Silko_YellowWoman

Title Page

• Title: Storyteller

• Author: Leslie Marmon Silko

• Publisher: Arcade Publishing, New York 1981

Overview of Yellow Woman's Journey

• Setting and Tone:

  • The story begins with a sense of nature, as the protagonist reflects on her connection to the wind and the elements.

  • Vivid imagery, including the river, sand, and wildlife, enhances the storytelling experience.

• Main Character:

  • Yellow Woman, who expresses curiosity and longing as she navigates her environment.

Character Interaction

• Initial Interaction with Silva:

  • Yellow Woman watches Silva as he sleeps on the river sand and feels connected to him.

  • Represents a juxtaposition of naturalistic imagery against her personal feelings of hunger and desire.

• Questions of Identity:

  • Yellow Woman's insistence on her individuality and her name, contrasting with the archetypal story of the Yellow Woman.

  • Silva hints at a deeper connection, suggesting that she is indeed part of the ancient stories.

Themes of Memory and Storytelling

• Cultural Legends:

  • Discussion of past stories involving spirits and women, revealing Yellow Woman's struggle with identity and roles imposed by myth.

  • Her grandpa’s tales influence her perception of her current situation.

• Conflicting Realities:

  • Yellow Woman grapples with her past, her contemporary life (school, highways), and mythological narratives.

• Nature and Identity:

  • The narrative intertwines Yellow Woman's personal experience with the larger cosmos, showcasing her relationship with nature.

Setting Change and Significance

• Traveling North on Horseback:

  • The transition through different terrains symbolizes Yellow Woman's journey between worlds—both physical and metaphorical.

  • Shifts from cottonwood trees to piñons signify movement into deeper cultural landscapes.

• Silva's Secretiveness:

  • Questions arise about Silva's past and identity as they interact on their journey.

Domestic Life

• Life with Silva:

  • Insights into Silva's home, depicting simplicity yet warmth, indicating human connections amidst wilderness.

  • Yellow Woman is viewed in a domestic role, cooking, yet her feelings about Silva reflect both comfort and fear.

• Relationship Dynamics:

  • The evolving tension as Yellow Woman contemplates her agency versus Silva's influences.

Climactic Tension

• Meeting the Rancher:

  • Encounter introduces external conflict—identified societal roles and authority clash with personal choice.

  • Silva's relationship with the rancher highlights tensions between indigenous identities and settler encroachment.

  • Yellow Woman's instinct to follow the river home contrasts with the pull towards mythical narratives.

Resolution and Reflection

• Homecoming:

  • Yellow Woman’s return signals a complex reconciliation of her experiences.

  • The juxtaposition of ordinary life with extraordinary experiences contributes to the richness of storytelling.

• Legacy of Stories:

  • Reflects on how stories shape identity and community narrative, intertwining past and present.