The West (Setting & Context)
Where does Joy Harjo travel to in the chapter West?
She travels to California/the American West.
What is Harjo searching for when she goes West?
She is searching for independence and a sense of belonging.
What form of art is most important to Harjo in this chapter?
Writing/poetry.
Who are the key people Harjo interacts with in this chapter?
Friends, romantic partners, and people she meets while traveling.
What narrative form is Crazy Brave written in?
A memoir written in poetic prose.
How does the landscape of the West differ from her earlier environments?
The West is more open, unfamiliar, and unstable compared to her earlier, more structured environments.
How does Harjo’s sense of self change during this chapter?
She becomes more self-aware but also more vulnerable and uncertain.
How does art help Harjo cope with uncertainty?
Art gives her an emotional outlet and a sense of control.
What challenges does Harjo face in her relationships?
She faces emotional manipulation, instability, and lack of support.
Identify one image or symbol used in West.
Symbols such as roads, movement, or the West itself.
Why is the West an important turning point in Harjo’s life?
It represents a moment of transition where she leaves behind the past and confronts independence.
Give one example that shows Harjo questioning who she is.
She questions her role as a young Native woman navigating adulthood alone.
Describe a moment where creativity gives Harjo strength.
She turns to creativity when feeling isolated or overwhelmed.
How do power or control appear in her relationships?
Power appears through control, dependence, and emotional imbalance.
How does Harjo use imagery to describe the West?
Imagery emphasizes openness, distance, and emotional exposure.
How does the West symbolize freedom and escape for Harjo?
The West symbolizes freedom, possibility, and distance from trauma, but also uncertainty.
How does Harjo’s Native identity affect her experiences in the West?
Her Native identity makes her feel both connected to her roots and alienated in a new environment.
How does art act as a lifeline during difficult moments in the West?
Art becomes a lifeline that helps her endure hardship and maintain hope.
How do these relationships affect Harjo’s confidence and choices?
These relationships weaken her confidence but also teach her resilience.
How does memory shape the way this chapter is told?
Memory shapes the narrative by blending reflection with lived experience.
Explain how place influences Harjo’s identity in this chapter.
Place shapes her identity by forcing her to adapt, reflect, and redefine herself away from home.
Analyze how the journey West contributes to Harjo’s long‑term identity formation.
The journey West pushes her to confront fear and freedom, shaping her emerging adult identity.
Evaluate how art functions as both escape and self‑expression in West.
Art allows her to escape reality while also helping her understand and express it.
Analyze how relationships in West reflect larger struggles faced by young women.
They reflect broader struggles young women face with autonomy, safety, and self-worth.
Discuss how Harjo blends poetry and prose to convey emotional truth in West.
Harjo blends poetry and prose to capture emotional truth beyond literal events.