Hockey

Hockey

Characters
1. Saul
  1. Saul is an innocent boy who sees hockey for what it is. A fun sport that can be competitive too.
  2. Saul is a seer who has abilities to see what others can't. He uses the ability on the sport which is why it is so perfect for him.
    1. "some people skate to the puck. I skate to where the puck is going to be." -Wayne Gretzky. Saul uses his abilities to the advantage making him a great player.
2. Virgil
  1. Virgil is a paternal figure for Saul. He, like Saul, plays hockey for the feeling of freedom and energy.
  2. Virgil offers good advice to Saul helping him in life and hockey based on his own experiences. This is why he makes such a good role model.
    1. "you go somewhere when you're on the ice" (115). Virgil is one of the only people in Saul's life to give him real encouragement.
Thematic Statement
1. What Hockey means
  1. Hockey is an escape from reality. It lets one feel free from everything else around them and like one can own a power no one else has. It's an event that brings many together and to form bonds, on or off the ice.
    1. "You've got to love what you're doing. If you love it, you can overcome any handicap or soreness or all the aches and pains, and continue to play for a long, long time. -Gordie Howe. This is how the Moose felt while they played together and formed a bond.
  2. "Hockey, honestly was my first love. The excitement, the fast pace, the intensity of the game...I still love it to this day." -J.J. Watt on what hockey means to people.
  3. "Great moments are born from great opportunities." -Herb Brooks. Saul found more love in hockey by taking an opportunity.
Conflict
1. Saul vs Society
  1. Saul faces racism when he just wants to play the game.
  2. People care more about harassing Saul rather the the point of what makes the game fun. This slowly ruins it for Saul.
2. Saul vs opponents
  1. Saul has a tough time from the opponents too, getting quips like "you're going to need and Indian hearse."
  2. Saul's Opponents act more like enemies and pick on him more, doing things like slamming him against glass.
3. Saul vs teammates in Toronto.
  1. Even Saul's own teammates treat him poorly because he refuses to play the game aggressively.
  2. Saul's Teammates leave a space near him on the bench, neglecting him just because of his culture.
Significance of Title
1. The Indian Horse is important
  1. The Term Indian Horse is important because it also represents one persons journey and that anyone can enjoy hockey
  2. It represents how through everything Saul went through, he was still able to enjoy it in the end, proving that anyone can play the sport even if you come from a different culture.
    1. "You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take." -Wayne Gretzky. This implies that anyone can have an opportunity but only you can take the risk.
Setting
1. St. Jerome's Rink
  1. St Jerome's rink was the first time where Saul ever tried hockey. The school itself gave off bad vibes, but when playing hockey, they were wiped away.
    1. "the school itself was crumbling. Hollow" (195). not only is this a good representation of how the school is in the future, but also how it was in the past.
2. Toronto
  1. For Saul, Toronto was the place that took hockey from him.
  2. Hockey was no longer about fun here, but about discrimination.
    1. The beginning of a hug downward spiral in his life until Saul mentions "the drink had snared me" (181).
3. Manitouwadge
  1. This is the place where Saul would not just play hockey, but bond over it. It made his real friends here and a family because of it.
    1. "When I took to the ice with the Moose, the anger funnelled out of me" (176). Hockey was an escape for Saul.
tone and mood
1. Atmosphere
  1. Hockey brightens the atmosphere for most characters in the book. It offers a certain feeling you can't get anywhere else.
    1. One can feel happy for Saul when he says "I was a Moose" (107), as he is proud to be on the team.
2. Saul's Feelings
  1. When Saul is happy while playing, it creates a mood that can bring a smile to the readers face, especially if they play hockey too.
  2. When Saul is facing racism while playing, it can create dread and the reader can sympathize with Saul.
3. Situations
  1. Hockey works well with the situations of the novel. At the beginning it lends itself to Saul as a way out. Near the end it is a period of time for Saul to face abuse.

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	Created by Carter Jahnke almost 5 years ago