CEREMONY

By: LESLIE MARMON SILKO

Author:

Born on March 5, 1948 in Albuquerque, new Mexico and of mixed Laguna

Pueblo, white, and Mexican ancestry, Leslie Marmon Silko grew up on a Laguna Pueblo
reservation. She attended Bureau of Indian Affairs Schools, and then the University of
New Mexico. After a brief stint at law school, she pursued graduate studies in English,
and embarked the writing career that has led her to be considered the premier Native
American novelist and poet of her generation. Silko has lived and taught English in New
Mexico, Alaska, and Arizona.

Ceremony

Ceremony is the story about Tayo, A Native American World War II Veteran, and
his struggle to find himself. He struggles to adapt to a world where his people have to
fight between the whites say is the true path, and what his culture says the right path.
Ceremony displays Tayos struggle by comparing his struggle to find his own path, to
the other Native Americans and their fight to their own path.

Elements of the Story:

1. Initial Situation- Tayo has just come back from fighting in WWII. He's sick.
2. Conflict- The old ceremonies aren't working to heal Tayo.
3. Complication- Tayo's sickness isn't just about himit's about the whole world.
4. Climax-The autumn equinox
5. Suspense- Will Tayo kill Emo?
6. Denouement- Tayo makes it through the night without killing anyone. He defeats
the witchery.
7. Conclusion- The witchery is "dead for now."

ABOUT THE NOVEL

full title Ceremony

author Leslie Marmon Silko
type of work Novel, but incorporates poetry
genre Native American story; postmodern
language English (with inclusion of Laguna Pueblo words)
time and place written Mid-1970s, New Mexico.
date of first publication 1977
publisher Penguin
narrator Third person narrator limited to Tayo's perspective, in addition to third person limited and
omniscient and first person narrators in the poems
climax The night at the abandoned mine.
protagonist Tayo
antagonist whites; and Emo
setting (time) The main present of the text is set just after World War II, but the text ranges in time from
a mythical past through the 1920s and World War II up until that present.
setting (place) The majority of the novel is set on and around the Laguna Reservation, in the
Southwest of the United States, although portions are also set in a mythical land, and in the Philippines.
point of view Primarily third person limited
falling action World War II
tense Past
foreshadowing As time in the novel runs in a circular fashion, all events are at once foreshadowed and
remembered.
tone Somber but hopeful
themes Love, Change
motifs Non-linear narrative structure; combination of poetry and prose