The most important and explicit symbol in the book is the game of hockey. After being forced to attend St. … In Canada in the mid-twentieth century, hockey is viewed by many as a “white person’s game,” and therefore Saul‘s love of hockey is symbolic of how different his life is from the lives of his ancestors.
You asked, why was hockey important to Saul? Saul uses hockey as a way of escaping his past traumatic experiences as a child and with residential schools, and after he stops playing hockey he takes to liquor in order to forget his problems. … Saul uses hockey as a major escape route and as he plays hockey he stops being reserved and becomes livelier.
Quick Answer, what does hockey symbolize for Saul? Hockey symbolizes personal fulfillment. When Saul plays hockey, he is able to experience personal happiness even when he is in difficult circumstances, such as being a student at St. Jerome’s.
Moreover, how does Saul use hockey as a coping mechanism? The main way Saul copes with hardship is through his love of hockey and attachment to family. When Saul is focusing on hockey he distracts himself from the realities of the Residential School. … Saul eventually gets to play on a Midget town hockey team and continues to focus on hockey rather than the Residential School.
Additionally, what is hockey a metaphor for in Indian horse? Hockey is metaphor for the “white man’s game”… the game of life. They expect him to play the role of savage Indian, and eventually, fueled by a lifetime of suppressed rage, and against his better instincts, he obliges them.Hockey as metaphor: Sport, like art, is life by other means. Like art, sport inscribes the struggles of ordinary existence in a separate space of freedom and choice. In its purest expressions, sport is an affirmation of life, a howl of joy at the glory of our bodies and our souls, a yes to struggle.
When did Saul start playing hockey?
In 1966, when Saul is thirteen, he is invited by Fred Kelly to live with his Ojibway family in Manitouwadge and play for the Manitouwadge Moose junior hockey team (nicknamed “the Moose”), coached by Fred and captained by their son Virgil. Father Quinney and Father Leboutilier allow Saul to leave St. Jerome’s.
Who helped Saul in Indian horse?
A kindly farmer who befriends Saul Indian Horse and offers him work and lodgings. Ervin takes a strong liking to Saul and eventually becomes a kind of father figure, whom Saul leaves suddenly one night in a drunken stupor.
What nickname do the newspapers give Saul?
As a rookie, Saul is appointed “center” on the Marlboro team—a much-desired position. During a press interview, Saul tells journalists that he learned how to play by pushing frozen turds around on the ice with a stick.
What happens for Saul to finally get his chance to play with the team?
The hockey team practices for its first game, in which they’ll play against a team from White River. … When a boy is forced to sit out of the game, Saul seizes the opportunity. Father Leboutilier, who seems invested in Saul’s success at St. Jerome’s, gives him a chance to succeed.
Why does Saul like hockey in Indian horse?
Again and again, Wagamese uses hockey as a symbol for Saul’s life more generally. In Canada in the mid-twentieth century, hockey is viewed by many as a “white person’s game,” and therefore Saul’s love of hockey is symbolic of how different his life is from the lives of his ancestors.
How does hockey help Saul in Indian horse?
Indian Horse: Power & Powerlessness In conclusion, hockey empowers Saul by giving him freedom and helping him regain his identity. Through all the obstacles that society throws at him, he is able to use hockey as his escape and strength, allowing him to take control over his circumstances.
What did Father Gaston do to Saul in Indian horse?
Toward the end of Indian Horse, Saul Indian Horse remembers some information that he’s been repressing for many years. As a child, his beloved mentor at St. Jerome’s, Father Gaston Leboutilier, sexually abused him. Saul’s shocking realization cements trauma as one of the key themes of the book.
Who created hockey?
The development of the modern version of organized ice hockey played as a team sport is often credited to James Creighton. In 1872, he moved from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Montreal, bringing skates, hockey sticks, and a game with a basic set of rules with him.
Why is it called hockey?
The name hockey—as the organized game came to be known—has been attributed to the French word hoquet (shepherd’s stick). The term rink, referring to the designated area of play, was originally used in the game of curling in 18th-century Scotland.
What is a fact about hockey?
The first organized indoor hockey game was played March 3, 1875 at Montreal’s Victoria Skating Rink, between two teams of nine players each, many of whom were McGill University students. 3. … The diameter of a hockey puck is three inches.
