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“You know, people speak in poetry all the time. They just don’t realize it. ” - Sherman Alexie
Sherman Alexie certainly knows what he’s talking about when it comes to poetry. As the author of a very successful collection of poems and the mentee of prominent poet Alex Kuo, Alexie has spent his career establishing himself as one of the foremost Native American voices in modern poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. A member of the Spokane Tribe, Sherman Alexie writes from a place that is historically underrepresented in American literature and gives valuable perspective and contributions to Native art and life experiences. His most popular works, including a memoir about his own life, have earned him several prominent awards and prominence in his own right within literary circles.
In this article, Sherman Alexie’s background, writing style, some major works, legacy and influence, and writing advice will be examined, so we might have a deeper understanding of who Sherman Alexie is and what we can take from his works.
Background
Born October 7th, 1966, and raised on the Spokane Reservation in Spokane, Washington, Sherman Alexie is one of six children in his family. Alexie's early life was marred by his health struggles, stemming from issues revealed at birth regarding his brain, and his parents’ alcoholism, which his mother ultimately recovered from but his father did not. As a result, the Alexie children were raised largely by their mother, who worked tirelessly at a myriad of jobs to provide for them while their father was in and out, losing the battle against his alcoholism.
As was typical for children who lived on the reservation, Alexie and his siblings attended the reservation school, which he likened to hell because of the white nuns who ran it. He endured abuse described as “torture” there at the nuns’ hands, which led him to the decision of attending high school in Reardon, Washington, over twenty miles from his home on the reservation, for hopes of a better education. Despite being the only Native American student at his high school, he flourished there, becoming class president and securing a scholarship for himself to Gonzaga University.
However, at Gonzaga, Alexie found himself struggling to find what he wanted to do. Initially, he’d wanted to be a doctor, then switched to law, before dropping out of Gonzaga altogether in 1987. It was then that he enrolled in Washington State University, and where he first pursued creative writing under the encouragement of the mentor he found there, poet Alex Kuo.
After receiving a fellowship for poetry in 1992, Alexie’s first collection of poetry, The Business of Fancydancing: Stories and Poems, was published to more success than Alexie had expected, which prompted him to drop out of WSU only three credits short of a degree in literature. After this, Alexie continued writing, and won the Chad Walsh poetry prize only three years later. He has produced 8 more collections of poetry since that initial publication, which have also found awards and success, and in 2010, he won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction for War Dances, a collection of stories, poems, and other works. For these accomplishments and more he has been credited as one of the greatest Native American writers of his generation.
Writing Style
Sherman Alexie employs a distinctive writing style characterized by a blend of humor, raw honesty, poignant storytelling, and a deep exploration of the complexities of Native American identity, culture, and societal issues that often draws from his personal experiences.
Two of the characteristics his work is most known for is his masterful use of wit and irony to address serious topics – such as cultural displacement, discrimination, and poverty – and the way in which he doesn’t shy away from portraying the harsh realities of life. His writing delves face-first into topics like alcoholism, domestic violence, and the effects of historical trauma, and this stark realism contributes to the authenticity and power of his narratives.
His writing is by and large lauded for his stylistically consistent exploration of the complexities of Native American identity, the clash of traditional indigenous culture with the modern world, and the challenges of cultural assimilation as well; Alexie is skilled at bringing the struggles and triumphs of his community to light while challenging societal norms and perceptions, as will be exemplified with the three major works we will take a closer look at now.
War Dances
War Dances is a collection of short stories, poems, and vignettes published in 2009. This work has been said to exemplify Alexie's distinct style, blending humor, raw emotion, and insightful social commentary while exploring themes such as identity, family, love, and the complexities of modern Native American life.
Different formats were experimented with throughout the collection, including short stories, poetry, and prose poems, which has been praised for creating a dynamic and diverse reading experience. Alexie’s portrayal of the intricacies of familial ties with such honesty and sensitivity has also been widely praised by critics, along with his masterful use of wit and satire to address serious and often uncomfortable subjects. But amidst the humor, the stories in War Dances are emotionally resonant, capturing the range of human emotions from joy to grief. Alexie's poignant storytelling evokes empathy and deep reflection in readers, often in regards to the deep exploration of personal and cultural identity that Alexie undertook in this novel. For instance, one of the prominent themes of War Dances revolves around family relationships, particularly the complexities of father-son relationships in Native American contexts, and often portrays them as being fraught with misunderstandings but full of love and cultural legacy.
War Dances received critical acclaim and won the 2010 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction after its publication, and has been widely said to have been a significant contribution to contemporary literature. It stands as a testament to Sherman Alexie's storytelling prowess, his ability to blend different literary forms, and his dedication to exploring the multifaceted aspects of identity, family, and the contemporary Native American experience, and the book's mix of humor, poignancy, and social commentary continues to resonate with readers. Today it remains one of the highlights of Alexie’s ever-growing breadth of work.
Reservation Blues
Reservation Blues is Sherman Alexie's debut novel, published in 1995, and stands as a powerful and multifaceted exploration of Native American life, blending magical realism, music, history, and contemporary social issues together seamlessly. Set on the Spokane Indian Reservation in the Pacific Northwest, it follows the journey of a Native American rock band and addresses themes of identity, cultural heritage, colonialism, and the struggle for self-determination.
The novel follows the story of the band "Coyote Springs," comprising several members from the Spokane and Flathead Indian tribes. Led by Thomas Builds-the-Fire, the band's encounter with a mysterious woman named Checkers leads to the possession of a haunted guitar previously owned by blues legend Robert Johnson. As the band becomes musically talented but faces various personal and communal challenges, the guitar amplifies their aspirations and struggles. Alexie weaves elements of magical realism throughout the narrative, as the haunted guitar, the supernatural occurrences, and the presence of legendary figures like Robert Johnson blur the boundaries between reality and myth.
The novel has been most-praised for the way it deeply explores the complexities of Native American identity, and its poignant confrontation with the issues of cultural assimilation, historical trauma, and the struggle to preserve cultural heritage while navigating the modern world. Alexie has also been praised for his nuanced portrayal of Native American life, primarily in regards to music and his characters. Music is constantly used through the story to connect characters to their cultural and spiritual roots and provide a means of expressing their pain, joy, and aspirations; through the lives of those characters, Alexie addresses various social issues prevalent in Native American communities, including poverty, alcoholism, domestic violence, and the impact of colonization.
Alexie’s trademark humor and satire is also heavily present, wit and irony employed to navigate through the hardships faced by the characters. And this blend of humor and seriousness has been lauded for the emotional depth yet levity it brings to the story.
Reservation Blues received critical acclaim for its unique storytelling, vibrant characters, and poignant exploration of Native American experiences upon its publication, and it established Alexie as a significant voice in contemporary Native American literature. It remains one of his most popular works, and is hugely exemplary of who he is as a writer.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a young adult novel by Sherman Alexie that follows the life of Arnold Spirit Jr., a teenage boy who grapples with various challenges while navigating the complexities of life on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington. Born with multiple health problems, Arnold faces bullying, poverty, and a sense of hopelessness, but determined to change his fate, he makes a courageous decision to attend Reardan High School, a predominantly-white school off the reservation. At Reardan, Arnold struggles with being an outsider, facing racism and cultural alienation, but despite these challenges, he forms friendships and joins the basketball team, where his talent earns him admiration.
Meanwhile, back on the reservation, Arnold faces ostracism from his own community for leaving. His family also deals with their own hardships, including the death of his sister due to a house fire and the alcoholism of family members, and Arnold grapples with the dichotomy of his identity, trying to reconcile his life at school with the cultural heritage and struggles of his home on the reservation. Through humor, resilience, and introspection, Arnold navigates his way through the challenges, discovering his own strength and finding his place in both worlds.
As is one of Alexie’s most prominent characteristics in his writing, this work uses humor repeatedly. His witty and candid narrative style infuses humor into the story even when dealing with heavy subjects like poverty, loss, and identity crisis, which lends the story to resonate with readers of various ages.
Alexie used this novel to critique the systemic issues and stereotypes prevalent in Native American communities, specifically poverty, alcoholism, and the effects of historical trauma. He also addresses the challenges of cultural assimilation and the impact of colonialism on Indigenous identity, and Alexie’s complex address of these issues has earned him widespread praise.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian received critical acclaim upon its publication, winning several awards including the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. It was praised for its honest portrayal of adolescence, its exploration of cultural identity, and its relatable protagonist. And overall, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian remains a poignant, humorous, and prominent work of Alexie's.
Influence & Legacy
Sherman Alexie has had a significant influence on contemporary literature and the broader cultural landscape, particularly in the representation of Native American experiences and the exploration of identity, social issues, and resilience. Specifically, Alexie's work has had a profound impact on literature, especially Native American literature, and his writing style has influenced numerous authors exploring similar themes. His storytelling has been instrumental in bringing attention to the diverse experiences faced by Native Americans and in providing a nuanced portrayal of Native American life, culture, and struggles, and he has enabled a new generation of Native American writers to share their stories and perspectives through his non-profit organization Longhouse Media, which aims to teach Native youth filmmaking skills.
Beyond writing, Alexie has been an advocate for education, especially for Native American youth. He has spoken extensively about the importance of literacy and education in empowering marginalized communities, and through his talks and engagements, he encourages young people to embrace their heritage while pursuing academic and personal success.
In all, Sherman Alexie's influence and legacy lie in his ability to amplify Native American voices, and his fostering of a deeper understanding of the complexities of identity and social issues faced by Indigenous communities have left a lasting mark on the cultural landscape. He remains a prominent writer for the breadth of his work and the quality of it.
Writing Advice
Of the sparse writing advice he has publicly offered, he mentioned some of his favorite pieces of writing advice in an interview with Writer’s Digest. In that article, he implores writers not to have a “ceremony” when it comes to writing, and that you should instead write when the time feels right; not when you can complete a ceremony.
Like many other prominent writers, Alexie also asks writers to read as much as they possibly can, as it will bolster your writing skills, potentially bring you new inspiration, and also provide an outlet for connection with a writer. Alexie has said that reaching out to authors that you enjoy reading or look up to is one of the greatest ways to be less lonely in a business that is pretty lonely in its nature, with most of the work done solo, and he stresses the importance of these connections.
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