Literary Report on Tony's Story by Leslie Marmon Silko

In two or more paragraphs, summarize Tonys Story (You should not use any sources to produce your summary).

Tonys story by Leslie Marmon Silko is about two friends, Tony and Leon who are affiliated with the Native American community. At the beginning of the story, it is quite evident that Leon has returned home from his duty in the army. Tony views to Leon to have deviated from his culture but then becomes satisfied with Leons interest in taking part in the Corn Dance.

The boys become convicted that the white trooper is on them especially after their first encounter whereby the trooper hit Leon aggressively. Tony views the trooper as a witch whom he encountered in a dream such that at their last meeting with the trooper, he ends up killing him and burn the body in his car. Leon is surprised with Tonys actions.

What is one theme/central idea of the story? For example, what is one lesson or message you gain from the story?

A central theme of the story is cultural significance whereby Leon and Tony portray dissimilar cultural attitudes.

List four examples from the story to support the theme you name, and explain how each example supports the specified theme. Include the page numbers on which you find the examples.

Tonys perspective that Leon has deviated from his culture after his return from duty in the army illustrates the dissimilar cultural attitudes between the boys. Nonetheless, Tony becomes satisfied with when Leon shows interest in taking part in the Corn Dance. Tony states, I was happy because I knew that Leon was once more a part of the Pueblo (Silko 362).

The association that each boy has on the Pueblo culture also illustrates the dissimilar cultural attitudes between them. Tony can be perceived to associate himself more with the culture when compared to Leon. Tony states, The big cop was pointing a long bone at methey always use human bones, and the whiteness flashed silver in the moonlight where he stood. He didnt have a human faceonly little, round, white-rimmed eyes in a ceremonial mask (Silko 363) after having an encounter with the trooper in his dreams.

The view that Leon does not understand the context of his problem also illustrates the dissimilar cultural attitudes between the boys. Tony insistence on Leon to wear the amulet shows how he understood the problem to be affiliated with spiritual beliefs. Leon is assured that a rifle has the ability to put down the enemy whereby he tells Tony, You dont believe in that, do you, (Silko 365). Tony reaffirms his beliefs by stating, But you cant be sure it will kill one of them (Silko 365).

The boys different reactions to the cops death also illustrates the dissimilar cultural attitudes between the boys. After killing the trooper, Tony tells Leon, Tony tells him, Dont worry, everything is O.K. now, Leon. Its killed. They sometimes take on strange forms (Silko 366).

Work Cited

Silko, Leslie Marmon. Tonys Story. 1974. Rpt. In Nothing but the Truth: An Anthology of Native American Literature. Edited by John L. Purdy and James Ruppert. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001. 362-66.