How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
He made Matt feel like a fool, sitting with his leg propped up on a stool. Matt steadied himself on his good leg and stood up. (6.21)
Why did Matt feel like a fool? Was it because he looked weak or because his leg reminded him of his silly mistake?
Quote #2
Matt wished he did not have to try it right now, with both of them watching him, but he could see that the man expected it. He managed a few steps, furious at his own clumsiness. (6.22)
Matt can't stand being laughed at—can you blame him? More than that, though, he doesn't seem to like being seen as weak.
Quote #3
He had made a terrible mistake and embarrassed the good man. He had heard once that the one thing an Indian could never forgive was a hurt to his pride. He felt his own face burning. But Saknis did not look embarrassed. (6.35)
Why isn't Saknis embarrassed? Was Matt's information about Indians wrong? Or is Saknis just different than most men?
Quote #4
Then they walked back to the cabin, Matt swinging his catch as nonchalantly as he had seen Attean do.
"You don't need to bring me any more food," he boasted. "I'll catch my own meat from now on." (9.13-14)
Oh, Matt. We'll chalk this up to a rookie mistake. The silly kid catches one animal, and suddenly he thinks he's king of the forest. Luckily for him, Attean knows better.
Quote #5
Why had Attean brought him out here, anyway? Had Attean just wanted to show off his own cleverness, and to make Matt look more clumsy than ever? […] For a moment Matt glared back at Attean with a scowl as black as any Indian's. (10.14)
These are good questions. Why do you think Attean made Matt fish on his own? Was it because he liked to make fun of Matt? Because he wanted Matt to learn to be self-sufficient? Both? Neither?
Quote #6
Sometimes he would just hang around and watch Matt do the chores. He would stand at the edge of the corn patch and look on while Matt pulled up weeds.
"Squaw work," he commented once.
Matt flushed. "We think it's a man's work," he retorted. (11.3-5)
Different cultures expect different things of men and women. In Attean's culture, men hunt while women farm, but this isn't the case in Matt's culture.
Quote #7
He wanted Attean to look at him without that gleam of amusement in his eyes. He wished that it were possible for him to win Attean's respect. (11.50)
Head back to the book for a minute. When does Matt finally win Attean's respect?
Quote #8
Even though Attean annoyed him, Matt was constantly goaded to keep trying to win this strange boy's respect. He would lie awake in the night, staring up at the chinks of starlight in the cabin roof, and make up stories in which he himself, not Attean, was the hero. (13.23)
Matt appreciates all that Attean teaches him, but it's hard to always be the student—and it's even harder when your teacher is the same age as you. No wonder Matt dreams of being the hero one day.
Quote #9
"Attean didn't tell me he had a sister."
The girl laughed. "Attean think squaw girl not good for much," she said. "Attean only like to hunt." (18.42-43)
Sounds like a typical older brother—let's just change the words a bit, shall we? "Attean thinks girl stuff is stupid—he only likes gaming/ monster trucks/ basketball." Sound familiar?
Quote #10
Attean nodded. "I understand," he said. "My grandfather understand too. I do same for my father if he still live."
[…] There was no amusement or scorn in Attean's eyes. […] After all the brave deeds he had dreamed of to win this boy's respect, he had gained it at last just by doing nothing, just by staying here and refusing to leave. (22.5-6)
After losing his own father, Attean understands the fear Matt feels about never seeing his family again—but he also understands Matt's need to be loyal to his family and not give up on them. Attean doesn't like it, but he completely respects Matt's choice.