68 pages 2 hours read

Thomas King

The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2012

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Essay Topics

1.

In discussing Indigenous representations in American culture, King uses the concept of a simulacrum, which King defines as “something that represents something that never existed” (54). How are representations of Indigenouss a simulacrum? How do these false representations impact real Indigenous people’s lives?

2.

In the Prologue, King explicitly states that he does not intend to write a traditional book of history. How does The Inconvenient Indian differ from typical historiography, and how does this writing style help King make his arguments about the history of Indigenous-white relations?

3.

In Chapter 9, King argues that relations between Indigenous and white people in North America can be boiled down to one key issue: “Whites want land” (216). Use examples of historical events from the book to analyze the role that land has played in the conflicts between Indigenous and white people.

Related Titles

By Thomas King

Study Guide

logo

Green Grass, Running Water

Thomas King

Green Grass, Running Water

Thomas King

Study Guide

logo

Medicine River

Thomas King

Medicine River

Thomas King

Study Guide

logo

The Back of the Turtle

Thomas King

The Back of the Turtle

Thomas King

Teaching Guide + Study Guide

logo

The Truth About Stories

Thomas King

The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative

Thomas King

Study Guide

logo

Truth and Bright Water

Thomas King

Truth and Bright Water

Thomas King