Lullaby by Leslie Marmon Silko -- Analysis and themes

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  • Reflection on life
She was an old woman now, and her life had become memories.
  • Attention to the elements (of nature)
  • Thinking of the past and future
  • Weaving
  • Denial/ misunderstanding/spirituality?
It wasn't like Jimmie died. He just never came back [...]
  • White people distinguished as "the white man"
  • Nature is relaxing
The sun warmth relaxed her and took the fear and anger away. She lay back on the rock and watched the sky. It seemed to her that she could walk into the sky, stepping through clouds endlessly. Danny played with little pebbles and stones, pretending they were birds’ eggs and then little rabbits. Ella sat at her feet and dropped fistfuls of dirt into the breeze, watching the dust and particles of sand intently. Ayah watched a hawk soar high above them, dark wings gliding; hunting or only watching, she did not know. The hawk was patient and he circled all afternoon before he disappeared around the high volcanic peak the Mexicans called Guadalupe.
  • Emotions associated with nature
She carried the pain in her belly and it was fed by everything she saw: the blue sky of their last day together and the dust and pebbles they played with; the swing in the elm tree and broom stick horse choked life from her. 
  • Marking the past by the seasons
His eyes were closed now, and in the light from the stars and the moon, he looked young again.



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