ENGL 102

Red Convertible

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The Red Convertible” by Louise Erdrich – Study Guide

 About the author:

1.      What is Louise Erdrich’s ancestry? 

2.      What is the name of the collection this story comes from? 

 3.      What award did this collection win?

 About the story:

 1.      What kind of narrator does this story have?

 2.      What is the effect of having this kind of narrator?  Why is it told by the brother who didn’t have to go to war?

 3.      The red convertible is a symbol of great import in this story.  What does it represent?   

4.      Why does Lyman damage it after his brother comes back? 

5.      Why does he dump it in the river at the end of the story?

6.    What does he do with the photograph of him and Henry?

 7.      What do you think is the theme of this story?

 8.  For you, what is the emotional impact of this story?

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