Green Grass Running Water

Throughout the novel Green Grass Running Water by Thomas King, there are many allusions to both pop-culture and the Bible. When the four Indians blame coyote for causing the dam to break, they make two references to biblical events. The first allusion is to the flood. “‘The last time you fooled around like this,’ said Robinson Crusoe, “The world got very wet’” (pg. 416). In this section, it is also suggested that Coyote caused the birth of Jesus. The four Indians blame Coyote for these events, which apparently happened during previous attempts to fix the world.

Another allusion is to the ships of Christopher Columbus. The three cars that hit the dam were a Nissan, a Pinto, and a Karmann-Ghia. This is a reference to Columbus’ three ships, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa-Maria. These three cars hitting the dam is symbolic of the difficulties brought to North America by the Europeans.

Often, allusions are used for comedic effect. An example of this can be seen when Nasty Bumppo claims that Old Woman killed him, and that she needs a better killer name. His suggestions are Daniel Boone, Harry Truman, and Arthur Watkins. Another example of an allusion to history for comedic effect can be seen when Coyote asks who kills Nasty Bumppo. He makes an allusion to the assassination of President Kennedy by suggesting that there could be more than one gunman. Although this is referencing a tragic event, it is used in a comedic context.

Eli Stands Alone was a successful professor, but returns home to protect his childhood home that his mother built. The following passage shows his attitude to this change in his life.
“Eli sat down and waited for the coffee to brew and looked about the house at what he had become. Ph.D. in literature. Professor emeritus from the University of Toronto. A book on William Shakespeare. Another on Francis Bacon. Teacher of the Year. Twice.
Indian.
In the end, he had become what he had always been. An Indian”(pg. 262)
This quote shows that while he is proud of his achievements, his identity as an Indian is more important to him.

Lionel Red Dog has made many mistakes in his past, and is disappointed and ashamed with how his life has turned out.
“Life, Lionel mused as he felt his chest slide on top of his stomach, had become embarrassing. His job was embarrassing. His gold blazer was embarrassing. His car was embarrassing. Norma was right. Alberta wasn’t about to marry an embarrassment.” (pg 239)
This passage shows how Lionel is unhappy with his life. Later, he tries to improve his life by fixing the mistakes made in his past.

One passage that contributes to Coyote’s character happens when the earthquake that destroys the dam happens. “‘Earthquake, earthquake!’ yells Coyote ‘Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee’” (pg. 411). This passage helps to show Coyote as a playful trickster who does not care about the consequences of his actions.

Three Day Road

One scene in the novel Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden that I thought was very important was the death of Sean Patrick. This scene is a critical point in the novel, as it helps to show the horrors of war, and to show the growing differences between Elijah and Xavier.

"An aeroplane drones overhead and I look up from my work to see if it is one of ours, or Fritz come to strafe us. I bend back down to fill sandbags when I hear Gilberto shouting for help. When I look over, I see ten yards from me Sean Patrick on the ground writhing like a snake and grabbing his neck, blood spurting out in impossible amounts, his eyes wide with terror of what is coming. I run to him. We all run to him, McCaan and Elijah, Graves and Fat who've become closer and closer over the last months like a skinny father and his heavy son. We stand over Sean Patrick dumbly, none of us really knowing what to do, in shock at the sight of bright red blood pumping from between his fingers clenched so hard that he appears to be chocking himself, McCaan kneeling and fumbling.
"Shot through the neck," Graves mumbles as if to no one.
Immediately i think of the snipers rumored to be around here, of one especially, the one they say stalks our lines and has impossible numbers. Elijah claims that the man doesn't really exist.
McCaan pulls gauze from a pack near him and tries to move Sean Patrick's hands. "Help me," he shouts, and the tone of his voice sets us all into action. Elijah and I pry Sean Patrick's hands away and hold them above his head while Graves and a stunned looking Grey Eyes clamp onto his long skinny legs. McCaan applies the gauze to his neck, but we all know it is futile. I stare into Sean Patrick's eyes near to my own. He stares back at me in pure fear. I smile to try and reassure him that soon he will be on the long road and won't be scared or in pain, or cold or wet anymore. I can see the fear die a little at the time that the bright light drains from his eyes. They turn glassy as those of Grey Eyes. McCaan quits working. I let go of Sean Patrick's arms and watch the muscles relax into the slow release of the dead." (pg 111-112)

Although Xavier and Elijah had witnessed the horrors of war before, this was the first time it had happened so close to them. This shows Xavier how real the dangers were on the front, and while Elijah would only consider his death much later, this event brought the realities of war much closer. The reason for Sean Patrick’s death was also very trivial. His death was caused by a small, simple mistake by Grey Eyes. This also shows how death could happen at any moment without warning, and without reason.

Another way that this scene is important is how it shows the growing disconnect between Xavier and Elijah. Both of the two friends were shocked by Sean Patrick’s death, but their reactions to it were very different. Xavier was saddened by Sean’s death, while Elijah becomes obsessed with the idea of revenge, and wanting to kill an enemy sniper in the hopes of sending a message to his killer. This is an example of Elijah’s growing obsession with violence.

This scene is a good example of many of the themes in the novel, and is one of the most important events in the novel.