Contemporary Indigenous American Voices Answers

Read the excerpt from Leslie Marmon Silko’s story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds."Before they wrapped the old man, Leon took a piece of string out of his pocket and tied a small gray feather in the old man's long white hair. Ken gave him the paint. Across the brown wrinkled forehead he drew a streak of white and along the high cheekbones he drew a strip of blue paint. He paused and watched Ken throw pinches of corn meal and pollen into the wind that fluttered the small gray feather. Then Leon painted with yellow under the old man's broad nose, and finally, when he had painted green across the chin, he smiled.The actions of Leon and Ken indicate that

Which piece of dialogue from Leslie Marmon Silko’s story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds" best reveals that Father Paul sees compromise between the two faiths as the best option?

Read the excerpt from Leslie Marmon Silko’s story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds."The priest sank down into the green chair and picked up a glossy missionary magazine. He turned the colored pages full of lepers and pagans without looking at them."You know I can't do that, Leon. There should have been the Last Rites and a funeral Mass at the very least."Leon put on his green cap and pulled the flaps down over his ears. "It's getting late, Father. I've got to go."When Leon opened the door Father Paul stood up and said, "Wait." He left the room and came back wearing a long brown overcoat. What does the outcome of this discussion reveal about the priest?

Read the excerpt from Leslie Marmon Silko’s story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds."The sky in the west was full of pale yellow light. Louise stood outside with her hands in the pockets of Leon's green army jacket that was too big for her. The funeral was over, and the old men had taken their candles and medicine bags and were gone. She waited until the body was laid into the pickup before she said anything to Leon. She touched his arm, and he noticed that her hands were still dusty from the corn meal that she had sprinkled around the old man. When she spoke, Leon could not hear her.Which detail in this excerpt indicates that Leon and his family still carry out traditional Pueblo practices?

Read the excerpt from Leslie Marmon Silko’s story “The Man to Send Rain Clouds.”Leon watched him climb the hill, and when he had disappeared within the tall, thick walls, Leon turned to look up at the high blue mountains in the deep snow that reflected a faint red light from the west. He felt good because it was finished, and he was happy about the sprinkling of the holy water; now the old man could send them big thunderclouds for sure. What does the holy water symbolize for Leon?

Which excerpt from "The Man to Send Rain Clouds" best illustrates how Leon’s beliefs differ from those of Father Paul?

Read the quote from Leslie Marmon Silko’s story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds.""Well, I'm glad you understand. I hope I'll be seeing you at Mass this week—we missed you last Sunday. See if you can get old Teofilo to come with you." The priest smiled and waved at them as they drove away.This quote is located early in the narrative. What does it reveal about Father Paul?

Read the excerpt from Leslie Marmon Silko’s story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds.""What did you say? I didn't hear you.""I said that I had been thinking about something.""About what?”"About the priest sprinkling holy water for Grandpa. So he won't be so thirsty."What does this dialogue reveal about Louise?

Read the excerpt from Leslie Marmon Silko’s story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds."Leon stared at the new moccasins that Teofilo had made for the ceremonial dances in the summer. They were nearly hidden by the red blanket. It was getting colder, and the wind pushed gray dust down the narrow pueblo road. Which item acts as a symbol in this excerpt?

Which piece of dialogue from Leslie Marmon Silko’s story "The Man to Send Rain Clouds" best illustrates that Christian rites are not important to Leon or his community?