Ceremony Lesson Plan

What is the effect of the non-linear storytelling method this novel employs?

Students will likely have multiple answers to this question. Non-linear storytelling is natural in many cultures. Linear storytelling and writing are American, though not exclusively, concepts. Some students may say that the storytelling method is jarring, especially at first, or confusing to follow. Silko’s pattern of jumping through time mirrors the way Tayo’s war wounded mind works. It also mimics the way someone with PTSD thinks. While Silko’s narrator never explicitly says Tayo has PTSD, it is evident from his symptoms. One of the most common symptoms of the disorder is flashbacks. Someone...