Superman and Me

 

According to Sherman Alexie in “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me” he talks about the joy he has when reading and writing and how he learned to read from a superman comic book, when he was 3 years old.  He describes his childhood and the influence his dad and books had on him. How reading change his life for the better, pushing him to get and education. He explores themes of literacy, education, and overcoming stereotypes in his writings and hopes to influence kids through his work.    

    Sherman Alexie emphasis the importance of literacy and education in overcoming stereotypes.  To inspire native American students to believe in themselves and in the power of education. 

    Sherman Alexie employs various rhetorical and literary techniques to convey his message.  He uses ethos to establish his credibility as a writer and pathos to evoke strong emotions into his readers by highlighting the challenges he faced growing up and overcoming adversity. He uses metaphors to convey complex ideas, for example when he compares paragraphs to fences. Lastly, he uses a shift in the tone, turning his personal essay from gloomy to inspiring and motivational. 

    In “superman and me” Sherman Alexie uses his personal story to show how reading gave him the power to challenge expectations and change his future.  And it shows how important it is to believe in yourself.