Week 3 - Discussion 2

Running head: QUESTIONS 1

Proposal for Final Paper

Tiffany Richardson

ENG125: Introduction to Literature

Instructor: Patricia Vineski

11/28/2016

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QUESTIONS 2

Question 1

I chose prompt # 1 to write about: “Write an analysis of a key character in a literary work.”

Question 2

I believe every action has a motivation and justification not only in just everyday life situations

but also in literature. Having this view, I believe, makes society more empathetic towards an

individual when they act a certain way. People in real life situations and even the characters

portrayed in literary works tend to pass judgment first instead of taking time to evaluate the

factors influencing an action. The main purpose, though, is to evaluate the actions of a main

character in a literary work so as to understand the motives that prompted their actions and how

the character is affected by others in the literature work.

Question 3

The text I chose to write about is Sherman Alexie’s “What You Pawn, I will Redeem” for the

key reason that it contributes to the writing prompt. Jackson, the narrator in the text, recounts

how he wants to recover his grandmother’s dancing dress from a pawn shop. This action is

prompted by his need to reestablish his connection to his roots. All through the text, Jackson

seems to be wandering about the streets due to the fact that he has been homeless for six years

which he justifies through the loss of his identity. Along the way, while being accompanied by

his friends, he stumbles upon a pawnshop selling his grandmother’s regalia. He is determined to

get it back despite not having enough money left to buy it. It showcases how strong his

sentimentality drives him to pursue an almost impossible objective. This story resonates with fact

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QUESTIONS 3

that people in society have different reasons for the actions they undertake and they are even

more affected with preexisting social factors like race just like the character in the story.

Question 4

Jackson’s determination to get back his grandmother’s traditional dressing dress signifies his

reclamation of his ancestry and freedom from the control of the more privileged races. Racial

segregation has led to the disillusionment of Jackson and his fellow Indian kinsmen.

Question 5

a. Jackson admits that he is homeless just like many other Indians in Seattle but they have

dreams and families too.

b. Jackson believes he only matters to his teammates (Rose of Sharon and Junior).

c. The white shopkeeper does not seem surprised when Jackson gives proof that the regalia

is his grandmother’s, despite the fact Indians are viewed with suspicion.

Question 6

One of my concerns regarding this project is how I will best and clearly articulate the subject

matter with accurate brevity. I need to make sure that the paragraphs I write support the

introduction and the conclusion. I am also concerned about how to obtain relevant primary and

secondary sources that will support my working thesis so as to validate it. I intend to limit my

search for research material to peer-reviewed and journal articles. The Library Catalog would be

the best place to start researching (University at Buffalo, 2016).

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QUESTIONS 4

References

Alexie, S. (2003). What You Pawn, I will Redeem. Retrieved from

www.newyorker.com/magazine.com/magazine/2003/04/21/what-you-pawn-i-will-

redeem

University at Buffalo. (2016).Finding and Evaluating Research Materials. Retrieved from

library.buffalo.edu/help/research-tips/evaluate/

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