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1
Why does Carter hate school from an early age despite being brought up by caring grandparents who are ready to see him through his education?
Carter, otherwise nicknamed Little Tree, does not dislike school out of will but the circumstances under which the education is offered. Carter is an Indian who has been brought up to acknowledge his culture. However, the primary objective of the education system is to assimilate the Native Americans into the European system of education and culture. Carter is attending a school led by the European Christian missionaries who are discriminative against the Indians. Carter hates school because he is discriminated against by the Christian missionaries who underrates and disrespect his Indian culture.
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2
How does conflicting identity impact the life of Little Tree?
As the novel commences, the author explains in detail that Carter is a native American of Indian origin. He is orphaned in the late 1920s when all his parents pass away and left under the care of his grandparents. Little Tree's grandparents do a great job in bringing up this young boy ensuring that he understands his cultural roots. After growing up and starting to attend school, identity conflict emerges because the Little Tree finds himself in the mix of a native American and a White American. The reader realizes that Little Tree is struggling with self-identity when he struggles with the tormenting he gets while in school. He fails to understand why he is discriminated against and mistreated by the white missionaries while they all rightfully belong to America.
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3
What is the symbolic meaning of the name "Little Tree"?
Carter is called as Little Tree by his grandparents to represent human transformation. The grandparents understand that Carter is now young as a tree but he will not remain young forever. The title The Education of Little Tree signifies Carter's tender age and the need for him to get a proper education as he transforms into a responsible and independent adult just as a tree is independent of its own needs.
The Education of Little Tree Essay Questions
by Forrest Carter
Essay Questions
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