Indian Horse SuperSummary Study Guide - Amazon …...INDIAN HORSE SUPERSUMMARY COPYRIGHT 2016 4...

INDIAN HORSE

RICHARD WAGAMESE

INDIANHORSE SUPERSUMMARY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PLOTOVERVIEW 3

CHAPTERSUMMARIESANDANALYSES 6

Chapter1-10 6Chapter11-22 10Chapter23-28 14Chapter29-36 17Chapter37-39 21Chapter40-48 23Chapter49-56 26

MAJORCHARACTERANALYSIS 30

SaulIndianHorse 30Shabogeesick 30Naomi 31Benjamin 31Saul’smother,father,auntanduncle 31FatherGastonLeboutilier 31FredandMarthaKelly 31Virgil 32JackLanahan 32PatrickandElissaSheehan 32ErvinSift 32

THEMES 33

SYMBOLSANDMOTIFS 36


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IMPORTANTQUOTES 38

ESSAYTOPICS 45


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PLOT OVERVIEW

IndianHorseisthestoryofSaulIndianHorse,anOjibwayboyfromnorthernOntariowhoescapeshisdemonsandroughchildhoodthroughhockey,onlytosuccumbtoalcoholafterlosinghisjoyforthegame.Asayoungboy,Saullivesabushlife,withlittlecontactwiththeoutsideworld.Hisgrandmother,Naomi,hideshimandhisbrotherBenjaminfromthethreatoftheschool.Hissister,Rachel,wastakenawaybywhitemenbeforeSaulwasborn.In1957,whenSaulwasfour,theZhaunagush(whitemen)abducthisbrotherBenjamin.Hismotherchanges,havinglostapartofherselfalongwithhertwochildren.SheandSaul’sfatherandunclefindalcoholandbegintolosethemselvesinit.Hisfamilyleavesthebushfortransientcampsontheoutskirtsofmilltownsinpursuitofthedrink.Theybecomenomads,movingfromtentvillagetotentvillage,eatingwhatevertheycan,includingroasteddog.TheysettleinReddittin1960andbegintoplantroots,andthehopemakesSaul’sfatherdrinkless.Inthisenvironment,Saul’sbrotherBenjaminwalksoutofthebushandbackintotheirlives,havingescapedfromtheschool.He’sthinandhasacough.Naomisaystheyneedtoleave,asBenjaminissuretobefoundbytheZhaunagush,andtakeSaulbackwithhim.TheydecidetomovetoGodsLake,theirancestralhome.Whileatfirsttheythrive,whenharvestingrice,Benjaminisovercomewithacoughingfitanddies.Naomipushestohonorhimtheoldway,butSaul’sparents,auntanduncle,insistthathebegivenaChristianburial.Theyleavewithsacksofricetosellforacoffin,whileSaulandNaomistayatGodsLaketoawaittheirreturn.Theyneverreturn.NaomiandSaulstayatGodsLakeaslongaspossible,butaswinterstartstocome,theymustescapetofindpropershelter.TheyleavetofindNaomi’sbrother’ssoninMinaki.Duringthetrip,NaomigiveseverythingtokeepSaulalive,evencarryinghim.TheymakeittotherailroaddepotatMinakiandNaomisaysshewantstorestbeforefindinghernephew.Shedies,holdingSaul,whoisfoundbyagroupofwhitemen.SaulistakentoSt.Jerome’sIndianResidentialSchool.Itisextremelyregimented,andpunishmentsareswiftandextreme.SaulisseenasanoutsiderforhisfamiliaritywithEnglish,andbecomesisolated.Childrendiebysuicide,orgomadfromtheirpunishments.FatherLeboutilier,anewpriestattheschool,convincestheschooltoallowthekidstoplayhockey.Onlytheolderboysareallowedtoplay,butSaulfeelsaninstantconnectiontothegame,andisallowedtolookaftertheice.Hebeginsto


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covertlypracticeaftercleaning,and,inhissecondwinter,isgivenachancetoplaywhenaboygetsinjured.Afteraseriesofwinsthatnextwinter,agroupofmenaskSaultojointheirmidgettownteam,thoughheis3-4yearsyoungerthantheotherplayers.Heplayswell,outshiningtheotherplayers.Aftertengames,Saulshowsuptogameelevenbutisturnedaway.He’stoogood,andtooIndian.Asthewinterdwindlesdown,anOjibwaymancomestotheirpractice.HeisnamedFredKelly,andinvitesSaultoplayonhisNativetournamentteamandlivewithhim.SaulmovestoManitouwadge,andistreatedwellbyFredandhiswifeMartha,whoarebothalumsofSt.Jerome.Eventually,newsoftheirprowessspreadsandtheybeginplayingwhiteteams.Theyplaywell,butexperienceracismintheplayersandcrowd.Whiletraveling,agroupofmentaketheteambehindacaféonebyoneandurinateonthem.Eventually,ascoutshowsuptotheirgames.HisnameisJackLanahan,andhewantsSaultotryoutforaMapleLeafsfeederteaminToronto.Heisreluctant,butagreeswhenpushedbyhisMooseteammates.OnceinToronto,hisnewteammateslargelyignorehim,andthepressandaudienceareconstantlymakingfunofhisheritage.Finally,hegetsfedupandfightsbackonenightwhenchecked.Hebecomesapuckhoginsteadofthemasterfulpasserhewas,andisoftenboxed,thenbenched,thenremovedfromplay.HespendsonegameonthesidelinesbeforeleavingtogobacktoManitouwadge.Hestartsworkingasalaborer.HeplaysfortheMooseforawhile,butdoesn’tfitbackinandstopsplayingaltogether.Missingthecamaraderieofhisfellowplayers,hefindshimselfeatingintavernsandeventually,beginstodrinkandquicklygetsaddicted.Heendsupdrinkinghimselfintoaseizure,andendsupinthehospital,wheretheNewDawnCentreissuggested.Hesobersup,butdoesn’texperienceanysortofhealingmiracle.Whileoutwanderingonenight,heseesavisionofhisfamilyandknowshehastorevisithispast.FirsthegoestoSt.Jerome’s,whichisnowaruin,havingbeenshutdownforsomeyears.Herevisitsthepieceofearthwheretherinkoncewasandbreaksdown.


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Suddenly,heremembersthemolestationheexperiencedatthehandsofFatherLeboutilier.Hehadusedthegametogivehimanescapefromthisreality,toshieldhimfromtheFatherstealinghisinnocence.HegoesbacktoGodsLake,andhasavisionofhisgreat-grandfatherandfamily.Hecriesandallowshimselftomourn.HereturnstotheNewDawnCentreandbeginstoopenup,learninghowtocopewithhispastwithoutdrinking.HereturnstoManitouwadgeandspeaksabouthispasttoFredandMartha,andopensuptoVirgilaswell.Saulexpressesadesiretocoach,inordertofindthejoyofthegameagain.Hegetsbackontheiceforthefirsttimeinfifteenyearsandplaysagamewithhisoldteammatesandchildrenfromthetown.Hedoesn’tcarethatheloses;he’sjusttheretofindthejoyagain.

STEVEN GALLOWAY


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CHAPTER SUMMARIES AND ANALYSES

Chapter1-10Chapter1SummaryThebookbeginswiththeprotagonist,SaulIndianHorse,introducinghimselfratherformally.Heintroduceshispeople,theOjibwaytribe,asCanadianFirstPeoplestronglyconnectedtotheearth:“thedeepbrownofoureyesseepedoutofthefecundearth”(1).Chapter1alsointroducesthenovel’snarrativeframe:SaulIndianHorseisa“hardcoredrunk”(2)beingforcedtotellhisstoryaspartofhistreatmentinthefacilityhelivesin.Hiscaseworkerhasgivenhimpermissiontowriteitdown,whichishowthenovelcametobe.Chapter2SummaryChapter2describeshowSaul’sgreat-grandfatherbroughtthefirsthorsetohispeople.Atfirsttheyaresuspicious,butthehorse’susefulnessshowsitselfquicklyandtheyembrace“Kitchi-Animoosh”or“GreatDog.”Hisgreat-grandfather,Shabogeesick,callshispeopletotheteachingrockstotellthemthatthespiritteachingofthehorseisthat‘Agreatchangewillcome.Itwillcomewiththespeedoflightninganditwillscorchallourlives’(7).AttheendofChapter2,itstatesthathisfamilynamebecameIndianHorseafterthewhiteman(“Zhaunagush”)discoverthathisgreat-grandfatherwastheonetobringthehorsetotheirpeople.Chapter3SummaryChapter3returnstothelifeofSaulIndianHorsedirectly.Inthischapter,hedescribeshowhisgrandmother,Naomi,endeavoredtohidethemfromthewhitemanand“theschool.”HedescribeshowtheZhaunagushabductedhissistertheyearbeforehisbirth,andhowheandhisbrotherhidfromthemthereafter.However,in1957,whenSaulwasfour,theycapturehisbrotherBenjaminaswellandhismotherisneverthesame:“WhenBenjamindisappearedhecarriedapartofherawaywithhim,andtherewasnothinganyonecoulddotofillit”(11).Hedescribeshowhisfamilyturnedtoalcohol,buthewascomfortedbyhisgrandmother’sstoriesoftheolddaysandOjibwaysongs.Chapter4Summary


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ThischapterdescribesSaul’sfamily’smovetotransientcampsontheoutskirtsofsawmilltownsinthepursuitof“brutalworkforlittlepay”(14)andwhiskey.Theymovedfromtentvillagetotentvillage,learningto“endurethestenchofroasteddog”(14)andhuntingsquirrelstosurvive.Afterthreeyears,in1960,theysettledmorepermanentlyinRedditt,wheretheybuyawoodstoveandstarttolivemorecomfortably,causinghisfathertodrinklessduetothe“infusionofhope”(14).Chapter5SummaryInthischapter,hisbrotherBenjaminreturns.HeescapedtheschoolinKenoraandwalkedsixtymilestofindtheircamp.However,heisquiteillwithTB.HisgrandmotherNaomisaysthattheyneedtogotoGodsLaketohelpcureBenjaminandkeepSaulawayfromthewhitemen.Withoutarguing,theyleaveandjourneytendays,whileNaomitellsthetaleofGodsLake.Itwasdiscoveredbyagroupofhuntersseekingmoosewholocateditasaperfecthuntingspot.However,whentheyexploredthearea,theyheardvoicesspeakingintheOldTalkandlaughing,thoughnoonewasthere.Theyfeltcompelledtoleave,asdideveryonewhovisited.Saul’sgrandfather,however,hadadreamofcontentmentatGodsLakeandmadeaceremonyandoffering,afterwhichpointitwastheterritoryoftheIndianHorsefamilyandtheirfamilyalone.Chapter6SummarySaulexplainsthathisfamilysettledinnicelytoGodsLake,wherethey“atelike[they]neverhadbefore”(21).Hethendescribesavisionhereceivesonemorningwhenstandingatoptheridge.Heisstartledtohearhisnamewhispered,andthenseesagroupofpeopleatthelake;acommunityofadozenwigwamswithpeoplebusilygatheringcattailsandpreparingdeercarcasses.Amanbythefirelooksupathimandnods,changingthescenetonight,wherethemansingsintheOldTalkbeforehisfaceisdisplayedinthemoon.Hethenhearsarumble,andwatchesasbouldersdescenddownthecliff,obliteratingthecampanditsentirepeoplebelow.Chapter7SummarySaulrealizesthathisvisionwasofhisancestorsdyingonthelandhenowinhabits.Hisgrandmother,aunt,andmotherclashbrieflyoverhisgrandmother’sinsistenceontheroleof“Creator,”whichhismotherreferstoas“blasphemy,”sayingtheyare“God-


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fearing”(26).Naomisaysitistheschoolthatplantedtheseideasinthem.Itthencomestimetoharvesttherice,andtheadultsgooutincanoestogathertheplants,whileSaulandBenpreparethefirestheywillusetodryoutthecrop.Theyperformthe“dancingoftherice”whiletheirgrandmothersings,crushingthehullssothatthericecanbeseparated.Theyworkforhours,andBenjamincannotstopcoughing,thoughhetriestohideit.Eventually,hecollapses,andSaulholdshim,notingitwas“asthoughthelandwerealreadyreachingoutandclaiminghim”(29).Benjamindiesthatnight.Chapter8SummarySaul’sgrandmothersuggeststhattheyhonorBenjaminintheoldwayandlayhimontheearth.ThisangersSaul’smother,whosaysthattheywilltakehisbodytoapriest,andyellsatNaomiforbringingthemtoGodsLake,crying:‘Youbroughthimtothisforsakenplace.Youtoldusbycomingherethatwewouldreturntohowthingswere.Butthosewaysaregone.Thosegodsaredead”(31-32).Saul’sparents,auntandunclepackthecanoeswithricetosellanddeparttogiveBenjaminaChristianfuneral,leavingSaulandhisgrandmotheraloneatGodsLake.Chapter9SummaryTheadultsdonotreturnandtheseasonsbegintoshifttowardwinter.NaomipraysbuttellsSaulthatshecan’tlocatethem,andthat“theyhavemovedbeyondthereachoftheOldOnes”(35).SheproposesthattheygotoMinakiandstaywithherbrother’ssonMinoosethroughthewinter.Otherwise,theywilldie.Chapter10SummarySaulandhisgrandmothersetoutinthefast-comingwinter.Withinthreedays,theyrunoutoffoodandthewaterbecomestoocoldtodrink.Asthesnowdeepens,theyfallasleeponthecanoeandwaketoitcrashingintoaboulder.Theyescapetoshore,watchingthebrokencanoedriftoffwiththeremainderoftheirsupplies.NaomicontinuallysacrificeshercomfortforSaul,givinghimhercanvasshawlandropeholdingherbootstogether,sayinghergumptionwillkeepherwarm.SheasksSaulifhecanseeatrailthathisgreat-grandfathercutthatwillleadtothetraintracks.Atfirstheseesnothing,butcloseshiseyesandhearsawhisper,afterwhichheisabletolocatethepath.Frozen,hungry,andexhausted,theyfollowthetracks,Saulfallingandbeingcarriedbyhisgrandmother.Whenshetoofalls,theyseeastructureandrealize


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thatit’stherailroaddepotatMinaki.Naomisaysthatthey’llrestabitbeforefindingMinoose,but,huddledtogether,Saul“feltthecoldfreezerherinplace…shehadleft”(42).Saulisdiscoveredbypassersbyandtakenaway,“castadriftonastrangenewriver”(42).Chapter1-10AnalysisThisfirstsectionsetsupthenarrativeframeofthenovel,whichisSaulIndianHorse’slifestory,beingwrittendownwhileheisatatreatmentfacilityforalcoholism.Thissectionisrichwithforeshadowingaboutthedestructionoftheoldwaysoflife,andSaul’sowndownfall.Inthefirstfewpages,Saulrecountsthestoryofhisgreat-grandfatherbringingahorsetohispeople,andthehorse’steaching:“Agreatchangewillcome…andscorchallourlives”(7).Thetensionbetweentheoldwaysandthenewappearshere,andevenmoreexplicitlywhenpresent-daySaulstatesthatwhenhewasborn“Wehadnotyetsteppedbeyondtheinfluenceofourlegends.Thatwasabordermygenerationcrossed”(2).ThistensionisplayedoutfurtherasSaulexplainsthefearofthewhitemanandtheschoolthatwasinstilledinhimbyhisgrandmother.Hisearlylifeinthebush,protectedfromthewhiteman,isportrayedascomfortable,thoughhedoeslearnEnglishandthethreatisconstant.Saulis,inhisveryearlylife,partoftheIndianways,butwiththethreatandpromiseofthewhiteman’swaysever-present.WhentheyloseBenjaminandhisparentsturntoalcohol,theybegintolosemoreoftheoldwaysandliveontheoutskirtsofwhitecommunities.Theirqualityoflifedipsdramatically,asthey’retooIndiantohavethesameopportunitiesasthewhitemen,buttooattachedtotheeasyaccesstoalcoholandcheaplaborthatthebordercommunitiespresent.InmovingtoGodsLake,theyembracetheoldwaysandtheirIndiannaturecompletely.Theirqualityoflifeimproves,andSaulfeelsasenseofcomfortandbelonginginhisconnectionwithhisancestors.However,thetuberculosisstayswithBenjamin,likeapoisonhecarriedoverfromtheschool.Whentheylosehimagain,hisfamilyturnstowhiteways,feelingbetrayedbyGodsLake.Saul’sgrandmothermaintainstheoldwaysuntiltheend,dyingasshereachescivilization.ShesacrificesherselfforSaul,andinherdeaththeoldwaysseemtodieaswell.


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Chapter11-22Chapter11SummarySaulistakentoSt.Jerome’sIndianResidentialSchool,whichhesays“tookallthelightfrom[his]world”(43).Itsmellsofbleachandisa“sickly”green.Heandtheothernewstudentsarebathed,deloused,andhavetheirheadsshaved.Saulisallowedtokeephisname,asitisbiblical,whileanotherboynamedLonnieisforcedtochangehisnametoAaron.Whenhearguesthathe’snamedafterhisfather,SisterIgnaciasays‘YourfatheristheHeavenlyFather…Yourhumanfatherhasnothingtoofferyouanymore’(45).Whenhethreatenstorun,theSisterbringsoutaleatherpaddleandstrikeshimuntilhecollapses,saying:‘Obedienceisthemeasureofourworthiness’(46)and‘AtSt.Jerome’sweworktoremovetheIndianfromourchildren’(46-47).Chapter12SummaryAt“St.Germ’s,”Saulisknownas“Zhaunagush”bytheotherchildrenbecausehecanreadandspeakEnglish.Thisleadshimtoisolatehimselfandretreatintobooks.Meanwhile,otherchildrensufferhorriblefatesatthehandsofthenuns.ArdenLittleLight,whoconstantlyhasarunnynoseandispunishedbyhavinghishandstiedbehindhisbacksothathewon’twipehisnoseonhissleeve,hangshimselfindespair.HeisburiedinthegraveyardreferredtoasTheIndianYard.SheilaJackisthegranddaughterofashaman,andisthusrespectedandhasaregalair.However,thenunsendeavortobreakherandmakeherrecitecatechismsatallhours.Shegoesmadandistakenawaytoapsychiatricfacility.ShaneBigCanoe,whorunsaway,isputinthe“IronSister,”aboxinthebasement,fortendays.Hecomesbackbroken.Chapter13SummaryThischapterdescribesashortvignettethathighlightsthechildren’slongingandisolation.Theyescapetheschooltoanearbycreek,wheretheycatchandreleasefish,becausetheyhave“noknivestocleanthem…nofiretosmokethemover…noplacetostorethem”(54).Theyfallasleepsmellingthefishsmellontheirhandsandcry,seeingthemselvesinthosefishtheysawgaspingforaironthegrass.Chapter14Summary


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Thisveryshort(singleparagraph)chapteremphasizesthehorrorthechildrenexperienced.Sauldescribesyetmoredeathsanddisappearances(tuberculosis,pneumonia,suicide).Heagainstatesthathewasonlyabletosurvivebyretreatinguntohimself.Chapter15SummaryFatherGastonLeboutilierisintroduced;anewpriestwhocametotheschoolthesameyearasSaul.Unliketheothers,hehashumorandkindness,andsoonintroduceshockeytothestudents.Saul’sinterestinthegameinsparkedfirstthroughbooks,theninseeingagameonTVforthefirsttime.Oncetheboysstartplaying,Saulnoticesthathecan“seenotjustthephysicalpropertiesofthegameandtheactionbuttheintent”(58).Helikensthisimmediateintuitiontohisgreat-grandfather’sintuitivegift.Heisdeemedtooyoungtoplay,butisgivenpermissiontomindtheice.Chapter16SummarySaulbeginscleaningtherinkinthemorningsbeforeanyoneelseisawake.Soon,hebeginshidingahockeystickinthesnowandpracticingwithhorseturdsthathetreatsaspucks,practicingthestickhandlinghe’dseenonHockeyNightinCanadaonFatherLeboutilier’sTV.Atnight,too,hegetsoutofbedwhenothersaresleepingandenvisionsthelinoleumasice,andpracticesstillmore.Asheenvisionshimselfplaying,he“wouldfacethepictureofJesushungthereonthewall,[his]salvationcominginsteadthroughwoodandrubberandiceandthedreamofagame”(62).Chapter17SummaryBythesecondwinter,agednine,Saulbeginshidingskatesaswellasastick,andpracticesskatingaswellasstickhandling.HecopiesmovesheseesonTV,envisioningmovesbeforeexecutingthem,silentlysothatheisn’tdiscovered.He“nolongerfeltthehopeless,chillairaround[him]because[he]hadFatherLeboutilier,theice,themorningsandthepromiseofagamethat[he]wouldsoonbeoldenoughtoplay”(66).Chapter18SummarySoon,theboysarepreparingfortheirfirstgameandFatherLeboutilierisworkingthemhard.Whileatpractice,oneboyfallsontheiceandisinjured.Whensomeone


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askshowthey’llmakeateamwithouthim,Saulofferstosubin.FatherLeboutilierissurprised,butletshimplay‘forthescrimmage.’Aswhenhefirstsawthegameplayed,he“sawthedirectionofthegamebeforeithappened”(69)andquicklyawestheotherboysandFatherLeboutilierbymakingagoal.Aspracticeends,theolderboysmakeaspotforhimamongthem,andheisnolongertheoutsider.Chapter19SummaryAtfirst,FatherQuinneyandSisterIgnaciaprotest,butFatherQuinneydeclareshehasa‘God-givengift’(72)afterseeinghimplay.Hebecomesateammember,thoughhestillmaintainstheice.Nowheopenlypractices,creatinghisownskatingdrills.Thoughhestillfeelslonelinessandlongingforhislostfamily,he“knewthatlonelinesswouldbedispelledbythesheenoftherinkinthesunlight,thefeelofcoldairon[his]face,thesoundofawoodenstickshufflingfrozenrubber”(73).Chapter20SummaryThreeweekslater,theyhavetheirfirstgame.Histeammatesandthecrowdlaughathissmallbodydrowninginhisuniform,andtheyfeeloutofplaceintheindoorarena.FatherLeboutilierwarnsthemthatoftheteamsskillsandtellsthemtojustplayforfunandexperience.Evenonthebench,Saul’svisionkicksinandheisableto“seewhattheyweregoingtodobeforetheydidit”(75).Heisbroughtintothegameanduseshisconsiderabletalenttoscoreagoal.Thecrowdandplayersstopsnickering,andhescorestwomoregoals.Theirteamwinsbyagoal.Chapter21SummaryThenarrativereturnstotalesofthehardshipsenduredatSt.Jerome’s,whichSaulreferstoas“hellonearth”(78).Hedescribeshowtheyeatessentiallygruel,andareforcedtoperformmanuallaborandcompleteonlyanhourofschoolingaday.Theyhavenogradesortests,“theonlytestwasourabilitytoendure”(79).Theyarecontinuallybeaten,andare“likestock”(80).Saulalsorefersto“nighttimeinvasions,”orimpliedsexualencountersbetweenthechildrenandpriestsinthenight.Chapter22SummaryHockeyisSaul’sescapefromthathell.FatherLeboutilierbeginstocometohispractices,andistheonlyplayerabletochallengehim.Asspringarrives,Saulcontinues


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traininghimselfbyrunningeachday,withFatherLeboutilierjoininghim.Healsopracticesfiringshotswithasmallpieceofpipestandinginasapuck,whichhefiresthroughsmallholesinapieceofplywood.Theotherboysjoininandtheyholdtournaments.ThoughSaulwinshandily,hefinallyfeelsasenseofcamaraderie.“IceasedtobetheZhaunagush.IbecameSaulIndianHorse,Ojibwaykidandhockeyplayer.Ibecameabrother”(86).Chapter11-22AnalysisThehellofSt.Jerome’sendeavorstoseparateSaulfromhisIndianidentity,andyetheretooheexistsinthetensionbetweenbeingwhiteandIndian.HeistooIndianfortheschool,whichendeavorsto‘removetheIndianfromourchildren,’(46-47)buttwowhitefortheotherchildren,whocallhimwhite(Zhaunagush)forhisproficiencywithEnglish.And,ultimately,itisawhiteman’sgamethatgiveshimthesolacepreviouslyfoundwithfamilyandtradition.Saul’sgiftofvisionsextendstohockey.Immediately,heisabletoseemovesbeforetheyhappen,seeingpatternsintheice.ThoughtheschoolforceshimtodividehimselffromhisOjibwayidentity,hisinheritedgiftextendsintohockey.Theviolence,molestation,andindoctrinationtakeaheavytollonthestudents.Manypaywiththeirlives.“Theonlytestwas[their]abilitytoendure”(79),andSaulisonlyabletosurvivebyretreatingintohimself.Helearnstobesilent,withdrawn,toavoidtheireofthepriestsandnuns,whosepunishmentsturnsomanyofthestudentstosuicideandmadness.WhatbeginsisSaul’spenchantforworkinghardandavoidinganydiscussionofhisproblems.Heistrainedtosurvivethroughsilence,whichpreventshimfrombeingabletoconfronthispastlaterinlife.HehasacloserelationshipwithFatherLeboutilier,whobeginstoshowphysicalaffectionandintercedeonSaul’sbehalf.Saulreferstohimashis“ally,”andinfact,afterahugSaul“almostcriedforthememoryof[his]father”(59).HockeyoffersSaulanopportunitytofeel“connectedtosomethingfarbiggerthan[himself]”(62).Italsogiveshimasenseofcommunityandconnectionwithhisfellowstudentsthathisbookishnessdenieshim.


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Chapter23-28Chapter23SummarySaul,nownearlythirteen,continueswinninggamesthenextwinter.Heissoonaskedbymenfromtowntojointheirmidgettownteam,normallycomprisedofsixteenandseventeenyearolds.LeviDeiter,ahardwarestoreowner,coachesit.Saulcontinuestoplaywell,scoringgoalsandmakingattention-grabbingpasses.Theywinsevenoftengames,andSaulandFatherLeboutiliershowuptoplayingameeleven.However,LevitakesFatherLeboutiliertothesidebeforethegame,andtheFatherinformsSaulthathewillnotbeplayingbecause‘Theparentsofotherplayerswanttheirownkidstoplay’(91).Saulasksifit’sbecausehe’sIndianandFatherLeboutiliersaysyes.‘Theythinkit’stheirgame,’(92)Saulsays.Chapter24SummarySaulcontinuesplayingwithSt.Jeromeboys,thoughhefeelsunchallenged.Onedayatascrimmage,anOjibwaymanwatchesSaulcarefully.HeintroduceshimselfasFredKelly,andsaysthathehasatournamentteaminManitouwadge.Heexplainsthatthereservesintheterritoryallhavetheirownteamsthatplayagainsteachotheronoutsiderinks.FredasksSaultocomelivewithhisfamilyandplayhockeyforhistravelingteam,theMoose.He’dhave‘arealhome’(95).ThoughSisterIgnaciaisagainsttheidea,FatherQuinneybelievesinhisGod-givengiftandasksSaulifhe’dliketogo.Heagrees,andgatherswhatfewbelongingshehasfromthedormitory.Hesays“AlreadyIcouldfeelSt.Jerome’slosingitsholdonme…Iwasbeingfreed”(97).However,healsoadmitstobeingafraidtoleaveFatherLeboutilierbehind.HeholdsouthishandforahandshakeandFatherLeboutilierpullshimclose,whispering‘GowithGod’(98).Chapter25SummarySauldescribesManitouwadgeasaminingtownpopulatedby“tough,narrow-mindedmen”(99)withtheOjibwayfamilieslivingontheoutskirtsinaneighborhoodreferredtoasIndianTownbythelocalsandtheRezbyitsinhabitants.FredandMartha’ssonsincludeGarrettandHoward,bothmarriedwithchildren,andVirgil,theseventeen-year-oldMooseteamcaptain.HewarnsSaulthattheteamwon’ttaketohimrightaway.


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MarthatakeshimoutshoppingforproperclothesandgetshisfirstrealsetofgearwithFred.Hehashisfirstscrimmage.Fredadviseshistowatchatfirst,andkeepoutoftheaction,sohejoinsthegametentativelybeforefindinganopeningandcompletingapasstoVirgilthatendsinagoal.Hethenmakesagoalofhisownandtheplayersbegintotakehimmoreseriouslyandguardhimclosely,forcinghimtoworkharderthaneverbeforeandimprovemorequickly.Chapter26SummarySauldescribesthetripstheMooseundertakeforthetournaments.Theytaketwovans,whichVirgilfixesanddrives.AndsinceFredoftencan’tgetoffofwork,Virgiloperatesascoachaswellascaptain.Thoughthefacilitiesarecobbledtogether,communitieswelcometheplayersenthusiastically,andcomeoutforgamesinallweatherconditions.ThishigherlevelofplaypushesSaultobecomeanevengreaterplayerandheis“anessentialpartoftheMoose”and‘[their]secretweapon’(111).Chapter27SummaryThoughthetournamentshaveminimalfinancialreturns,theteam“livedforthecrushofbodiesandtheyellingandtheclappingandthetumultthatgreetedthechampionsregardlessofwhowon”(112).FredandMarthaaredescribedasgoodfriendstoSaul,thoughnotparents.HegrowsclosetoVirgil,whohelpshimadjusttohisfirstexperiencewithatraditionalschool.DuringSaul’ssecondwinterinManitouwadge,heresumeshisoldmorningroutineofpracticingbeforeschool,joinedbyVirgilwhenpossible.Chapter28SummaryTheteamwinstenoffifteentournamentsinthatsecondyearand“becameateamofskilledpassers”(116)—“theMoosebegantogowherethepuckwasn’t,trustingthatateammatewouldsenditthere”(116).FatherLeboutiliershowsuptoagameandexpresseshisprideinSaul,pullinghimcloseonceagain.‘You’refreenow,Saul,’hesays,‘Freetoletthegametakeyouwhereitwill’(117).It’sthelasttimeheseeshim.Chapter23-28AnalysisHockeycontinuestopushSaulintothewhiteman’sworld.Whenheisinvitedtoplayonthetown’smidgetplayersteam,Saulexpresseshisdiscomfortinjoiningtheirgame


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forthefirsttime.‘Itfeelsdifferent,’hesays,‘LiketheyexpectmetobesomethingthatIdon’tknowhowtobe’(88).ThisisSaul’sfirstvocalizationofhisdislikeofthewhiteplayers’versionofthegame.Thisfirstexperienceplayingonawhiteteamforeshadowshiseventualadaptionofthepersonaofthe“RampagingRedskin”ashecomestolethisragetakeover.Fornowthough,Saulsimplyfeelsasenseoffearthathecan’tpinpoint.Chapter23isalsowherehefirstreceivestheadvicefromthemidgetteamcoach,Levi,to‘Alwayskeepyourstickontheiceandalwayskeepyourlegsmoving’(89).Whilemeanttobetakenliterallyhere,thatsameadviceisechoedmetaphoricallytowardtheendofthebook,inchapter52,byFredKelly,whoisadvisinghimonhowtocometotermswithhistraumaticchildhood.Saulchoosesthirteenashisnumberinchapter23,whichstickswithhimthroughoutthenovel.Thoughhesayshechoosesit“becausenooneelsewantedit”(89),italsoclearlycarriestheconnotationofmarkinghimasunlucky.Thoughheplaysbrilliantly,hisunfortunatepastisstampedontohim,evenduringthegamethat’smeanttoofferhimanescapefromhischildhoodunpleasantness.Chapter23isalsowhereSaulfirstsaysthatthewhiteplayers‘thinkit’stheirgame’(92)afterheisbarredfromcontinuingtoplaywiththem.Inchapter24,SaulfirstmeetsFredKellyandisofferedtheopportunitytoplayintheNativetournaments.FredoffersSaul’sfirstopportunitytoreconcilehisNativeidentityandloveofhockeyoutsideofSt.Jerome’s.LivingwiththeKellysrepresentsSaul’sfirstshotat‘Arealhome’(95).FatherQuinneyagreestoletSaulgobecausehebelievesthathistalentisaGod-givengift.MuchlikeFatherLeboutilier,whosaysthathockeyis‘God’sgame’(92),FatherQuinneyequatesSaul’stalentwithhisChristianGod,whileSaulrepeatedlyimpliesthatmuchofhisskillisderivedfromtheabilitytoseehowplayswillworkoutandhowplayerswillmove—his“vision.”Sincethebeginningofthebook,Saulhaslabeledthisvisionasanextensionoftheoldways—andcentraltohisIndian,ratherthanChristian,values.OncewiththeMoose,Saulseeshownativeidentityandapassionforhockeycanmix.Whereasheisoutofplaceonwhiteteams,ontheMoose,hisNativeidentityfeedsintohistalent.Saulsays:“Wecamefromanationofwarriors,andthesuddenflinging


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downofsticksandgloves,thewildpunchesandwrestlingwereextensionsofthatidentity”(110).Andthoughtheyaredeniedthetrappingsofhockey(benches,indoorarenas,scoreboards),thesenseofcommunitytheirversionofthegamecreatesisunparalleled.Theteamishousedwithfamilies,proudtohavethem,andthecrowdsarecomprisedon“thehardiestandmostdevotedfansyoucouldeverwishfor”(110).OntheMoose,Saulisabletofeelwhatitistoplayforthejoyofit,asanextensionofhimselfratherthananescapefromhispain.It’swhileplayingwiththeMoosethatFatherLeboutilierunexpectedlyshowsup.IntellingSaulthathe’sfree,he’sactuallyrepresentinghowSaul’spastwillcontinuetohaunthim,inthiscaseliterally.Justashe’sinhismostcomfortableandaccomplishedposition,apieceofthehellofJerome’scomestotellhimhe’sfree,butremindhimthathe’snotyetfreeofhimselfandhismemories.

Chapter29-36Chapter29SummaryAtagameinFebruary,whiteguysshowupuncharacteristicallyandinvitetheMoosetoplayagainsttheirteaminanexhibitiongame.TheycomefromtheKapuskasingChiefs,lastyear’sleaguechampions.Saulishesitant,duetohisexperiencewithtownteams,butagreesduetohisteammates’enthusiasmforthematch.Chapter30SummaryTheteamarrivesatthearena,whichisbrandnewandfulloftrophiesandphotographs.Unliketheshedsintheirnormaltournaments,theyhavealargedressingroomwithcubiclesforeachplayer.Asusual,thecrowdlaughsuponseeingSaul,thoughnotforlong.TheChiefsscorefivegoalsrapidlybeforeSaulhaswatchedenoughtobeabletoseetherivalteam’spatternsandjointhegame.Saul’sspeedandforesightallowhimtoscoretheMoose’sfirstgoal.Bythefinalframe,thegameistiedfive-five.Asthegamewindsdown,Saulskateslikehe’sneverskatedbeforeand,astimeslows,takespossessionofthepuckand,seeingStuLittleChiefaloneofftothesideofthenet,makesahardpass,sealingthevictory.Asheisheadedtothedressingroompost-game,heisstoppedandnotifiedthatheis“firststar”ofthegame,likeinHockeyNightinCanada.Heisannouncedandwalksontotheicetocheersfromallsides.‘Better’nafrickingtrophyanytime,eh’saysVirgil(128).


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Chapter31SummaryAfterthevictoryagainsttheChiefs,wordgetsoutabouttheMooseand“everyonewantedtoplayus”(129).Theybegintotraveltotownsalmosteveryweekforgames.“Thegameswerealwaysevents,mostlybecausepeoplewerecurioustoseeifIndianscouldreallyskate,ifwecouldplaythegameright”(130).Previouslyacleangameforthem,therearenow“out-and-outbrawls”(131).Afteraparticularlydirtymatch,“garbageraineddownonus.Agroupofthempissedandshatinourdressingroom.Thetireswereslashedonthevans”(131).Onenight,afterwinningatournament,theystopatacafé.Agroupofmensurroundtheirtablesandaccusethemofbeinguppity.Onemansays:‘Youwannaeathereyougottafightforit’(134)andsaysthattheywilltakethemoutsideonebyoneandbrawl.Thementakethemoutoneatatime,sparingSaulduetohissizeandage.Theycomebackbloodiedandrank.Hoursintotheirdriveback,Virgiladmitsthattheypissedonthem.Theyvownottotell,“Butthereweremomentswhenyou’dcatchanotherboy’seyeandknowthatyouwereboththinkingaboutit.Everythingwascontainedinthatglance.Allthehurt.Alltheshame.Alltherage”(136).Chapter32SummaryAfterthisincident,Saulnoticesthesmallmarksofracism:howthereareemptyrowsbetweenIndianandwhitespectators,howwhiteplayersdon’tremovetheirglovestoshakehands,andtheseparateentrancetheIndiansused.TheMooseareinvitedtoplayagainstrepeatchampionstheLumberKingsinEspanola,whereonlythebestteamswereinvitedtoplay.Whilethetournamentbeginswithaneasywin,theOwenSoundClippersplayroughandcontinuallyhitSaulsothathecanbarelyskate.Thoughheisencouragedtohitback,herefuses.Buttheefficacyofthisroughstrategyspreadstootherteams,andSaulspendstherestofthetournamentgettingcheckedandhit.Thecrowd’sanimosityissohighthattheyrainspittleontheMoose.Thoughthepressureishigherthanever,Saul“wouldnotsurrender[his]visionofthegame.[He]wouldnotletgoof[his]dreamofit,thefreedom,thereleaseitgave[him],thejoythegamegave”(143).Herefusestofight,butisdriventoreclaimthegame.Chapter33SummaryTheyendupwinningthetournament,trainingSaulhowtohandleviolentmatchesandreceivingamoundofpress.“Therewassomethinginthenegativityfromthecrowdsandtheotherteamsthatdroveus,”(145)hestates.Soonafterthefloodofpress,a


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strangewhitemanbeginsappearinginthestands.Peoplegossipabouthimbeingascout.AfteragameheentersthedressingroomandspeakstoVirgil,whotellsSaulthathisnameisJackLanahanandthatheisascoutfortheLeafsandwouldliketotalktoSaulaboutplayingintheNHL.Chapter34SummarySaulmeetsLanahaninthestands.HesayshecangetSaulatry-outwiththeTorontoMarlboros,aMajorJuniorAandfeederclubfortheMapleLeafs.Saulisresistant.‘Whiteice,whiteplayers’(149)hesays.Lanahansaysthatgreatplayers‘becomeonewiththegameanditliftsthemupandoutoftheirlivestoo’(150)andthatSaulseesthegame‘fromadifferentkindofplane’(150).Chapter35SummaryIttakesthreeweeksbeforeSauliscorneredbyfourofhisteammates.Theytellhimhehastogo.AsErnieJacksays,‘I’mworkinggraveyardinthefuckingmineandIbeentheresinceIwassixteen.I’llbethereuntilitkillsmeorI’mtoofuckingold.Iain’tgotnoout…Butsomeonereacheddownandputlightningboltsinyourlegs,Saul.Someoneputthunderinyourwristshotandeyesinthebackofyourfuckinghead.Youweremadeforthisgame.Soyougottagivethisashotforallofuswho’renevergonnagetoutofManitouwadge’(153).Virgilsaysheoweshimbecausehe’stheonewholethimintotheMooseinthefirstplace.Chapter36SummarySaulplaysouttheseasonandagreestogototheMarlborotrainingcampthenextfall.Inthemeantime,hecontinuestotrainwithVirgil,addingmoremuscletohisframe.VirgilsaysthatSaul’slikeabrothertohimandthat‘hockeyiswhat[Saulwas]sentheretodo’(157).VirgilsayshecancomebackanytimeandSaulleavesonaGreyhoundbustoToronto.Chapter29-36AnalysisThereveriewiththeMooseisshort-lived,andsoonenough,whiteplayerswanttochallengethemagain.Saulagainexpresseshesitation,butagreestoplayforhisteammates.“Ididn’twanttheMoosetofail.Ididn’twantthemcomingbackdefeated,bearingthememoryofabattlethey’reneverhadachancetowin”(120).


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Pridecertainlyplaysaroleinacceptingthechallenge,alongwithasenseofcommunity.Saulharborsbitternessforthewhiteplayers’jealousguardingofhisbelovedgame,andwantstoshowthemthatanIndianteamisjustas,ifnotmore,skilled.ThefirstwhiteteamtheMooseplayagainstisnamedtheKapuskasingChiefs—anIndiannameforawhiteteam.However,theexperiencecouldnotbemoredifferentthantheNativeleagues.ThenewnessofthearenaanddisciplineoftheplayerscontrastswiththegameSaulandhisteammatesplaybasedinjoyandintuition.WhileSaulmakesgoalsofhisown,importantly,itishispassesthatsealthewinfortheMoose.Saul’sgameisteamandcamaraderie-based,andthoughhecouldscoremoreonhisown,thenovelrepeatedlymakesreferencetohisskillasapasser,ateamplayer.Evenbeforetheirfirstexhibitiongame,Saulnotesthatpracticesbecomemoresolemn,lessfun.Andasthegamesstackup,thereis“lessjoyinthetrips”(129).TheybeginexperiencingtheracismthatwouldcometodefineSaul’sexperienceinwhiteleagues.“TheMoosewentfromjubilantboystohard,taciturnmeninnotimeatall”(130).ThoughSaulhimselfescapestheviolenceinDevon,hissecond-handexperiencestillprimeshimforviolence.Everywhereheandhisteammatesturn,theyexperiencerage,humiliation,andscorn.AndasVirgilsays,themeninDevon‘diditsilently.Likeitwasaneverydaything’(136).Thoughtheeverydayracismmakesithard,atthispointSaulresolvesnottobecomeviolent,andtosticktohisversionofthegame.Infact,hesays“somethinginthenegativityfromthecrowdsandtheotherteamsdroveus…Wepushedourselvestoexcel,toshowthemthatthegamebelongedtoustoo”(145),butforthefirsttime,inthegrotesquenessoftheirtreatmentandhisownanger,hestartstolosethevisionthathadguidedhisplaysincethebeginning.OncethescoutarrivesandoffersSaultheopportunitytostrivefortheNHL,heisonceagaindismissiveandhesitanttoplaythegametheirway:‘Whiteice,whiteplayers,’(149)hetellsLanahan.Butoncemore,herelentsonbehalfofhisteammates.‘…yougottagivethisashotforallofuswho’renevergonnagetoutofManitouwadge,’(153)ErnieJacktellshim.


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Asheleavesfortrainingcamp,Virgiltellshimthathe’slikeabrothertohim.Saulmentionshehadabrother,andisaskedabouthim,butrefusestoopenup.Still,givenopportunitiestotalk,andtocometotermswithhispast,herefuses,choosingsilenceinstead.

Chapter37-39Chapter37SummaryTorontoisveryunfamiliar.A“madjumbleofspeed,noiseandpeople…Therewasnothingwild”(158).ThecoupleheisbilletedwitharetheSheehans:Patrick,anex-player,andElissa.Attrainingcampheistheonlybrownfaceandisroundlyignoredbytheotherplayers.Onlythreeofthirtyplayerswillbechosenfortheteambutthetalentedplayersaroundhim“made[him]reachdeeper,fightharder,skatemoredeliberately”(160).Chapter38SummarySaulmakestheteamandtruststheabilityofhisteammates,makinghispasses“thesolderthatwelded[their]attackstogether”(162).Unfortunately,Saulremainsanoutsidertobothhisteammatesandaudiences.Thepresscovershisplaywithracistterms,sayingheis“takingscalps”or“countingcoup.”Ashesays:“Iwantedtorisetonewheights....Buttheywouldn’tletmebejustahockeyplayer.IalwayshadtobetheIndian”(164).AsinOntario,hebeginstobecheckedandhitfrequentlyandinonegame,snaps.Aplayerfromtherivalteamslasheshimbehindthekneesandhepuncheshimintheface.Hisgamechanges.Hebecomesapuckhog,andcontinuallygetsinfights.Hesayshe’sgivingthepeoplewhattheywant,andthoughheplayswell,healsospendsanenormousamountoftimeinthepenaltyboxandisultimatelybenchedcompletely.Afterspendingasinglenightinthestands,hetakesabusbacktoManitouwadge.Chapter39SummarySaulrecountsthestoryofayoungpairofsistersatSt.Jerome’s.TheyoungersisterisscaredofthenunsandtriestoruntohersisterRebeccaforcomfort,whichgetshersenttothebasementandtheIronSister.Rebecca,whiletryingtoprotectheryoungsibling,alsoendsupgettingputintheIronSisteraspunishment.Whilethere,her


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youngersisterdiesmysteriouslyinhersleep.RebeccastandsintheIndianyard,singinganOjibwaymourningsongand,beforeanyonenoticesshehasaknife,stabsherselfinthebellyanddies.Everyonesingsthemourningsongintheirforbiddentongue.Chapter37-39AnalysisNothingaboutSaul’slifeinTorontoiscomfortableorfamiliar,anditholdsnoneofthesenseofhomethathefoundinManitouwadge.Thecityitselfhasnowildnesstoanchorhim,thewayhisshorttimeatGodsLakeorstolenmomentsatSt.Jerome’shad.Andwhiteplayers,awhitehostfamily,andwhitecrowdsurroundhim.Thoughhemaintainshisstatusasateamplayerandexpertpasser,infactsaying,“Mypasseswerethesolderthatweldedourattackstogether,”(162)heisneveracceptedbyhisteammates.Atfirsttheyshowindifference,which“hurtalotmore”(163)thanmeanness.Whiletheydon’tshowracism,theyonlyrefertohimashisnumber,andthenmoveawayfromhimonthebenchfornotretaliating.Andoncehebeginsfightingandhoggingthepuck,heandtheteamrejecteachother.Whileatfirsthestillfeelsthejoyofthegameduetothehighlevelofplay,itdoesn’tlast.Chapter38iswhenhefinallybreaks.Theendlesstauntingfromplayers,crowds,andpress,thedistillationofhimdowntohisethnicitymakeshimsnap.“IfhockeyhadbeentheonlyarenainwhichIwastested,Iwouldhavewoninarout.Butitwasn’t”(161).Justashehadbeentrappedbetweenhiswhiteness(bookishness,passionforawhiteman’sgame)andIndianness,hefindshimselftrappedbetweenhisidealofthegameandeveryone’sexpectations.He’stiredoftheinsults,thestereotyping,andtheisolation.Whenhegetsinhisfirstfight,hesacrificesthejoyfulgamethatprovidedhisescapetofullyinhabithisownsenseofrageathispast,andthecontinuedracismthatemphasizeshislackofbelonging.“Thatwastheendofanysemblanceofjoyinthegameforme….Iwantedthegametoliftmeup.Tomaketheworlddisappearasitalwayshad.ButasaMarlboro,IcouldnevershakebeingtheIndian,”(165)hesays.Hockeyfinallystopsofferinghimanescapefromhispain.Inlosingthejoy,hissacredvision,andthesenseofcommunityhefoundwiththeMoose,itlosesallhealingandtranscendentpowersandallheisleftwithistherageoverhisdifficultyouth,exacerbatedbytheracismandrejection.


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Chapter39’sshortanecdote(seeminglyoutofnowhere)describingtheexperienceofwatchingahorriblesceneofviolenceandmourningunfoldatSt.Jerome’soffersahintofapathwayforwardforSaul.WhileRebeccaisunabletosurvive,theOjibwaymourningsongshesingscarriestherestofthechildrenthrough.Itisanexampleofhowtradition,theoldways,andasenseofcommunitycancarrysomeonethroughadversity,andhelphealabrokenspirit.

Chapter40-48Chapter40SummaryVirgilaskswhySauldoesn’ttryfortheNHL,givenhishighscoringrecord,butSaulinsiststhathejustwantstoplaythegamethewayheusedto.Virgilinsistshe’sbornformore,butSaulprotests.Chapter41SummaryFredgetsSaulajobonaforestrycrew.HeworkshardandgetsshippedtoaloggingcamponNagagamiLake.Hefeelsathomeamongthebush,butnotamongthewhitecrew.Theycallhimnamesbuthestaysseparate,readingandworking,whichtheytakeforhigh-mindedness.Heisthensubjectedtotheleastdesirablejobs,likecleaningouthousesbut“themoretheytriedtoexhaust[him],theharder[he]worked…allwithoutsayingaword”(174).OnenightamannamedJorgensonlevelsacruelgestureathimandswingsafistathisface.Saulsnaps,grabbinghimbythethroatandchokinghimuntilhiseyesbugoutandhedropstothefloor.Hefinishesbypunchinghimwitheverythinghehad.Theyneverbotherhimagain.Chapter42SummarySaulbringsthissameviolentintensitybacktotheMoose.“Therewasnolivelybanteronthebench…nojoyinthegamenow,novision…Ipouredoutablacknessthatconstantlyrefueleditself”(176).Histeammatesstoptalkingtohim,andheknowsthatheisbeyondthem,theteams,andthegame.Chapter43SummaryTheyearheturnseighteen,heleavesManitouwadge.Hehasnoplan,justneedstoleave.Ashesays,“thebushhadceasedtobeahaven.Avacantfeelingsatwherethe


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beginningsofmyhistoryhadoncebeen.Thatpartofmyselfwasatalelongdead,onethatheldnothingforme.”Virgilsayshe’srunning.‘I’mnotdisappearing,’saysSaul.Virgilretorts,‘Seemstomeyoualreadydid’(178).Chapter44SummarySauldrivesfromtowntotown,findingshort-termmanuallaborjobs.He’sstillconsumedbyrage,butnowrefusestoreact,insteadlosinghimselftothegruntwork.Hedoesn’tmakefriendswiththefellowworkers,butcomestomissthebanter,andstartseatingmealsintaverns.Atfirsthejustlistens,buteventuallystartsdrinking,saying“whenIdidtheroaringinmybellycalmed.InalcoholIfoundanantidotetoexile.Imovedoutofthebackgroundtobecomeajoker,araconteur”(181).Hetellsmade-upstoriesadaptedfromallthebookshewaslostinasakid.Inplayingthesecharacters,heloseshimself.Soonenough,however,hegetslosttothedrinkandbecomessullenagain,andtrulyinthegripofalcohol.Heturnstodrinkingallthetime,measuringoutboozetomakeitthroughhisdays.“Itwasadimworld.Thingsglimmered,nevershone”(181).Chapter45SummarySaulendsupbackinnorthernOntario,nearReddittwherehisbrotherhadfoundhisfamilysolongago.Atfirsthebreaksrocksataquarry,butworkrunsout.Herunsoutofmoneyandgetsdeepintodrink.Onedayatabar,amancomesuptohimandaskstodrinkwithhim.HisnameisErvinSift,andhetakesSaulin,immediatelynursinghimthroughathree-dayhangover.Hedoesn’taskanyquestions,butsimplytakesSaulinasaworker.Hecutsanddeliversfirewood,andstaysinaspareroom.Ervin,awidowerwithoutchildren,isgoodtoSaul.Chapter46SummarySaulandErvinbecomefriends,though“thereweremoresilencebetween[them]thanwords”(185).Saulreferstohimasan“angel,”butthissimplelifeisnotenoughtogetridofthe“bleakness”(186)inside.Hebeginsdrinkingagain,andthoughpartofhimwantstoopenuptoErv,abiggerpart“simmeredwitharage[he’d]neverlost”(187).He“couldn’truntheriskofsomeoneknowing[him],because[he]couldn’ttaketheriskofknowing[himself]”(187).Sohepacksupandleavesagain.


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Chapter47SummarySaulendsupinthehospitalfromdrinking.Hesuffersseizuresandcollapses.Theyhavetostraphimdownduetothewithdrawalterrors.Ittakeshimdaystorecover.AsocialworkertellshimabouttheNewDawnCentreandheuncharacteristicallylistens.He’stoldanotherboutofdrinkinglikethatwouldkillhimsohegoestothecentre.Chapter48SummaryThoughhestopsdrinking,hedoesn’tfeelanygreathealingpower.Hetakestowalkinginthebushagaintotryandfindsolace.Onenighthewandersoffandwatchesafamilyofbeaversandfallsasleepinthewoods.Heisawokentoamoaningsound,whichturnsintoanOjibwaysong.Heseesahumanfigurefloatingtowardhim,followedbyahorse.Whenitcomesintofocusheseesthatitishisgreat-grandfather,theoriginalIndianHorse.Hethenseestherestofhisfamily:hisfather,mother,brother,aunt,uncle,andgrandmother.Theyretreat,singinganOjibwaysong.Heknowsthatheneedstoleaveagain,butthistimeknowswhereheneedstogo.Chapter40-48AnalysisSaulcontinuestofallapart.NotevenManitouwadgecanofferhimenoughcomfortorcommunitytoworkthroughtheragebubblingjustunderthesurface.Thoughhelikesthestrainofthemanuallabor,andthelandofferscomfort,hisinteractionswithhiswhiteco-workersstrainhim.JustlikewiththeMarlboros,wherehesayshecouldhavesucceededhaditjustbeenhockey,heretooheinsiststhathewouldhavebeenokayexceptforhisco-workers.Thoughtheracismandhazingheexperienceswouldsurelyrattleanyone,itseemsmorelikelythathisrepressedpainhasmadehimatickingtimebomb,andevenifthingshadbeenperfect,thatragewouldhavedisplayeditselfeventually.And,astheinevitablecomestopass,eventheMoosenolongeroffersanycamaraderieorjoy.Saulloseshisvisionandpassionforthegame,andleavestocontinuehisdownwardspiral.AsSaulsays,“Ipouredoutablacknessthatconstantlyrefueleditself”(176).Ashesetsoutasatravelingworker,eventhebushstopsofferingcomfort,withSaulinsistingthat“Avacantfeelingsatwherethebeginningsofmyhistoryhadoncebeen.Thatpartofmyselfwasatalelongdead,onethatheldnothingforme”(177).Here


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again,thenarratorisabitunreliable.Itsoonbecomesclearthatonlybyreconnectingwithandreconcilingthatpastcanhemovepastthatemptiness,andtheragethathethreatenedto“collapseundertheweightof”(179).Thoughhemanagestoavoidviolencetodealwithhisrage,heturnstoalcoholclearlyinanattempttoeasethedenseemotionsthreateningtoabsorbhim.Wherehepreviouslyfoundescapeintraditionandtheoldways,hockey,andnature,allofthesehaveslowlylosttheirabilitytocomfort,andonlyalcoholoffershimtheabilitytogetdistancefromhisemotions.ErvrepresentsSaul’slastopportunitytotrytoregaincontrolofhislife.He’sgivenfriendship,nature,andafreshstart.Butthepaindrivinghimremainsunresolved.Hedoesn’tseizetheopportunitytoopenuptoErvandlearntocometotermswithhishistory.“Icouldn’truntheriskofsomeoneknowingme,becauseIcouldn’ttaketheriskofknowingmyself,”(187)asSaulsays.OnlyinhittingrockbottomandgettingtreatmentdoesSaulbegintoheal.Ultimately,itisavision,aconnectionwithhisancestorsandhispeople,whichconvinceshimtodothelegworkheneedstofacehispainfulpast.

Chapter49-56Chapter49SummarySaulreturnstoWhiteRiver,andthehuskofSt.Jerome’s.Itislongclosed,crumblingandvandalized.Hegoestovisitwheretherinkusedtobe.It’snowjustapadofearth.Ashekneelstotouchit,amantellshimhecan’tbethereandletshimknowtheschoolhadclosedin1969,aftermostofthekidshadrunaway.Theman’snameisJimGibney.HeallowsSaultostayandtakehistimeattheruinsofhisoldschool.Rememberinghisgamesattherink,hebeginstocry.Andsuddenly,heremembers.AllthetimesthatFatherLeboutilierheldhimclose,cradledhim,andkissedhim.Howdesperatehewasforloveandaffection.HowtheFatherwouldwhisper‘You’reaglory,Saul’(199)thenightshesnuckintothedorm.Howheperpetratedthose“nighttimeinvasions”inthedarkofthedormandthebarn.Howhegavehimtheice-cleaningjobtokeephimcomplacentandquiet.Howthegamekepthimfromremembering,fromfocusingonit.AsSaulsays:“Ihadruntothegame.Runtoitandembracedit,doneanythingthatwouldallowmetogettothatavenueofescape.That’swhyIplayedwithabandon.Toabandonmyself”(199).Theracismhe


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encounteredashemovedtohigherlevelsofplaytookthatprotectionawayfromhim,broughtthememoriesclosertothesurface,threatenedtounburythem.Chapter50SummarySaulbusestoKenoraandrentsaboattotravelouttoGodsLake.Onhisway,hestopstocampandfeelsa“hollowache”(202)inhisbelly.Heletsoutanancientmoan,and,rememberinghowFatherLeboutiliertoldhimhewasfree,hefliesintoarage.Hewasn’tfree;FatherLeboutilierwas“hiscaptor,thewarderof[his]innocence”(202).Hekicksatrootsandtakesahatchettoastumpbeforecrashingathiscamp.Chapter51SummaryHemakesittoGodsLake,whereit’slikeheneverleft.Hestates:“Theangstinmybellydisappeared.Mythoughtscleared.IwalkedinapeaceIcouldnotrecallhavingexperiencedbefore”(204).Hecloseshiseyesandagainhearshisnamewhispered,onlytoopenthemtoseecanoesfullofhisfamilyfloatingtowardhim,includinghisgreat-grandfather,Shabogeesick.HetellsSaul:“You’velearnedtocarrythisplacewithinyou.Theplaceofbeginningsandendings”(205).Hehearshisancestorsandfamilysinging,andweeps,mourning.Chapter52SummarySaulreturnstotheNewDawnCentretotalk,tolearntomanagehissadnessandragewithoutdrink.Afterspendingwinterthere,hereturnstoFredKelly’shouse.Withoutdirectlyaddressingitatfirst,FredandMarthaacknowledgethattheyknewaboutSaul’sexperiences,guessedthetraumaheexperiencedattheschool,astheyhadexperiencedittoo.Saulasksdirectly,‘Didtheyrapeeveryone?’(210).It’sthefirsttimehediscussestheactopenly,withouteuphemism.Heexplainsthathe’scomebackasit’stheonlyplacehe’sfeltthatbuildingalifeispossible.Chapter53SummarySaulopensupabouthisexperienceswithFatherLeboutilierandtalkstoFredandMarthaabouthowthegamebecamehismeansofsurvival.Hetellsthemheintendstocoach.TheytellhimthatVirgil’slookingforacoachforthemine’sbantamteam.


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Chapter54SummarySaulshowsuptoapractice,watchingVirgilandhisteamfromhighinthestands.Hemovescloser,eventuallyinchingbehindhimtocommentonapromisingplayer.Virgiladmitsthathewantedtopunchhimwhenheranaway.Theyagreetomeetupafterpracticeandtalk.Chapter55SummarySaultellsVirgilaboutFatherLeboutilierandhistimeasadrunk.Virgilcries,sayinghewantstopunishthepriestsandnunsforwhatthey’vedonetohisfamilyandfriend.Virgilsaysthattheteamhisoldteammatesareon,theMiners,couldusehim,butSaulsayshewantstocoachtoreclaimthejoyofthegame.Ashesays:‘youreclaimthingsthemostwhenyougivethemaway’(218).VirgiltellshimthatmanyoftheplayersfromtheMoosegettogetherforshinnywhentheiceisfree,andthatthey’redoingsothatnight.Chapter56SummarySaulspendsanhouraloneontheicebeforeeveryoneshowsus,reacquaintinghimselfwiththegame.Energized,hesays,“Iunderstoodthenthatwhenyoumissathingitleavesaholethatonlythethingyoumisscanfill”(219).Virgil,Fred,andMarthaappear.Virgilsaystheguysarethere,andthensome.Fiveofhisoldteammatesappear,andbehindthemacollectionofkids,younggirls,andwomen.Theysplitintoteamsandplayforthefunofit.Chapter49-56AnalysisWhenSaulfinallyuncoversthememoryofhisrapeandmolestation,heandthenarrationbecomemorefrank,clear.SaulrecountshowthephysicalaffectionFatherLeboutilierbestowedwasadirectreplacementforthefamiliallovehe’dlost—howhewassodesperateforthatfeelingagain:“IlovedtheideaofbeinglovedsomuchthatIdidwhatheasked”(199).FatherLeboutilierpreyedonthisneed,andgavehimhockeytokeephimdistracted,complacent.Whenitbecamehisescape,itallowedhimtoforgettheabuse,toexperiencesomethingphysicalthatalsoconnectedhimtohistraditionwithhisvisions.However,astheracismtookhisescapismaway,heturnedtoviolencetoblockhismemories,untilthatbecamereplacedwithalcohol.


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InhisreturntoGodsLake,Saulisabletoreconnectwithhispastandbegintomournandhealwithoutalcohol,violence,orevenhockey.Asthevisionofhisgreat-grandfathersays,hecomesto‘learntocarrythisplacewithinyou.Thisplaceofbeginningsandendings’(205).Indeed,thisplacewherehefirstsawavisionandfirstfeltconnectedtotheearthisabletogivehimapeacehe’dneverexperienced.And,whenheseestheshiningfaceoftherinkinthemoon,heknowsthathockeyisindeedstillconnectedtohisgift;tohispastandhistradition.Thevisionhelpshimcleansehimselfofallofthelonelinessandregret,andallowshimtoseethatheisbothneveralone,andcanreconnectwithhockeyforthejoyitusedtobe,andtheprofoundcomfortitcanprovide,withoutneedingittoovercomeallofhisunresolvedpain.WhenSaulgoesbacktoFredandMartha’s,theyprovideabridgeforhimfromhisoldlifetothefuture.TheytooexperiencedthehorrorsofSt.Jerome’s,buthavemadealifeforthemselves.Inspeakingtothemhereferstoitas“rape”forthefirsttime.Whereasbeforehisexperiencesweredescribedwithinnuendoandeuphemism,thenarrationandSaulbegintoopenup,anddescribehisexperiencesforwhattheyactuallywere.Henolongersugarcoatsoravoids.Still,Fredemphasizes,likethevisionofhisgreat-grandfather,thatitisajourneytoheal,butrepeatstheadviceSaulfirstgotfromhismidgetcoach,Levi:‘…keepyourstickontheiceandyourfeetmoving’(210).TimeanddistanceandSaul’snewfoundopennessofferhimawayforward.Saul’sdesiretocoachcomesfromhisknowledgethat‘youreclaimthingsmostwhenyougivethemaway’(218).Asthenovelconcludes,Saulgetsbackontheiceforthefirsttimeinfifteenyears,andstartssimply,withawadoftape.Thevariedgroupofplayersthatjoinhimemphasizethegame’sabilitytocreatecommunity,andSaul’sdiscoveryofanewcommunityandnewfamilyafterallofthoseyearsofrunning.


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MAJOR CHARACTER ANALYSIS

SaulIndianHorseSaulIndianHorseisthemaincharacterandnarratorofthenovel.HeiswritingitasaformoftherapywhileattheNewDawnCentretreatmentfacilityforhisalcoholism.Hebeginshislifelivinginthebush,afearofthewhitemaninstilledinhim.HethenlivesinvariousbordercampsandeventuallyinhisancestrallandofGodsLake,whereheexperienceshisfirstvision.Whenheleavesandhisgrandmotherdies,SaulistakentoSt.Jerome’sIndianResidentialSchool,whereheisanoutsiderduetothisfamiliaritywithEnglish.Onlywhenintroducedtohockeydoeshefeelanysenseofcomfortorcamaraderie,andhepracticeseveryday,covertlyatfirst,thenalongsidehisteammates.Hisvisionshelphimmasterthegame,enablinghimtoseepatternsandanticipateplays.Saulisuncomfortableplayingwhiteteams,butisaskedtodosooverandoverduetohisskill.Whenhegetsshunnedduetoracism,atfirstheissteadfastinmaintaininghisidealofthegame,buteventuallyrelentsandbecomesviolent,unabletoescapehisrageathispainfulchildhood.Whenhockeystopsprovidingescapism,heturnstomanuallaborandnatureand,eventually,alcohol.Thoughgivenchancestoopenup,heal,andstartagain,Saulisunabletoopenup,eventohimself,andkeepsretreatingfurtherandfurtherfromothers.Finally,aftergettinghospitalized,hegoesintotreatmentand,afterreceivingavisionofhisancestors,understandsthatheneedstorevisittheplacesofchildhoodinordertoheal.AttheruinsofSt.Jerome’s,heuncoverstherepressedmemoryofhisrapeandmolestationatthehandsofFatherLeboutilier,whichherealizesiswhyheusedhockeytoescape,andwhyheturnedtoviolenceandalcohol.AfterahealingvisittoGodsLake,heisabletoreturntoManitouwadge,theonlyplacethatofferedhimarealsenseofhome,andhopestoteachinordertoreclaimandpassonthepurejoyofthegamenowunmarredbyhispainfulpast.

ShabogeesickShabogeesickisSaul’sgreat-grandfather.Hewasaseer,andthefirsttointroducehorsestohispeople.HeoftenappearsinSaul’svisions.


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NaomiNaomi,Saul’sgrandmother,isstillconnectedtotheoldways.Shederidestheschool,andstrivestoprotectSaulandhisfamilyfromthewhiteman.ItisonherinsistencethattheygoandsettleinGodsLake.SheclasheswithSaul’smother,father,aunt,anduncleoverreligion—theyinsistonpracticingChristianityandgivingBenjaminaChristianburial,whileNaomiwantstohonorhimintheoldway.ShegivesherlifetoSaulwhentheytravelawayfromGodsLaketoescapethewinter,coveringhiminhershawlandcarryinghimwhenhecollapses.

BenjaminBenjaminisSaul’sbrother.Atfouryearsold,heiscapturedbythewhitemanandsentofftotheschool.Herunsawayandreturnsafewyearslater,thinandwithacough.Hediesafteradayofintensephysicalexertioninhelpingwiththericeharvest.

Saul’smother,father,auntanduncleTheotheradultsinSaul’slifepracticeChristianity,andgetconsumedbyalcoholafterhisbrotherBenjamin’sdisappearance.TheyleaveGodsLaketogivehimaChristianburialandneverreturn.

FatherGastonLeboutilierFatherLeboutiliercomestoSt.Jerome’sthesameyearasSaulandintroducesthechildrentohockey.Saulreferstohimashis“ally,”andFatherLeboutilieroftenhugshimandgiveshimencouragementandaffection.Asanadult,SauluncoversthememoryofbeingsexuallyabusedbyFatherLeboutilier,whopreyedonhisexcitementforhockeyanddesireforlove.

FredandMarthaKellyFredandMarthaarebothalumsofSt.Jerome’s,whonowliveinManitouwadgewhereFredcoachesatravelinghockeyteamcalledtheMoose.TheytakeSaulinandgivehimahome.Saulsaysthattheytreathimafriendratherthanachild.WhenSaulreturnsasanadult,FredandMarthaarethefirstpeopleoutsideofthecenterthathe


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opensuptoabouthisabuseandthey,havinggonetotheschoolthemselves,sympathize.

VirgilVirgilistheteenagedsonofFredandMartha,andcaptainoftheMoose.HehelpsSaulwithschool,andhelpshimtrain.Afterwinningatournament,Virgilandotherteammembersaretakenbehindacaféandbeatenupandurinatedonduetothembeing“uppity.”Eventually,VirgiltellsSaulthatheowesittohimtotryoutfortheTorontoMarlboros,asVirgil’stheonewhocleareditwiththeteamtolethimjointheMoose.VirgilsaysSaulislikeabrothertohim.WhenSaulleavesManitouwadgetotravelfromjobtojob,Virgilaccuseshimofrunning.Whenhefinallyreturnsattheendofthenovel,Virgilisthere,acoachnow,andtheytalkafterpractice,withVirgillisteningtohispastandarrangingforhimtoplayhisfirstgameinfifteenyears.

JackLanahanJackisascoutfortheMapleLeafswhooffersSaulthechancetotryoutfortheLeafsfeederteam,theMarlboros.

PatrickandElissaSheehanPatrick,anex-hockeyplayerandhiswife,Elissa,houseSaulwhenhelivesinTorontoandplaysfortheMarlboros.

ErvinSiftErvinisawidowerthatSaulmeetsinabarwhilehe’straveling.HenursesSaulthroughathree-dayhangoverandthenletshimstay,offeringhimaroomandworkgatheringanddeliveringfirewood.Saulreferstohimasan“angel,”butherefusestoopenuptohimandreturnstodrinking,eventuallylandinginthehospital.


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THEMES

TensionBetweenOldandModernWaysAsthebookbegins,Saulstatesthatwhenhewasborn,peoplestilltalkedintheoldway,butthathisgenerationcrossedaborder.Thehorse’steachingtoldbyhisgreat-grandfather,Shabogeesick,emphasizesthistension.Theteachingsaysthatachangewillcomeandscorchtheirlives,andtheymustlearntoridethehorsesofchange.Saul’sownexperienceofthistensionisplayedoutinhisownfamily.Hisgrandmother,Naomi,strivestokeepSaulawayfromthewhitemanandtheschool,andtellslegendsandsingsOjibwaysongs.Hisparents,however,callNaomi’sceremoniesblasphemy,andevenblameherinsistenceonreturningtoGodsLakeforBenjamin’sdeath.Saul’smotheroutrightsays,“Thosegodsaredead”(32)afterBenjamindies.Saul,however,experiencestheoldwayspersonallythroughhisvisions.Heseeshisancestorsintheland,andiscomfortedbysnatchesoftheOldTalk.AtSt.Jerome’s,theyareforbiddenfromspeakingOjibway,andSaul’sfamiliaritywithEnglishmakeshimanoutcast.Theotherchildrencallhim“Zhaunagush,”thoughhefeelsnoconnectiontotheChristianreligionthatthepriestsandnunstrytoforceuponhim.Oneofthemostheart-breakingexamplesofthistensionplayingoutisinthevignetteinchapter13,wherethechildrenfindandcapturefish,butreleasethemastheyhavenowheretoprepareorcookthem.Theysleepsmellingthesmelloffishontheirhands.Saulandhisclassmateshavebeenforcedintoasterile,Christianenvironment,wheretheydonothavethetoolsoropportunitytolivethewaytheirancestorsdid,andthewaytheywereraisedto.It’sametaphorforhowthisgenerationofnativechildrenwasforciblypushedintomodern,Christiansociety.Deprivedoftheconnectiontonaturetheypreviouslythrivedon,theyareforcedintoregimentedsocietiesthatdonotvaluetheirskills,andtheyfeelisolatedanduseless.CommunicationVersusSilenceEarlyinthenovel,Saulwondersifspeakingoutwouldhavechangedthingsforhim.WhenhisparentsleavetoburyBenjamin,hesays:“SometimesIthinkthatifIhadyelledsomethingitwouldhaveallbeendifferent.Butnowordswereinme”(33).Inhindsight,hefeelstheweightofthatsilencebearingdown,butcandonothingbutregret.


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SaulisonlyabletosurviveatSt.Jerome’sbyisolatinghimself.Ashesays:“IlearnedthatIcoulddrawtheboundariesofmyphysicalselfinward,collapsethespaceIoccupiedandbecomeamote,aspeck,anindifferentatominitsownpeculiarorbit”(48-49).Healsoreferstothisstateashis“chrysalisofsilence”(49).Hisclassmateswhoengagemorewiththepriestsandnuns,andhaveattachmentstootherstudents,commitsuicideorgomad.Itbecomesthefirstofmanycopingmechanisms.EvenwhenhisteammatesareurinatedonandbeatupbythewhitemaninDevon,theyallagreenottocommunicateaboutit.Theirsilentglancessayplenty,butSaul,primedtokeeptohimself,evenfindskeepingsilentthepreferredmethodofdealingwithpainamonghisnewteammates.WhenheleavesforTorontoandVirgilsaysheislikeabrother,Saulsayshehadonebutthathenevertalksaboutit.Insteadofpressingfordetails,Virgilunderstands,saying:‘Mydadnevertalksabouttheschool….Momneither.Andtheydon’tsayanythingaboutwhathappenedbeforethat.Maybesomeonejustgaveyouachancetorubtheshitofftheboardonceandforall’(157).Virgilhaslearnedsecond-handthatsilencewasaskillonelearnedatSt.Jerome,anddoesn’tpushSaultoopenup.Alcoholgiveshimameansofopeningup,thoughit’swithotherpeople’sstories.Thoughhe’sbeentrainedtobestoic,hestillmissesthecamaraderieofthebenchafterhegivesuphockey.Soalcoholgiveshimameansofaccessingatalkativepartofhimselfheneverknew,evenifitisjustspittinglies.It’sonlyafteruncoveringthememoryofhisabuseandseekingtreatmentthatSaulisabletocommunicatehisownhistorywiththoseclosesttohim.FredandMarthaKellyaregiventosilence,evensaying‘Peopleputwaytoomuchstockinwords’(208)afterheappearsasanadult.However,hedoesopenuptothemandtellthemabouthisabuse.Heevenreferstoitfranklyasrapeforthefirsttime,insteadofspeakingineuphemismsorinsinuations.Fromthatpointon,heopensuptoVirgilaswell,andbeginstobemoreclear-headedabouthispastandfuture.


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PrideSaul’ssenseofpridebecomesanissuethedeeperhegoesintothewhitehockeyworld.Thoughheoriginallydoesn’tplaytoproveanythingtohimselforothers,bythetimehe’splayingintournamentswiththeMooseagainstwhiteplayers,peoplewerecurioustoseeifIndianscouldreallyskate,if[they]couldplaythegameright”andSaul“tookitas[his]personalresponsibilitytoshowthem”(130).HeandhisteammatesalsorefusetotalkabouttheassaultinDevon,inordertoavoidbecomingvictims.Saul’spridereallygetsthebestofhimwhenplayingfortheMarlboros.Insteadofrisingabovethetauntsandcriticism,hesnapsandfeedsintoit.Hebecomesafighterandapuckhogjusttoinfuriatethecrowdthathadmockedhim.Hisprideremainstoohightostayontheteamafterheisbenched,andforceshimtogiveuptheopportunitytoplayatthehighestlevel.Thoughcertainlytheracismandmicroaggressionswerefoisteduponhim,hereactsagainsttheminsteadofignoringthem.


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SYMBOLS AND MOTIFS

HorsesHorsesareacentralsymbolinthenovel.Saul’snamesake,thehorsebringstheteachingofthechangingwaystocome.AndonceSaulbeginsplayinghockey,theplayersarefrequentlydescribedinequineterms.Evenintheearliestdescriptionsoftheplayers,beforeSaulisallowedtoplay,hedescribestheplayersthusly:“Theirfacesburnedwithzealandjoyandtheirbreathingwasliketheexpelledairofmustangs”(67).Soonafter,asSaulisallowedtoplay,hedescribesofhisfirstsenseofbelongingamongplayersafterascrimmage:“Westoodtherelikestallionshomefromtherange”(71).EvenwhenSaulisfirstcovertlylearningthegame,hispuckstand-inisastackofhorseturds.Warriors/SoldiersHockeyplayersarefrequentlyreferredtoaswarriorsorsoldiers.BeforehebeginsplayingatSt.Jerome’s,Sauldescribestheotherplayersthusly:“Astheypumpedtheirlegsandswungtheirarmsinpursuitofthepuck,zippingbymeinablur,theywerewarrior-like”(67).ThiswarriornatureofthenativeplayersisemphasizedwhenSauljoinstheMoose,whoareabitmoreroughandtumble.AsSaulsays,“Wecamefromnationsofwarriors,andthesuddenflingingdownofsticksandgloves,thewildpunchesandwrestlingwereextensionsofthatidentity”(111).FredKellyreferstotheMooseasa‘warpartyonskates’(116).Saulhimselfbecomesawarrioragainsttheracismofthecrowdsandhisownhauntingpast.Heplaystopushagainstthestereotypesandtoprovetheracistcrowdswrong.ThesymbolisusedsolelyfornativeplayersuntilSauljoinstheMarlboros,whoseskillandprecisionearnthemthedescriptive.ThisisrightwhenSaullosesthepassionforthegame,therebypassingthewarriormonikertootherplayers.ThirteenSaultakesonthenumberthirteensupposedlybecausenooneelsewantsit,butitcarriesheavysymbolism.Notonlyisitgenerallyacceptedtobeunlucky,likeSaul,butalsoithasanumberofmoresymbolicmeanings.ItissaidthatJudasIscariotwasthethirteenthmantotakehisplaceattheLastSupper.Saulfirsttakesthenumberthirteenwhenhejoinshisfirstwhiteteam,and


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beginstolosethejoyofthegame.Hisjoiningtheirteamandchoosingthatnumbercouldrepresentaformofbetrayalcommittedagainsttheothernativeplayers.ThirteenisalsoasignificantnumberinNorsehistory,whichsaysthatwhenathirteenthgod(Loki)showsuptoabanquetuninvited,hekillsanothergod,whichleadstoRagnarok,orArmageddon.Injoininghisfirstwhiteteam,Saulbeginsthejourneytowardhisowndestruction.SpaceHockeyanditsplayersarealsooftenreferredtoinintergalacticlanguage.Whenhefirstwatchesthegamebeingplayed,Saulsaysthattheboys“hurtledlikecomets”(57).Later,hereferstothepuckasa“smallplanetinauniverseofwhite”(69).FatherLeboutiierevensays:‘Hockeyisliketheuniverse,Saul….Whenyoustandinthedarkandlookupatit,youseetheplacidfireofstars.Butifwewererightintheheartofit,we’dseechaos.Cometschurningby.Meteorites.Starexplosions’(84).Thegameiscontinuallyreferredtoinastrologicalterms,givingitasenseofimportanceandvastness.Anditemphasizesthatthegameislargerandmoreimportantthanitsplayers.Thespacelanguagealsooffersawaytoemphasizethegame’stranscendentnaturewithoututilizingthereligiouslanguagefoundinthelanguageofthepriestsandnuns.


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IMPORTANT QUOTES

1. ‘Agreatchangewillcome.Itwillcomewiththespeedoflightninganditwillscorchallourlives.ThisiswhatHorsesaidtomeunderthegreatbowlofsky.“ThePeoplewillseemanythingstheyhaveneverseenbefore,andIambutoneofthem.”(Chapter2,p.6)

ThisistheteachingthatSaul’sgreat-grandfather,Shabogeesick,receivesfromthehorsethathebringstotheirpeople.ItforeshadowsSaulandhisentiregeneration’sseparationfromtheoldways.

2. “Shewaslosttomethen.Icouldseethat.Shewasgauntanddrainedfromdays

ofweeping,atentofskinoverherbones.WhenBenjamindisappearedhecarriedapartofherawaywithhim,andtherewasnothinganyonecoulddotofillit.”(Chapter3,p.11)

Saul’smotherisunabletorecoverfromBenjamin’scapture.Afterlosingher

secondchild,shesuccumbstodrink,prefiguringSaul’sowndescentinto alcoholism.

3. “Itwasoddtoseetheexpressionsofagrownmanonaboy’sface.”(Chapter5,

p.16)WhenBenjaminescapestheschooltocomebacktothefamily,heisbroken.Hedoesnotdiscusswhathappenedattheschool,butheisthinandwary.This,too,presagesSaul’sownexperienceatSt.Jerome’s.

4. “Ireadoncethatthereareholesintheuniversethatswallowalllight,allbodies.

St.Jerome’stookallthelightfrommyworld.EverythingIknewvanishedbehindmewithanaudibleswish,likethesoundamoosemakesdisappearingintospruce.”(Chapter11,p.43)

ThisisSaul’sveryfirstdescriptionofSt.Jerome’s.Hepullsnopunchesinthisdescription.Rightaway,thereaderisprimedwiththemiserythatveryexplicitlyfollows.Aslaterbecomesclear,theschoolendeavorstoeraseeverythingIndianfromthestudents,therebytakingtheirlightandidentity.


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5. “IlearnedthatIcoulddrawtheboundariesofmyphysicalselfinward,collapsethespaceIoccupiedandbecomeamote,aspeck,anindifferentatominitsownpeculiarorbit.”(Chapter12,p.48-49)

SaullearnshowtoendureatSt.Jerome’sbyisolatinghimself.He’sonlyabletosurvivebybecomingasphysicallyandemotionallysmallaspossible.Whileithelpshimmakeitthroughalive,italsopreventshimfrombeingabletoopenuptoothersabouthistraumaticpastlaterinlife.

6. “Wewalkedwithourhandscuppedaroundournoses,breathinginthesmellof

thosefish,pushingtheslimeofthemaroundonourfaces.Wehadnoknivestocleanthem,flaythem.Wehadnofiretosmokethemover.Wehadnoplacetostorethem,nowaytokeepthem.Whentheylaygaspingonthegrass,itwasourselveswesawfightingforair.”(Chapter13,p.54)

Thisanecdoteshowcasesjusthowwrenchedthechildrenarefromtheiridentities.Likelovesickteenagersgazinglonginglyatanex’sforgottensweater,theyaredrawntothefish,butarepowerlesstodoanythingwiththem.They’vebeenstrippedoftheirroutines,andarejustseekinganysmallpieceofwhattheyonceknewtocomfortthem.And,likethefish,they’vebeentornfromtheirhabitatandaredrowningatSt.Jerome’s.

7. “IwouldfacethepictureofJesushungthereonthewall,mysalvationcoming

insteadthroughwoodandrubberandiceandthedreamofagame.I’dstandthere,armsheldhighintriumph,andIwouldnotfeellonelyorafraid,desertedforabandoned,butconnectedtosomethingfarbiggerthanmyself.”(Chapter16,p.62)

WhilethenunsandpriestsattempttoseparatethechildrenfromtheirIndianidentitiesinordertoreplaceitwithaChristianone,Saulembraceshockeyinsteadforasenseofsomethingbeyondhimself.

8. ‘Weneedmystery,’shesaid.‘Creatorinherwisdomknewthis.Mysteryfillsus

withaweandwonder.Theyarethefoundationsofhumility,andhumility,grandson,isthefoundationofalllearning.Sowedonotseektounravelthis.Wehonouritbylettingitbethatwayforever.’(Chapter17,p.65)


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Sauldoesnotknowwhyhecananticipateplayers’movesontheice,butembracesitaspartofhisgiftasaseer.Andhissurrenderingtothemysteryoftheicegiveshimthepowertoslowtimeinordertoperfectskillsandembracehisgift.

9. “I’dneverheardfrommyparents.Maybetheycouldn’tfindme.Maybetheir

shameoverabandoningusinthebushwastoogreat.Ormaybethedrinkhadtakenthemoveraseasilyashockeyhadclaimedme.SomenightsIfeltcrippledbytheacheofloss.ButIknewthatlonelinesswouldbedispelledbythesheenoftherinkinthesunlight,thefeelofcoldaironmyface,thesoundofawoodenstickshufflingfrozenrubber.”(Chapter19,p.73)

HockeyoffersescapismnotjustfromhiscurrentpainatSt.Jerome’s,buthispasttraumaandabandonment.

10. “Therewerenogradesorexaminations.Theonlytestwasourabilityto

endure.”(Chapter21,p.79)

ThechildrenatSt.Jerome’sareusedmoreascheaplaborthanstudents.Theyspendonlyanhoureachdayonlessons,andareperpetuallypunishedinhorribleways.Theyeitherdie,orlearnhowtocopetosurvive.ForSaul,thismeanshockeyandrepression.

11. “Thegamebroughtustogetherinawaythatnothingelsecould,andplayers

andfansalikehuddledagainstwhateverwinterthrewatus.Wecelebratedeverygoal,everyhit,everypass.”(Chapter26,p.110)

Saul’sgameswiththeMooserepresentedhispurestexperienceofthejoyandspiritofthegame.Itcreatedasenseofcommunity,throughthefamiliesthathousedthem,totheenthusiasmofthecrowd.Thoughhehadlosthisfamily,withtheMoosehewassurroundedandsupportedbyteammatesandsupportivefans.

12. ‘Yougosomewherewhenyou’reontheice,’Virgilsaidtomeafteronepractice.

‘It’slikewatchingyouwalkintoasecretplacethatnooneelseknowshowtogetto.”(Chapter27,p.115)

Saul’scloserelationshipwithVirgilmeansthatVirgilcanintuitthathockeymeansmoretohimthanjustagame.But,untilSaulcomestotermswithhispast,he’s


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unabletoopenupabouthisexperiencesandcontinuestousetherinkasanescape.

13. “TheMoosewentfromjubilantboystohard,taciturnmeninnotimeatall.”

(Chapter31,p.131)

MuchlikeSaul’sbrotherBenjamin,theMoose’sinteractionwithracismintherinkturnstheirboyishjoyintoadulthardness.Thejoytheyexperiencedplayingfortheirowncommunitiesisslowlydrainedoutofthembyhostileandviolentcrowds.

14. “Butthereweremomentswhenyou’dcatchanotherboy’seyeandknowthat

youwereboththinkingaboutit.Everythingwascontainedinthatglance.Allthehurt.Alltheshame.Alltherage.Thewhitepeoplethoughtitwastheirgame.Theythoughtitwastheirworld.”(Chapter31,p.126)

ReactingtotheviolenceandhumiliationatDevon,theboysrefusetocommunicateaboutit,muchlikeSaulhimselfuntilhegoesthroughtreatment.Theyhavetoomuchpridetobeseenasvictims,butarenotbeyondcommiseratingsilentlywitheachother.

15. “Iwouldnotsurrendermyvisionofthegame.Iwouldnotletgoofmydreamof

it,thefreedom,thereleaseitgaveme,thejoythegamegaveme.Itwasn’tanybodyelse’sgametotakeawayfromme.”(Chapter32,p.143)

HockeyistheonlypureandjoyfulthingSaul’slifehashadtooffersincehisfamily’sdeath.Partofhimknowsthatbymarringitwiththeviolenceandragesittingjustoutsideofhisplayingofthegame,itwillceaseofferinghimtheescapethatheneedstoavoidfacinghispast.

16. ‘Theplayers?Thegoodones?Thegreatones?They’retheoneswhocanharness

thatlightning.They’retheconjurers.Theybecomeonewiththegameanditliftsthemupandoutoftheirlivestoo.”(Chapter34,p.150)

LikeVirgil,JackLanahanhasasenseofwhatthegamerepresentstoSaul.HeappealstoSaul’svisionofthegameassomethinghighertogethimtoleavetheMoose.It’sclear,though,thathockeyrepresentssomethingalmostspiritualfor


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Jackaswell,andthatheseesSaul’svisionaspartandparcelofthesupernaturalfeatsperformedbyhigh-levelplayers.

17. ‘Butsomeonereacheddownandputlightningboltsinyourlegs,Saul.Someone

putthunderinyourwristshotandeyesinthebackofyourfuckinghead.Youweremadeforthisgame.Soyougottagivethisashotforallofuswho’renevergonnagetoutofManitouwadge.’(Chapter35,p.153)

Saul’steammate,ErnieJack,echoesthesentimentsofmanybeforehim:thatSaulhasanunnaturalgift.But,insteadofarguingthatSaulplayatahigherlevelforthegloryofGod,heappealstoSaul’ssenseofcamaraderie,andaskshimtogoandrepresenthiscommunityandhisteam.

18. ‘Mydadnevertalksabouttheschool,’hesaid.‘Momneither.andtheydon’tsay

anythingaboutwhathappenedbeforethat.Maybesomeonejustgaveyouachancetorubtheshitofftheboardonceandforall.’(Chapter36,p.157)

Virgil’ssecond-handexperienceofSt.Jerome’s,throughhisparentsandSaul,makeshimunderstandSaul’sinabilitytoarticulatehispain.Butinsteadofpushinghimtoopenup,hepositsthatsuccessinthebigleaguewillsimplywashawaySaul’spast.ThoughintuitiveandclosetoSaul,hetoobuysintotheideathatnoteverythingneedstobespokenabout.

19. “Therewasnothingwild.”(Chapter37,p.158)

GoingtoTorontomeansleavinghiscommunitybehind,hispeople,andevennature.Hefindsthethingsthatgivehimsolace,andanescapefromhisrageandsadness,beingpickedoffonebyone.First,it’shisfamily,thenit’stheoldways,thenit’shisteammates,andfinally,natureitself.ItbecomesincreasinglyhardforSaultokeepadistancebetweenhimselfandhispain.

20. “Thatwastheendofanysemblanceofjoyinthegameforme.Ibecamea

fighter.”(Chapter38,p.165)

Havinglosteverythingfamiliartohim,allthat’slefttohimisthejoyofthegame.Buttheindifferenceofhisteammates,andeventheirrejectionofhimforhispassivity,makeitimpossibleforhimtofindthejoyheoncedidinthegame.So,in


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fighting,hedropsthebarrierbetweenhimselfandhisrage,andinhabitsallofthenegativitythathockeyusedtoblockfromhim.

21. “ButwhensomeonebegantosingthesongRebeccahadsungwealljoinedin,

theoutlawOjibwayrisingintotheair.Whenthesongwasover,wefiledbackintotheschool,pastthenunsandthepriestswho’dgatheredatthebottomofthestairs.Noneofuslookedatthem.”(Chapter39,p.168)

Inrecountingthistaleofachild’ssuicideatSt.Jerome’safterSaulleavestheMarlborostoreturntoManitouwadge,he’srecountinghowheandtheotherchildrenreclaimedtheirheritageinthefaceoftragedy.Likethechorussingingtheirforbiddentongue,SaulisgoingbacktoManitouwadgetoreconnectwithhiscommunityinatimeoftragedy.

22. “Thebushhadceasedtobeahaven.Avacantfeelingsatwherethebeginnings

ofmyhistoryhadoncebeen.Thatpartofmyselfwasatalelongdead,onethatheldnothingforme.”(Chapter43,p.177)

Saul,havingexhaustedallofhisavenuesofescapismandcommunity,feelshehasnochoicebuttogoontherun.Insteadofcomingtotermswithhispast,hetellshimselfthatitismeaningless,andheshouldsetouttocreateanewfutureinunknownlands.

23. “I’mnotsurewhenIbegantodrinkmyself.IonlyknowthatwhenIdidthe

roaringinmybellycalmed.InalcoholIfoundanantidotetoexile.”(Chapter44,p.180-181)

Isolated,andwithnosenseofescapism,alcoholbecomesSaul’sonlymeansofcoping,ofavoidingconfrontinghispast.

24. “Icouldn’truntheriskofsomeoneknowingme,becauseIcouldn’ttaketherisk

ofknowingmyself.”(Chapter46,p.187)

ThoughSaulstillisn’tseekingtreatment,inleavingErvandarticulatingthisabouthimself,he’sfinallyabletoseethathisdrinkingisameansofavoidance.ThoughtheopportunityErvoffersdoesn’tpanout,itstillservesasacatalystforhimtorealizewhathe’sbeenrunningfrom.


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25. “Iwanttogetbacktothejoyofthegame.That’sforsure.ButifIlearnedanythingfromthecentre,it’sthatyoureclaimthingsthemostwhenyougivethemaway.”(Chapter55,p.218)

Saul,finallyatpeacewithhispastandopenabouthisexperiences,hasfinallydiscoveredapathtowardafutureandawaytoreclaimthejoyofthegamewithoutsacrificinghisconnectiontohishistory.


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ESSAY TOPICS

1. HowdothethreegenerationsofIndianHorses(grandmother,parents,andSaul)feelabout“Zhaunagush”(thewhiteman)?Whatinformstheiropinion?

2. WhydoyouthinkSaulrepressesthememoryofhissexualabuseforsolong?

Whattriggershismemory,andwhydoesithappenthen,attheruinsofSt.Jerome’s?

3. WhyisSaulalwayssohesitanttoplaywithwhiteteams?Whatmakeshimpush

throughthatreluctance?

4. WhatmakesSaulsnapandfinallyresorttoviolenceinhisgames?Doyouthinkthatitwasinevitable?

5. WhatdoyouthinkdrewSaultohockey?Whydiditspullcontinue,evenyears

afterhequitplaying?

6. DoyouthinkSaulregretsgoingtoTorontotoplayfortheMarlboros?Whyorwhynot?

7. Beyonditsteaching,whatdoesthehorserepresentinthenovel?Isitanapt

surnameforSaul?

8. WhattoolsdoesSaulusetoescapethetraumaofhisearlylife?Howeffectivearethey,andwhendotheybegintolosetheirabilitytoshieldhimfromhispast?

9. SaulcallsErvinSiftanangel,andErvoffershimasensehomeandrealchanceat

makingafreshstart.WhydoesSaulrejectthisopportunity?

10. IsSaulareliablenarrator?Whyorwhynot?Citespecificexamples.

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