Music+for+Characters

[[image:http://www.blackpublicradio.org/files/9612/8181/9883/music%20symbol.jpg width="335" height="229"]]
==Do you have a certain song that you play to help you get through certain times? A song for when you are experiencing enjoyment or sadness? What about a song that could be your personal anthem? Music expresses emotion in a way words cannot. ==

As you read a novel, you begin to know the characters on a new level. A character's personality and emotions are portrayed and developed throughout the novel. I would like you to choose a character in the novel, __The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian__, and locate a song with which that character could relate. This song can be one that the character may turn to or one that defines him or her on a personal level. When choosing a song, consider the character's personal values displayed throughout the novel and/or events that have impacted the character during the novel.

**SONGS WITH OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE OR EXPLICIT LYRICS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE WIKI. YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE A ZERO ON YOUR RESPONSE.**

Please include the following in your post:


 * Song Title and Band/Artist Name
 * Lyrics
 * Link to the Band/Artist's Website
 * Description of why the character might relate with the song (explanation of the lyrics, musical style, etc.)
 * One quote from the book to support your reasoning

Please click on the link of the appropriate character below and place your post on the character's page.

Characters:
Arnold (Junior) Spirit

Rowdy

Mary

Penelope

Arnold's Grandmother

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Other character

=**<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Miss Love's Example: **=


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mr. P's Song **

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**"Be Good to Yourself" by Journey**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Lyrics: **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"Runnin' out of self-control **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Gettin' close to an overload **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Up against a no win situation **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Shoulder to shoulder, push and shove **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I'm hangin' up my boxin' gloves **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I'm ready for a long vacation **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Be good to yourself when nobody else will **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Be good to yourself **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">You're walkin' a high wire, caught in a cross fire **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Oh be good to yourself **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">When you can't give no more **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">They want it all but you gotta say no **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I'm turnin' off the noise that makes me crazy **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Lookin' back with no regrets **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">To forgive is to forget **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I want a little piece of mind to turn to **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Be good to yourself when nobody else will **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Oh be good to yourself **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">You're walkin' a high wire, caught in a cross fire **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Oh be good to yourself **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Be good to yourself when nobody else will" **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">[|Journey's Official Band Website] **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">[|Live Performance of "Be Good to Yourself"] **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Description/Song Reflection: **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Mr. P is a minor character in the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. He is introduced at the beginning of the novel while Arnold is still attending school on the rez. After Junior accidentally breaks Mr. P's nose when throwing a book, Mr. P comes over to Arnold's house to have a talk with him. During this talk, Mr. P reveals many personal details of his life and gives Arnold very inspiring advice. Mr. P tells Arnold about back when he taught his sister, Mary in school. He explains to Arnold how much potential she had with her writing skills and how he believed she was going to be a writer. Something made her let go of her dream-- she stopped writing. Mr. P explains to Arnold how Mary was "a bright and shining star and she faded year by year until you could barely see her anymore." He goes on to tell Arnold that he is a bright and shining star, as well. He doesn't want Arnold to fail, fade away, and believes he deserves better in life. Mr. P encourages Arnold to leave the reservation. The reservation environment is a culture filled with giving up. Mr. P says it best when he tells Arnold, "You kept your hope. And now, you have to take your hope and go somewhere where other people have hope" (pg. 43). **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I feel that this song relates to Mr. P and the advice he has given Arnold. When he visits Arnold that day at his home, he is essentially telling him, you need to be good to yourself. The song talks about being "good to yourself when nobody else will." This is the scenario for Arnold living and going to school on the rez. The community is not supportive of young people's dreams. There is also a line in the song that describes struggle and a fight: "Shoulder to shoulder, push and shove, I'm hanging up my boxin gloves." Arnold experiences violence and an inner fight to succeed on a regular basis. He is surrounded by people pulling him down. Mr. P would encourage Arnold to "hang up his boxin' gloves." It took the visit from Mr. P to really open Arnold's eyes to the possibilities for his future. Overall, I believe Mr. P would enjoy the lyrics to this song and would be likely to share it with Arnold. His hopes would be to inspire him to do what is best for him-- leave the reservation and "be good to yourself." **