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1. Should Joe and Cappy have been punished for the murder of Linden? Why or why not?
2. What is the significance of the screw?
3. What do you think is the difference between "ideal justice" and "best-we-can-do-justice"?

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1. Could the main conflict within the story be caused by the trauma of Reservation life and the circle of abuse? How does it relate to the conflict of abuse between men and women?
2. How does the story of Akii relate to the main plot? How is this story significant to Joes life at the time? Compare and Contrast

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1. Is Joe's idea of killing Linden to protect his mother a sign of his maturity or immaturity?
2. Why is there a division between Catholicism and Tribal religion in the reservation?
3. What does the book that Father Travis gave to Joe represent?

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Chapter 9 Questions

1.  What is the significance of the tassels that Joe keeps?
2.  Why does Joe become frustrated with his father even though the attacker is currently in custody?
3. Why does Cappy try to run away from Father Travis when he goes to confess at the Church?

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The Round House (ch 9 subchapter) Questions

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The Round House (ch 9 subchapter) Questions

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1. How do the historical themes of justice, authority, respecting you elders and going against the norm contribute to your understanding of the book as a whole/Joe's situation?
2. How does your knowledge about the history of the round house affect your perception of the crime? Does it seem ironic?
3. After learning more about Sonja and her past, do you think her actions are justified?

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1. The theme of betrayal is heavily emphasized in this chapter. Joe betrayed his mom by telling his dad and the agent about the files; Geraldine felt she betrayed Mayla by escaping and leaving her and the baby to die; Sonja betrayed Joe by spending the money Joe found; and within the story "Akii", Akii was betrayed by her husband. Why do you think Erdrich chose betrayal as a reoccurring theme in this chapter, and do you think some of these examples of betrayal can be justified?

2. When Joe's Dad apologizes for allowing Joe to hear his mother's story, Joe tells himself, "But [her testimony] was a poison to me. I was just beginning to feel that" (165). How do you think this poison is manifested in Joe's behavior?

3. Bazil talks to Joe and his mother about the experience of Father Travis Wozniak, a priest who witnessed the assassination of JFK. Why do you think Erdrich included this story?

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1. How might Joes new secret symbolize that he is still innocent at heart? And how might his secret cause problems in the future?

2. Why does Erdrich give us such a detailed description of Mooshum? What purpose does it serve?

3.  "What is the significance of the last scene in the chapter?"

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1. Why does Joe’s father finally open up to let Joe work with him to find his mother’s rapist?

2. What is the purpose of all the descriptive language used to describe Linda Wishkob? Why does Erdrich repeatedly describe Linda Wishkob’s appearance?

3. What is the significance of the chapter’s title, “Datalore?”

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1. Why does Linda donate her kidney? If you were in Linda's situation, would you have given your kidney to Linden?
2. Do we learn any more information about who, where, or why the crime occurred? Does the last line of the chapter indicate that Linden was the attacker?

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1. Is Joe's searching for his mother's rapist an act of rebellion?
2. When faced with the prospect of biking through the cemetery, Joe feels "unnerved", saying that he was "bracing to absorb" the "gut kick of our history". What was Erdrich's purpose in adding this part, and how does it contribute to the story as a whole?

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“The old ceremonial place had told me--cried out to me in my mother’s anguished voice…” (60).

Discussion Questions:

1. This chapter focuses on the presence of ghosts.  How do ghosts seem significant to Joe and his culture?

2. What is the significance of the shoe swap between Cappy and Joe?

3. Are you provided any clues in this chapter as to who, where, or why this crime occurred?

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1. Are the court documents "actual" history?
2. Why does Erdrich include these court documents? (i.e. what is her message?)
3. Respond to this important quote: “It is these people really, said my father, small-time hypocrites, who may in special cases be capable of monstrous acts if given the chance” (50).

Discuss your assigned case with your table, and be prepared to share how each of these cases significant to the story:

1. Durlin Peace v Bingo Palace

2. Tommy Thomas v Vinland Super Mart

3. The Estate of Albert and Betty Wishkob

4. Francis Whiteboy v Asiginak, Tribal Police, and Vince Madwesin