This struggle is exemplified in the novel in the distinction between bush indians and homeguard indians. Three day road is a stunning debut from one of canadas foremost writers, joseph boyden. Josephs maternal grandfather, as well as an uncle on his fathers side, served as soldiers during the first world war, and boyden draws upon a wealth of family narratives. Three day road symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. As a child niska witnesses her father as the windigo killer where he puts the cannibals in their tribe to rest. Throughout three day road, joseph boyden juxtaposes survival in the bush of northern canada against survival in the trenches of world war i. Three day road study guide contains a biography of joseph boyden, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The novels protagonist, xavier bird, is a cree indian, and his deep cultural connection to his indigenous land gives him a unique advantage in the bush and, as it turns out, in the trenches as well. When xavier bird returns from wwi addicted to morphine and wounded, his aunt niska embarks with him on a three day journey towards their home in the northern ontario bush. Tradition versus modernization the novel relates the struggle of the cree indians to keep their traditions alive in the face of colonization, modernization and racism. Community at the center of joseph boydens three day road is the first nations legend of the windigo. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in three day road, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Click below to download the full study guide for three day road.
Death death is a very strong theme during three day road and it haunts both niska and xavier while elijah appears to embrace it. The initial trip ideas are based around four major highways around the u. What are the major themes in the novel three day road by. Arthur joseph boyden represents carl jungs idea that humans often create a persona in order to be perceived by society in a certain way through the journey of the main character in. Three day road is the first novel from canadian writer joseph boyden. Niska had a taste of town life as a child wants nothing to do. Three day road novel analysis of themes and synopses. When xavier first arrives on the front lines and his. Upon finishing joseph boydens three day road, my immediate thoughts were. Novel analysis of themes and synopses comeback by maintaining a large emphasis on the world war i parts of the book. Three day road themes from litcharts the creators of. The theme of nature, war, and survival in three day road. It possesses themes of indigenous aboriginal identity, which really stood out to me. The author also does an excellent job of hooking the reader by abruptly ending sub story lines then tying them into the main storyline later in the y y the letter entails until later in the story.