Essay Questions

Why is Little Bear referred to as an "Indian?"

The figurine Little Bear becomes the living, albeit at a small size, man. Over the course of the novel, he becomes a Chief. Omri witnesses anachronistic ceremonies which accompany Little Bear's everyday life. Omri describes him as a Native American, recognizing that the human exists beyond Omri's exposure to a different setting.

How might Omri's motion differ when he wants his brothers to leave his room?

Before Little Bear, Omri might have had a lack of eye contact when wanting them to leave. He likely was turned away, since he had nothing to protect. With Little Bear, Omri needs to mentally distract the brothers, as well. He is shown physically blocking them in the novel.

What did his parents contribute to the story?

Omri's dad adds a distinctive voice to those in the novel, and Omri's mom lets him in the kitchen when he surreptitiously prepares food for Little Bear. The largest impression Omri's dad makes is one of temporal awareness. This paces the book beyond denotation of mealtimes. His mom provides directed questions which demonstrate to the reader - based on how forcefully they approached an answer - how the family functions as a whole.