"War Dances" -WALSH

Hi, this is Shannon Walsh.

Sherman Alexie's "War Dances" is a very entertaining read due to its conversational language. The main character effectively draws the reader's attention by having a casual and often humorous conversation with himself and thus, the audience. He anticipates the reader's thoughts on the events he describes. After describing a "sad" cockroach he finds in his suitcase, he steps back and matter-of-factly questions this description, "Sad? Yes, sad." Further, he poses a series of thought provoking questions about the cockroach. "For who is lonelier than the cockroach without his tribe? ... So what had happened to this little vermin? ... As he died did he feel fear?" These repetitive questions contribute to the conversation that the main character is having with himself, allowing the audience to occupy his mind and think what he is thinking. Through these conversations, the reader is also able to better understand the personality of the main character. We see that he has a sense of humor that is somewhat deadpan and seemingly cynical. He defines word-for-word the proper "Merriam-Webster" definition of hydrocephalus, and humorously contrasts it with his own witty, impassive definition; "I define hydrocephalus as the obese, imperialistic water demon that nearly killed me when I was six months old." The conversational language that Alexie's main character uses allows the reader to connect with the character and learn his humorous personality, thus providing an entertaining encounter with him while reading.