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Using DOCUMENT RESUME ED 320 162 CS 212 390 AUTHOR Bender, Patricia A.; Gerber, Nancy F. TITLE Using "Love Medicine" in the English 102 Classroom: A Study Guide and Resource Manual. PUB DATE Mar 90 NOTE 8p.; Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Conference on College Composition and Communication (41st, Chicago, IL, March 22-24, 1990). PUB TYPE Speeches/Conference Papers (150) -- Guides- Classroom Use - Guides (For Teachers) (052) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *American Indian Culture; Class Activities; Higher Education; *Lesson Plans; Literary Criticism; *Novels; Poetry; Secondary Education; Teacher Developed Materials; Teaching Guides; Twentieth Century Literature; *United States Literature IDENTIFIERS *Love Medicine (Erdrich); *Native American Studies ABSTRACT This teaching guide offers lesson plans and student assignments based upon Louise Erdrich's novel, "Love Medicine,"a celebration of Chippewa culture which raises an abundance of literary and artistic issues and which also poses numerous sociological and political questions. Included are an introduction to the work,a glossary of literary terms, a biography of the author, an analysis of the novel's structure and theme, suggested questions and topics for writing and discussion, and a conclusion. A section entitled "Using Poetry with the Novel" employs Erdrich's poem "Jacklight" to highlight themes found in "Love Medicine." (SG) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the original document. USING LOVE MEDICINE IN THEENGLISH 102 CLASSROOM: A STUDY GUIDE AND RESOURCEMANUAL By Patricia A. Bender and Nancy F. Gerber Rutgers-Newark June 10, 1990 BEST COPY AVAILABLE "PERMISSIONroREPRODUCE THIS MAERIAL HAS BEEN GP ANTED BY U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION fillikaLPL_BELYIEZ CENTER (ERIC) Thus document has been produ,ac' as received from the 'Jerson or organization 4__LiNmskamELsg. originating it O Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction pullity TO THE FDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Points of view or opinions stated in this docu- INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC).' ment do not macaSsanly represent official OERI position or policy INTRODUCTION Love Medicine, a novel byLouise Erdrich, is of a culture which not only a celebration has been virtually forgotten(if not completely decimated) but also a tribute to the human spirit. Its richness in terms of language, imagery,characterization and character developmcat, and theme makeit ideal material for classroom. the 102 In addition to an abundanceof literary and artistic issues, the novel also poses sociological and politicalquestions. These questions, while theybegin with and remainfocused on the Chippewa, transcend ethnicboundaries and ask thereader to considur their universalimplications. Love Medicine spans fourgenerations of twt. NativeAmerican families, the Kashpawsand the Lamartines. Set on a Chippewa reservation in North Dakota,the novel portraysa large cast of characters who representa broad spectrum of both Native and American cultural experience. American The problems of dailylife and their solutions originatewith two extraordinarily readers come to appreciate strong women who as the matriarchs of the tribe: Lulu Lamartine, granddaughter of the tribe's shaman, whoremains rooted in the land despitepressures from within the tribal from the U.S. government; council and and Marie Lazarre Kashpaw,part Chippewa, who elevates her husbandto the position of chiefand who struggles to raise her extended familyin the face of alcoholism, and alienation. poverty, The book is united by theact of remembering, and what everyone is rememberingis June Kashpaw, who diesin a snowstorm in Chapter One,a scene which immediately calls recognition of culture for the clash and the failure ofacculturation. GLOSSARY OF LITERARY TERMS The glossary is intended to provide an introductionto important literary terms in orderto invite analysis of thetext and consideration of narrativestrategies available to as well as the author. student writers These particular literaryterms were chosen because they raise importantcritical issues in relation Medicine. to Love imagery: descriptive details that appealto the senses; imagery involves the pictorial power of language to capturethe world of sensory experience, e.g. Erdrich'suse of snow and snowstorms to evoke isolation, struggle and to situate the novelgeographically. myth: a traditional story, oftena folktale, arising out ofa culture's oral tradition;myths provide culturesand writers with interpretations of the world'sevents and transmit theculture's values and beliefs fromgeneration to generation narrative: a sequence of events often (butnot always) unified and connected in storytelling 3 narrator: the teller of a story; usuallyeither a character who participates in the story'saction or a detached, observer anonymous point of view: the perspective from whichthe author has the reader view the action theme: the central or controllingide. or ideas ina work of literature tone: the expression of a writer'sattitude toward the subject unity: the pattern and coherence ofa story. Example of a question for discussion: What holds the novel together? Why are we able to read IM as a novel ratherthan a collection of individual stories? BIOGRAPHY Louise Erdrich was born in LittleFalls, Minn., in 1954 andgrew up in Wahpeton, North Dakota. She is of German and Chippewadescant and belongs to the Turtle MountainBand of Chippewa. LM (1984), Erdrich's first novel to bepublished, is sequentiallylast in the cycle w:Ach includes Tracks (1988) and The Beet Queen(1986). It should be noted that Erdrich's novels are a rare phenomenonamong minority writers--theyare at once best sellers and critical successes. In addition to her three novels,Erdrich has published two volumes of poetry, Jackliqhtand Baptism of Desire. She lives in New Hampshire with herhusband/collaborator, Michael Dorris. THE NOVEL'S STRUCTURE ANDTHEME LM is a group of stories published together as a novel, bound bya commonality of themes andcharacters. The narrative voice shifts from chapter to chapter, allowingthe voices of several to be heard. characters Erdrich has disrupted chronologicaltime in order to reflect the disjointedness andfragmentariness of hercharacters' lives. Individually each story (chapter)stands on its own, but the layering of multiple pointsof view increases thepower and meaning of the narrative;in other words, the storiesare more powerful and meaningful whenseen as a group. This structure reflects the Native Americanbelief that the collectiveis more important than the individual. The idea that structr-e is intimately connected withtheme in this novel isa useful teaching tool. The basic question posed bythe novel is, "What does itmean to be a Native American in contemporarysociety?" The answer is complex and can only be accessed through the constantly shiftingnarrative, which representsa multiplicity of themes. Some of the themes are universal; othersare specifically related to Native culture. American The themes raised include alienation,rootlessness, disintegration of the family;the importance of theancestor, the role of storytelling (theoral tradition) and myth,the healing -2- 4 power of love, the role of communityand kinship structures. FAMILY TREE Because of the large cast of characters in LA, itis very worthwhile to devote class time, at the startof discussions, to determining who's who and theirimportance in the novel. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS FORWRITING ASSIGNMENTS AND DISCUSSION CLASSROOM 1. What have you come to understand about the cultureof many Native Americans that may have encouraged Erdrichto employ so many different voices in hernovel? 2. Why did Erdrich choose thetitle, Love Medicine? 3. June Kashpaw has lefta profound impression in the novel. on many characters Marie describes heras if "she really was the child of what the old people call the Manitious, invisibleones who live in the wood . ." Does June have a specialspiritual quality? her children inherit it? Do 4. Gerry Nanapush is described as "both a natural criminal anda hero whose face appearedon the six o'clock news." this statement At first glance appears contradictory. However, the author has allowed Gerry to be bothhunted and honored. How? Why? 5. LM closes with Lipsha Morrisseygoing "home." home and what enables him Where is his to be content with the ideaof returning there? (Do not limit yourself bythinking in terms only reservation.) of the 6. What is the role of myth inthe novel?What are some popular American myths? Is it true that in Americahard work always brings success?Were cowboys always brave? on stereotyping. Consider the impact of myths SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR CRITICALESSAYS The goal of these essays is not only to teachresearch mechanics but to help student writerslearn how to bring readings upon one another. to bear Students are not expected toconduct exhaustive research on Chippewa or otherNative American tribes. Outside research is intended onlyas additional support for their arguments. critical Students should be encouragedto use the novelas their primary source and theirown ideas and interpretations focus of the paper. as the main Some of the most successfulpapers are ones in which students look beyondthe reservation exnerienceand make connections with globalproblems. This approachencourages -3- 5 students to question theirown assumptions, a process which manifests itself both intheir thinking and intheir writing. 1. the role of women 2. ceremonies
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