator's Father: The Narrators father is the sheriff of a small town, with little crime. Wesley is racist against Indians. Though he never says anything to their faces, he holds them all to a certain standard, and a very low one at that. "Nevertheless, he believed Indians, with only a few exceptions, were ignorant, lazy, superstitious, and irresponsible" (34). The Narrator, David, says, “If my father didn’t fit my ideal of what he should be in his occupation, he certainly didn’t fit my mothers either. “She wanted him to be an attorney” (19) Wesley’s father favored his brother more. This made it hard on Wesley.

Narrator's Mother: Gail, unlike her husband, cares about their Indian housekeeper. She is very caring, and wants to make Marie better. Though she hates disease, she was still willing to help Marie. When Marie wanted her to say in the room while the doctor was there, Gail did. Gail worked as a secretary in the register of Deeds office. She wished her son would grow up in a larger town. “Perhaps my mother sensed this, and following her duty to that I couldn’t get out of quite so easily and that wouldn’t offer such alluring chaos once I was out" (24).

Marie and Ronnie Tall Bear David has fond feelings for Marie. “Marie was neither small nor shy. She loved to laugh and talk, and she was a great tease, specializing in outrageous lies about everything from strange animal behavior to bloody murders” (25). He loved her because she was caring and easy to talk to. Marie has a boyfriend and his name is Ronnie’s. David likes him too, and he is one of the best athletes around.

Uncle Frank Uncle Frank is Wesley’s brother. Their father seemed to love Frank more, and give him more attention. He would always talk and brag about him. “My son the veteran, or “my son the war hero” or “my son the soldier” He simply said, “my son”. And why wouldn’t the county sheriff be called on to make a small speech? But my father didn’t move. He just stood there, like every other man in the crowd, smiling and applauding while his brother stepped up to the table” (37). Frank is apparently molesting the Indian girls, which explains why Marie acted the way she did when he walked in.

Grandfather David's Grandfather likes his dad’s brother more then he likes his dad. He would never give up his job, or his ranch. “My grandfather kept the ranch and had it worked by hands while he was in office, and since Mercer County had a statue that sheriffs could serve only three consecutive terms, he was bale to return to the ranch ever six years. When Grandfathers terms expired, his deputy, Len McCauley, would serve a term; after lens term, Grandfather would run again, and this way they kept the office in the proper hands" (20).

· Interesting Passages (at least two passages, cited in proper MLA format)

Watson, Larry. //Montana 1948//. New York: Washington Square Press of Pocket Books, 1993. 38-49. Print. Watson, Larry. //Montana 1948//. New York: Washington Squares Press of Pocket Books, 1993. 31-32. Print.

· Questions/ Predictions you have: David's father might end up killing Marie later on. In the prologue, it mentions how he has a twelve-gauge shotgun. He is racist against Indians, and Marie is Indian. Also, David says there is a story behind her fate that is now only his to tell.

· Connections to modern life or your personal life This doesn't relate to our modern world. Generally, Native Americans live normal lives today, but in the past they didn't. They had it much worse, like in this book. Also, when Marie needed the doctor, it came to their house. Nowadays, we go to the doctor ourselves and get checked there at the office.

=**Part 2**=

· Imagery/ Symbolism
 * Magpie Bird** - This killing of the magpie changed David completely; his innocence was gone, and it brought about a rush of exhilaration, sadness, and fear within him. He felt strangely calm. Once the bird died, his vision was cleared, heartbeat back to normal, and breath slowed down. David felt as if he needed to shoot something. Everything was building up, and once he shot that magpie dead, he felt like he woke up from a powerful dream, with all the emotion and anger left behind. Looking in that dead bird's eye made David realize important connections every person is capable of, that he's never thought about before. However, they happen to all be morally wrong. Sex and death, lust and violence, desire and degradation, are all there deep inside everyone, no matter how good or bad your heart may be.

· Character Behavior or Psychology:

David: "I noticed how the two men were brothers in posture and attitude" (82 & 83).

Narrator's Father: "Yes, she might, but I'm afraid Marie's comfort isn't whats important now. This is something that as to be done.You and David go outside "(62).

Narrator's Mother: "I love the wind"', she said, tilting her head up to catch as much of it on her face as she could.

Grandfather: "Don't even take it in there. Hell, they don't have to know about it. I'll take care of it myself" (70).

· Interesting Passages (at least two passages, cited in proper MLA format) 1. Page 96 to 100, when David tells his parents that he saw frank sneak into their house. 2. Page 88, when David finds out that Marie didn’t make it.

Watson, Larry. //Montana 1948//. New York: Washington Square Press of Pocket Books, 1993. 38-49. Print.

· Questions/ Predictions you have: I think that Uncle Frank will continue to do what he is doing. I don’t think he will stop because he got no punishment and I don’t think he can stop. He is clearly a sick person and just because his brother told him not to, doesn’t mean that he will actually listen to him. He will just be more careful about it.

· Connections to modern life or your personal life In modern life, people protect their families and they trust them to right their wrongs. The same goes for their family in this story. Wes confronted Uncle Frank, and Frank said he would stop what he was doing. Wes trusts him to do the right thing, and he doesn’t want to make a big deal out of all of this. He doesn’t want others to know. The same goes for people in modern life.

=**Part 3**=

· Imagery/ Symbolism

When Uncle Frank committed suicide, David knew people would be sad, and there would be a lot of grief; but he couldn’t help but feel relived. “There would be no trial, no pile of testimony for juror to sift through, trying to separate the inevitable one-either, one quarter, one half truths from the whole truth. No pressure on anyone to come forward and bear witness, no reputations damaged, no one embarrassed, no one chastised…the town would not have to choose sides over guilt or innocence” (161). They wouldn’t have to worry anymore. David believed that they would have their lives back now. Everything will return to the way it was. “I felt something for my uncle in death that I hadn’t felt for him in life. It was gratitude, yes, be it was something more. It was very close to love.

· Character Behavior or Psychology:

David (narrator): "As I climbed the stairs, I felt something for my uncle in death that I hadn't felt for him in life. It was gratitude, yes, but it was something more. It was very close to love" (162).

Narrator's Father: "He's guilty as sin, Gail. He told me as much. Goddamn it! What could I have been thinking of? Maybe a jury will cut him loose. I won't By God, I won't" (149). "David, I believe that in this world people must pay for their crimes. It doesn't matter who you are or who your relations are; if you do wrong, you pay. I believe that. I have to" (156).

Narrator's Mother: "And then what? If you know something for sure, then you've got to act in that knowing. It's better this way. You know what you want Wes to do. It'll be a lot easier for him if he doesn't know too much" (147).

Uncle Frank: "I don't care. I tell you, if you could hear him talk. As if he had no more concern for what he did than if... if he had kicked a dog. No. He'd show more remorse over a dog" (Father, 150).

Grandfather: "My God. My God, boy. Stop this now. Stop this before I have to" (122.) "This isn't for any of us to stop or start. This has to go its own way."

· Interesting Passages (at least two passages, cited in proper MLA format) 1. Page 109 when Davids father Wes announced to David and his mother that he arrested Frank. 2. Page 117 to 118 when Wes is talking about what Frank has done to the Indian girls to Davids grandfather and grandmother. · Questions/ Predictions you have: · Connections to modern life or your personal life

=__Project Outline__=

===**Introduction:** === ==== ü Racism has caused many problems in our world and is still a major issue today. Whether someone is black, white, or any other culture, nobody should judge or treat these people unfairly. However, in the book Montana 1948 by Larry Watson, racism is the root of everyone's problems. The novel shows a community that is changing, and the people are in conflict over the issue of racism. The unequal treatment of Native Americans affects all the characters in different ways throughout the story. ====  ü David, Uncle Frank, and Grandpa  ü The judgmental act of racism is the main reason for David, Uncle Frank, and Grandpa's problems because they all grew up surrounded by discrimination of Native Americans.

**Supporting Section #1: David** ü  David first learned of his father's racism when he was seven, and he developed a solid understanding of the discrimination these Indians were faced with. What happened to his babysitter changed David's life forever. The fact that his own Uncle molested her is something a 12-year-old boy will never forget. Luckily for David, he is still young enough to receive education and morals, hopefully able to modify his expressions on racism. At such a young age, it already reflects that he will be a mature adult who doesn't judge people by their race. He follows in his mother's footsteps, seeing only right and wrong, or good and bad, instead of American and Indian. ü  "Nevertheless, he believed Indians, with only a few exceptions, are ignorant, lazy, superstitious, and irresponsible" (Watson 34). ü  David's father prevents him from wearing a pair of moccasins he got as a birthday gift, because he believes they would make his son "as flat footed and lazy as an Indian" (Watson 34). ü  David is a child who grew up with a racist family, and he has to learn the importance of treating all kinds equally on his own, because his Father, Uncle Frank, nor his Grandfather will teach him. He is forced to listen to these racist comments all his life, and it's not easy to ignore it when you're a young kid in the midst of being raised.

**Supporting Section #2: Uncle Frank**

"I don't care. I tell you, if you could hear him talk. As if he had no more concern for what he did then if... if he had kicked dog. No. He'd shoe more remorse over a dog. (Watson 150)

=
ü Frank Hayden was influenced by the other people in Montana, as well as his father to become racist. In the first quote, you can see that he stereotypes them. Although he knows the real reason for them being scared, he just covers it up with some racist comment. In the second quote, you find out that Frank has been molesting Indian girls. He has white patients too, but there’s no evidence that he molested them. He knows that the Indians would never say anything and even if they did, no one would believe them. The community would take his word over the Indians. This would happen because of where he lives, where most people are racist. Frank relies on the bias in the legal system. He abuses his position of a doctor. People are supposed to be able to trust a doctor. He also knows that if this gets out, no one will really care, and they will just look past it, because no one cares about the Indians in Montana. This is because of their racism. The last quote is Franks brother talking about how Frank has no remorse for what he did. Wesley says that he would feel worse if it was a dog. This shows that he doesn't care because they ean nothing to him. Frank feels that Indians are unimportant and don't matter in the world, so it doesn’t matter if he molests them or not.=====

**Supporting Section #3: Grandfather** <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">ü David's Grandfather, Julian, showed racism towards the Native Americans. He taught his children to follow whatever he believed about Indians. He did not like their culture, so he led his own children down the same path. <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">ü “Something about assaulting a goddamn Indian. Since when do you get arrested in this part of the country for taking a poke at a man, red or white, that’s what I—“(Watson 118). <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">ü “A girl could be so easily mistaken. A trip to the doctor. The fear. The confusion. An Indian girl especially—“ (Watson 119). <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -0.25pt; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">ü David's grandfather has influenced his children and family to express racism and negative judgment towards Native Americans. David’s grandfather shows much hate towards Indians, and he passed it down to his two sons, Frank and Wesley.

<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.2pt;">**Conclusion:** <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 37.2pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">ü <span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 37.2pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Racism has lead to many issues and is a major part of the conflicts in Montana 1948. All different races and cultures are discriminated throughout the world, and in this case it's mainly Indians. This affected David, Frank, and the Grandfather in different ways while living in Montana. <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 37.2pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> ü Being exposed to racism, especially by your own family, is hard to not pick up on. David is a young boy, and has a lot of years ahead of him. It is up to him and only him to make decisions and follow in his mother's footsteps before he turns into Frank or his Grandfather. If Frank weren't so racist, he probably never would have molested the Indian women.