Comparing Black Elk Speaks and The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in

Comparing Black Elk Speaks and The Lone Ranger and Tonto FistFight in Heaven      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Traditionally, Native American Literature has been an oral genre. Although Native American Literature was the first American literature created, it has been the last to be recognized -and, to some extent, is still waiting for full recognition (www.usc.edu). With the Indian being forced to assimilate, their literature was forced to take on a written form. Although the traditional way of storytelling has changed, Native American Literature has survived. In it's written form, it is being shared with a larger population. Black Elk Speaks (Neihardt 1932) and The Lone Ranger and Tonto FistFight in Heaven (Alexie 1993) are two Native American works of literature that have gained recognition. Although they are similar in that they tell the Native American experience, they are also different in that they tell the experience from different times in history.    Both books tell the story of the Native American's day-to-day struggles. Black Elk Speaks tells of the Indians struggles during the middle '80s of the 19th century. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven tells the modern day struggles of the Indian. Although the books are written at different times in history, they still tell of the prejudice, disease, poverty and day-to-day struggle the Native American faces in the attempt to live in two worlds. In Black Elk Speaks the Indians were fighting to survive and keep their land. The white man (Wasichus) took away the Indian's land, brought in diseases, and killed their men, women and children. Although the Indians during this period in history suffered a great loss, they did manage to survive.    Sherman Alexie tells of the Indian... ...ght in Heaven. New York: HarperCollins, 1993. Kirkus Reviews. "Amazon.com: Editorial Reviews: The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven." 1 July 1993. < obidos exec www.amazon.com> Ts/book-reviews>. "Native American Literature." 10 October 2000. < isd www.usc.edu> archives/ethnicstudies/Indian_lit.html>. Neihardt, John G. Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Ogalala Sioux. New York: William Morrow, 1932. Walker, Jr., Theodore. "Vine Deloria, Jr. on the authenticity of Black Elk Speaks." 24 March 1997 <http://www.smu.edu/~twalker/blkelk0.htm>. 10/23/00. Whitson, Kathy J. Native American Literatures: An Encyclopedia of Works, Characters, Authors, and Themes. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, Inc, 1999. Young Adults Books. Rev. of The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. 11 March 1996. .       Comparing Black Elk Speaks and The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Comparing Black Elk Speaks and The Lone Ranger and Tonto FistFight in Heaven      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Traditionally, Native American Literature has been an oral genre. Although Native American Literature was the first American literature created, it has been the last to be recognized -and, to some extent, is still waiting for full recognition (www.usc.edu). With the Indian being forced to assimilate, their literature was forced to take on a written form. Although the traditional way of storytelling has changed, Native American Literature has survived. In it's written form, it is being shared with a larger population. Black Elk Speaks (Neihardt 1932) and The Lone Ranger and Tonto FistFight in Heaven (Alexie 1993) are two Native American works of literature that have gained recognition. Although they are similar in that they tell the Native American experience, they are also different in that they tell the experience from different times in history.    Both books tell the story of the Native American's day-to-day struggles. Black Elk Speaks tells of the Indians struggles during the middle '80s of the 19th century. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven tells the modern day struggles of the Indian. Although the books are written at different times in history, they still tell of the prejudice, disease, poverty and day-to-day struggle the Native American faces in the attempt to live in two worlds. In Black Elk Speaks the Indians were fighting to survive and keep their land. The white man (Wasichus) took away the Indian's land, brought in diseases, and killed their men, women and children. Although the Indians during this period in history suffered a great loss, they did manage to survive.    Sherman Alexie tells of the Indian... ...ght in Heaven. New York: HarperCollins, 1993. Kirkus Reviews. "Amazon.com: Editorial Reviews: The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven." 1 July 1993. < obidos exec www.amazon.com> Ts/book-reviews>. "Native American Literature." 10 October 2000. < isd www.usc.edu> archives/ethnicstudies/Indian_lit.html>. Neihardt, John G. Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Ogalala Sioux. New York: William Morrow, 1932. Walker, Jr., Theodore. "Vine Deloria, Jr. on the authenticity of Black Elk Speaks." 24 March 1997 <http://www.smu.edu/~twalker/blkelk0.htm>. 10/23/00. Whitson, Kathy J. Native American Literatures: An Encyclopedia of Works, Characters, Authors, and Themes. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, Inc, 1999. Young Adults Books. Rev. of The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. 11 March 1996. .