Lullaby by Leslie Marmon Silko

Lullaby

by Leslie Marmon Silko

·        'Lullaby' means 'a cradle song or soothing/sleeping song'. ·        Setting    : New Mexico or Navajo Nation, America ·        Narrator : third person omniscient ·        Themes   : memory, loss of Native American culture and language, racial discrimination and exploitation, storytelling tradition, matrilineal relationship, language barriers ·        Characters       : 1.     Ayah- an old native American woman 2.     Chato- Ayah's husband 3.     Jimmie- Ayah's eldest son who died in a helicopter crash 4.     White doctors and policeman- They took Ayah's children Ella and Danny due to tuberculosis.   5.     Ranch(farm) owner- He dismissed Chato from the job due to old age.

 

Summary:

"Lullaby" is a short story about an elderly Native American woman named Ayah. She sits outside in the snow with her sick husband, Chato, remembering her past.

Ayah recalls both happy and sad moments in her life. She remembers how government officials took her children away because they were sick. She could not stop them because they spoke English, and she did not. She also thinks about her first child Jimmie who died young in a helicopter crash, and the struggles her family faced over the years.

Chato, once a strong worker, has become old and weak. His employers fired him because he could not work anymore. Now, he is tired and cannot walk properly. Ayah takes care of him as he rests in the snow. She wraps him in a blanket and sings a lullaby that her mother used to sing. The story ends with Ayah accepting life and death with peace.

Main Themes:

·        Loss and Sadness: Ayah loses her children and watches her husband grow weak.

·        Culture and Identity: The story shows the struggles of Native Americans as their traditions fade.

·        Love and Strength: Even after many hardships, Ayah stays strong and takes care of Chato.

·        Nature’s Role: The snow and surroundings reflect both pain and comfort.

MCQs

1.     Who is the main character in Lullaby?
a) Chato
b) Ayah
c) The doctor
d) Ayah’s son

2.     Why were Ayah’s children taken away?
a) They were playing outside
b) They were sick
c) They ran away
d) They went to visit relatives

3.     What language do the government officials speak?
a) Spanish
b) Navajo
c) English
d) French

4.     What happens to Chato as he gets older?
a) He becomes rich
b) He becomes weak and loses his job
c) He learns a new language
d) He moves to the city

5.     What does Ayah remember about her first child?
a) He became a doctor
b) He died young
c) He traveled the world
d) He was taken to a boarding school

6.     How does Ayah comfort Chato in the end?
a) She gives him food
b) She sings him a lullaby
c) She takes him to a hospital
d) She tells him a story

7.     What does the lullaby symbolize in the story?
a) Anger and revenge
b) Love and acceptance
c) Fear and sadness
d) A call for war

8.     What role does nature play in the story?
a) It is a source of Ayah’s strength and memories
b) It is a sign of bad luck
c) It is a place to hide from enemies
d) It is dangerous and unfriendly

9.     Why did Chato lose his job?
a) He refused to work
b) He was old and weak
c) He got into a fight
d) He moved to another place

10.              What is the main theme of the story?
a) The power of education
b) Native American struggles and loss
c) The importance of money
d) The value of war