A Man Called Horse By Dorothy M Johnson

“A Man Called Horse” By: Dorothy M. Johnson English I Literature East Clarendon High School C. Edge

Summary n In 1845, a young man from Boston, unhappy with his comfortable and safe life, travels west to the fringes of the American frontier. He is taken captive by Crow warriors and brought to their camp as a slave. He tries to retain some dignity by thinking of himself as a horse, a docile and patient bearer of burdens. Adopting the name “Horse, ” he learns the Crow language, learns to hunt, acquires five horses, and marries (and falls in love with) a young Crow woman. Over time, he recognizes the humanity of the Crow and learns to appreciate his life with them. When his wife dies in childbirth, he voluntarily stays for a while to care for his mother-in-law, who has humbly begged him to stay by calling him “Son. ” The man accepts by calling her “Mother. ”

Vocabulary n Restive – adj. : restless; unsettled n n Synonyms: agitated, contrary, edgy, fidgety, fretful, jittery, nervous, on edge, restless, tense, uneasy, unruly Antonyms: calm, patient

Vocabulary n Piteously – adv. : in a way that arouses pity or compassion n Synonyms: commiserable, distressing, heartrending, heartbreaking, miserable, mournful, moving, pitiful, ruined, sad, sorrowful

Vocabulary n Detractor – n. : one who makes something seem less important or valuable n n Synonyms: belittler, defamer, disparager, disputer, doubter, maligner, nitpicker Antonyms: advocate, champion, supporter

Vocabulary n Forestalled – v. : prevented by doing something ahead of time n n Synonyms: avoid, deter, frustrate, halt, prevent, ward off Antonyms: cause, help

Vocabulary n Docile – adj. easy to manage; submissive n n Synonyms: accommodating, agreeable, amenable, compliant, easygoing, humble, laid back, obedient, orderly, quiet, teachable, willing Antonyms: defiant, stubborn, uncooperative, unruly

Elements of Literature—Setting n Compare the settings of Boston and the West in 1845. BOSTON n THE WEST OF 1845 n n One of the largest and most developed American cities Center of education and culture n n Open, free, and, in some places, uncharted A dangerous place Make your own rules Choose your own course

Critical Thinking n After the young man is captured by the Native Americans, how has his status changed? n He goes from being a wealthy and cultured gentleman, to being naked and tethered, and reduced to the level of an animal.

Cause and Effect, p. 170 n Why does the man pretend to be a horse? n n n It gives him an identity as something useful to the Crow It is a status that is below the Crow, and since he is a captive, that is how he is viewed This identity allows him to bury his pride, not rebel, and therefore survive

Drawing Conclusions, p. 171 n When the man asks three small boys to teach him how to shoot the bow and arrow, this shows that a change has occurred in him. What is now different? n n He has begun to take action, and to assert his will. He has begun to be a man again.

Elements of Literature—Setting p. 171 n How does the setting help determine the man’s actions? n n n The setting isolates the man, acting almost like a prison without walls It limits his choices—because he cannot survive in this setting without resources He must remain with the Crow to live

Elements of Literature—Setting p. 173 n Why are horses so important in this time and place? n n n The distances are vast and cannot be traveled on foot To get home, Horse needs a horse for transportation The horse is important to the Crow culture— without it, the buffalo hunt, on which the Crow depend for survival, is much more difficult

Critical Thinking, p. 174 n Why does Horse refer to his wife as Freedom? n Horse plans to use his wife as a way to get what he wants—his freedom

Elements of Literature—Setting p. 177 n How do the items that are sacrificed relate directly to life in this setting? n n Nearly all of the items come from animal life in this place Nearly all are necessary to human survival in this place

Cultural Connection, p. 177 n When Greasy Hand Pretty Calf sacrifice their belongings, Horse fails to understand the values of the Crow. Why do the women act as they do? n It is the way people in their culture express their grief

Critical Thinking, p. 178 n Think back to the beginning of the story. What is the significance of Horse’s calling Greasy Hand “Mother”? n n He has accepted responsibility for her He never knew his own mother and now unselfishly allows someone to take her place

Critical Thinking, p. 178 n Is this an appropriate ending to the story? n n YES, because the ending completes the young man’s quest for a feeling of worth and belonging NO, because it would have seemed more complete to know about his return to Boston

Question #1, p. 179 n Did you want Horse to get home to Boston or stay with the Crows? Why? n n To stay with the Crows, where he has learned his worth and strength To return home to prove to himself that he has grown

Question #2, p. 179 n By the end of the story, Horse has changed. In your own words, explain what he discovers about himself—and other people—in his years with the Crow. How do you think becoming a horse helped him become a man? n n n He learns that he is equal to any human and can survive great hardship He learns new ideas about respect and status Being a horse gave him time to heal, to see things from a new point of view, and to learn new customs.

Question #3, p. 179 n Name at least two incidents in the story that remind us that all people, no matter what their culture, share certain feelings. n n n Pretty Calf falling in love and enjoying Horse’s attention Pretty Calf and Greasy Hand mourn the death of Yellow Robe Greasy hand mourns the death of her dauther and grandchild

Question #4, p. 179 n Which character showed you most forcefully what the human spirit is capable of? Explain. n n Horse, because he survives Greasy Hand, because she wants to go on living even after everyone she loves dies

Question #5, p. 179 n How did you respond to the ways the Crows “counted coup” and to how a grieving mother chopped off a joint of one of her fingers for each dead child? How do you think the writer wants you to feel about the Crows? n n n Some may express horror at the violence Some may see the deep emotion expressed by the acts of mourning or the necessity of killing for survival The writer may want readers to sympathize with the Crows’ harsh struggle to survive and their heartfelt observations of old customs