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Passage #3 Sherman Alexie, "The Approximate Size of My Favourite…
Passage #3 Sherman Alexie
Characterization
Jimmy
The protagonist of the short story, and an optimist who uses humour to cope with his pain/stress.
"I started joking about dying and that pissed her off" (Alexie 1).
Norma & Simon thought he did not take his cancer seriously, and it seemed as though he was initially in denial.
Due to the jokes he makes.
Norma
Jimmy's wife who has left Jimmy because of his insensitivity, and inappropriate humour.
She loves Jimmy so much that she can't see him in the state that he is in, and even worse, make jokes about it.
Which is why she decided to leave, this is her form of coping with her problems (escapism).
Simon
Jimmy's best friend
He is in shock of Jimmy's terminal disease, and seems worried for him.
He is disappointed in Jimmy, and can understand why Norma has left him.
“That ain’t nothing to joke about” (Alexie 1 & 2).
Allusion
This text refers to a different text
"The Lone Ranger"
References:
James Many Horses
Tonto
Used early in story
Theme
The use of coping mechanisms to deal with problems.
Jimmy used humour to cope with his problems.
Norma fled from her problems (escapism).
Plot
This passage is near the beginning of the story, in between the exposition and the rising action.
Situation of the passage
Norma has left Jimmy, and he explains to Simon why that took place.
Along with informing Simon of his terminal cancer.
He cracked jokes such as exclaiming that his tumor is the same shape and size as a baseball and relating himself to baseball players because of his cancer.
Prior event
Norma seemed very angry with Jimmy and stormed out of the house to go to the Powwow Tavern.
Language
Consistent use of informal vocabulary and phrases
"Ain't"
Stigmatized as ghetto slang, or even ignorant.
"Idiot"
An offensive term describing a person of low intelligence.
Descriptive terms
"Decidedly cinematic stop"
Describing the decisive and "film like" car stoppage.
Symbolism
Jimmy described his tumor as a baseball, he said it was "shaped line one, too. Even had stitch marks." (Alexie 1).
The symbolism of his tumor being a baseball can also symbolize how the baseball/tumor could be prohibiting him from chasing his dreams/becoming a baseballl player.
Setting
In the passage Jimmy is in a pickup truck with his best friend Simon.
Context
"Jimmy Zero Horses"
Name comes from Jimmy having nothing, and Norma leaving him.
"My favourite tumour was just about the size of a baseball, shaped like one, too. Even had stitch marks"
Refers to the title
Baseball players
Babe Ruth
Set home run record, and died of cancer.
Roger Maris
Roger Maris died of cancer and broke the home run record in 1961.
Hank Aaron
Had 755 home runs which symbolizes the 755 supposed tumours, Hank also died of cancer.
Cooperstown
In New York State, it exhibits baseball equipment and the location of hall of fame.
"The Approximate Size of My Favourite Tumour"
