1) King uses the parallel imagery of flagpoles at the beginning of the story, "You'll be able to see the tops of the flagpoles, too. That's where the border is" (King, 132), and at the end, "I watched the border through the rear window until all you could see were the tops of the flagpoles and the blue water tower, and then they rolled over a hill and disappeared" (King, 145). What do you think the purpose of this imagery is?  2) How do the characterizations of the mother and daughter reflect the broader tensions between Indigenous and colonial identities? 3) What are the main conflicts of this story? List two and explain them. 4) The border agents try different ways to get the mother to claim citizenship they recognize. Why do you think they do this, and what do you think this suggests? 5) Discuss the phrase “an Indian without a country” (King, 142). In your answer, reflect on identity and social construct. 6) The Canadian border agent says, " '...and I'd be proud of being Blackfoot if I were Blackfoot. But you have to be American or Canadian.'" (King 138-139). What is the significance of this quotation? 7) The narrator says that, "Pride is a good thing to have" (King, 140). Do you agree with this statement? Was the mother's pride a positive or negative attribute? 8) The duty-free shop becomes a symbol. What do you think it represents?  9) The mother tells her son a story under the stars. She alludes to Coyote, a trickster that often breaks the rules and brings people teachings through his adventures. Why do you think the author included this allusion? 10) The arrival of the reporters marks a change in the story's progression. What role does the media play? 11) What is citizenship and what role does it play in the story? 12) Why do you think the author chose to tell the story from the boy’s point of view? Why do you think the boy and his mother are never given names? How is this choice significant? 13) Why does Laetitia’s mom refuse to declare her citizenship as either Canadian or American?

"Borders" Analysis Cards

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