Novel: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Arnold, otherwise known as Junior lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He realizes that no one on the reservation is concerned about their education, except for himself. He then decides to transfer to Reardan High, which is a white school. Right from the first day Junior is known as an outcast where the students and even the teachers treat him poorly. Instead of giving up and returning to the reservation, Junior decides to try to raise his social standings. Along the way Junior is faced with many struggles, but he perseveres and eventually feels as though he belongs somewhere.

Throughout the novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Junior displays self loyalty when he stays faithful to himself. When he transfers to Reardan High School he struggles to fit in and faces major setbacks. The students at his school always put him down and tell him he is not good enough. Junior doesn't let that get to him, but instead continues to pursue what he loves and what he believes he can accomplish. Junior stays loyal to himself and in the end he is not only the star of Reardan's basketball team or dating the most popular girl at the school, but he shows everyone that if you stay true to yourself and set your mind to something you can accomplish great things.

Novel: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen, sixteen years old lives with her mother and younger sister in District 12. In the nation of Panem, there are twelve districts surrounding the Capitol, which sets all the rules for each district. Every year the Capitol holds an  annual Hunger Games; a fight to the death.  Two people; a boy and girl from each district are chosen to participate in the Games. The winner wins a lifetime of fortune and fame for the family.When her sister is chosen, Katniss steps forward to take her place. The twenty-four tributes are placed in an arena where the battle is broadcasted on live TV. The tributes fight for their life, facing everything imaginable; forest fires, droughts, non-stop rain and the never ending fear of tributes attacking. The real question is, who is going to make it out alive?

"Peeta, we've got to go now."
"Go? He seems confused. "Go where?"
"Away from here. Downstream maybe. Somewhere we can hide you until you're stronger," I say. I help him dress, leaving his feet bare so we can walk in the water, and pull him upright. His face drains of color the moment he puts weight on his leg. "Come on. You can do this" (Collins 259).

The Hunger Games reveals loyalty to others in many ways. In this quote, it shows that Katniss is putting Peeta before herself, preparing him to move and take cover. Instead of just leaving him lying in the mud with a severe wound in his leg, Katniss helps as best as she can to take him somewhere safe. After she takes him to the sheltered cave, she mends his wound, prepares meals and makes sure that Peeta is holding up. Katniss demonstrates a prime example of loyalty to others as she sits beside Peeta through his excruciating pain, fending for him until he is fully cured. In fact, until the very last minute of the Hunger Games, Katniss keeps Peeta fed, sheltered and most importantly safe from attacking tributes. By remaining loyal to Peeta, the two of them not only won the Hunger Games, but showed the Capitol that the Games itself can be defeated.

Images

Images

This photograph signifies one's loyalty to another, as you can see a bird has come to help another one. Even though this image contains animals being loyal rather than humans it still has the exact same importance and meaning; one who is loyal will never leave one behind without putting up a fight. In this photo it seems as though an injured bird has been found and assisted by another. Assuming that this bird won't quit until it has put up a battle to save the other, the bird is continuing to be loyal.




Additional Images




Loyalty to others- Staying by one's side.

 
 


Loyalty to others- Self effort leads to team success.



  

Media

Media

I'll Stand By You by Carrie Underwood


Oh why you look so sad
The tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don’t be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
Cause I’ve seen the dark side too

When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less

I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you
Won’t let nobody hurt you
I’ll stand by you

So if you're mad get mad
Don’t hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide
I get angry too
Well I’m a lot like you

When you're standing at the crossroads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
Cause even if you're wrong

I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you
Won’t let nobody hurt you
I’ll stand by you
Take me in into you darkest hour
And I’ll never desert you
I’ll stand by you

And when, when the night falls on you, baby
You feeling all alone
You won't be on your own

I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you
Won’t let nobody hurt you
I’ll stand by you
Take me in into you darkest hour
And I’ll never desert you
I’ll stand by you

Oh I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you

I'll Stand by You portrays loyalty to others as you can see in the chorus. It is expressed that no matter what happens between the two of them, she will never leave him. Even in the worst of times they will never part. The line "Even if you wrong, I'll stand by you" (Underwood), is a  distinct example of never parting. That is the main importance of being loyal to someone; staying by one's side through the hard, sad and happy times of life. Also, the title itself; I'll Stand by You demonstrates loyalty.


Movie: Legally Blonde


Legally Blonde is a movie about a sorority girl, Elle Woods who follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard University. Throughout the movie Elle realizes that she has more to offer than she thinks. Even though she is known as the stereotypical  "dumb blonde" she doesn't let the stuck up preps get in the way of her receiving her law degree. Elle displays self loyalty when she goes off on her own, leaving the nasty remarks of the other Harvard students behind her. She doesn't let them get under her skin and change who she is. This is a great example of being loyal to yourself because Elle is staying true to herself even when no one else believes in her; she is staying faithful to what she believes.

Additional Media

The Lion King- Movie (Loyalty to others)

• Simba portrays loyalty when he returns to the Pride Lands to prevent Scar from ruining everything

Poems

Be Yourself by Ellen Bailey


Why would you want to be someone else
When you could be better by being yourself
Why pretend to be someone you are not
When you have something they haven't got


Cheating yourself of the life you have to live
Deprives others of that only which you can give
You have much more to offer by being just you
Than walking around in someone else's shoes


Trying to live the life of another is a mistake
It is a masquerade; nothing more than a fake
Be yourself and let your qualities show through
Others will love you more for being just you 


Remember that God loves you just as you are
To him you are already a bright shining star
Family and friends will love you more too
If you spent time practicing just being you


This poem reveals many aspects of being loyal to yourself, meaning stay true to who you are and don't try to be someone you are not. Everyone makes mistakes, but making mistakes by being someone you aren't is the opposite of loyalty to yourself. Instead, let your own unique qualities shine through and distinguish yourself from everyone else. This poem shows that being yourself is a great quality that people have to accept. If people do not accept you for who you are, you are still remaining loyal to yourself and your beliefs which is a key aspect of loyalty.


Loyalty by Daniela Daraz


I would die for you,
Lie for you,
Stand by your side.
Take a shot to the chest and still try to fight.
I won't let anyone mess with you because you mean that to me.
Kill your enemies for you, but would you for me?


This poem demonstrates treating others the way you want to be treated, whether or not you receive the same treatment back. Being loyal to others when you aren't treated fairly can be very difficult, but if you continue to stay loyal you will become a better person in general. In this poem it shows that sometimes being loyal to others may also involve self sacrifice, although that depends on who you are being loyal to. People will go to various extremes to make others happy. Being loyal to others is an important characteristic that everyone should possess.

Short Stories

Just Lather, That's All by Hernando Tellez

Captain Torres, a military soldier came into the barber shop and wanted a clean shave. While the barber was shaving Captain Torres he was debating on slitting the Captain's throat. Although, he didn't want to be known as a coward or a murderer but instead he wanted to be a hero. The Captain knew that the barber may in fact kill him, but he was to stay to find out. After the barber finished shaving his beard the Captain grabbed his belt and pistol off the hanger and headed for the door. Before he left he turned to the barber and said, "They told me that you'd kill me. I came to find out. But killing isn't easy. You can take my word for it."

This short story reflects the main ideas of being loyal to yourself when Captain Torres stays loyal to his job, committing to do anything his job asks of him. Captain Torres doesn't let anything stop him from taking his position very seriously in the military. When he goes to the barber shop he knows that there might be a chance that the barber will murder him, but he doesn't let that get in the way of doing his job. Captain Torres is staying true to himself and his job, even though it may lead to death. This is very important as Captain Torres is willing to sacrifice his life to get some answers.

Appointment with Love by S.I. Kishor

Lieutenant Blandford, a young army soldier was waiting at Grand Central Station to meet a woman that he has been writing to for the past thirteen months. They started writing to eachother when he read the book Of Human Bondage and found Hollis Meynell's writing in the back of the book. She wrote so beautifully that it influenced him to find her address in the telephone book because he wanted to meet her.  They began writing back and forth to eachother and eventually decided it was time to meet. When he was at Grand Central Station he saw the a woman wearing a rose on her coat, which was what Hollis Meynell was to wear. From her looks he would have rather followed the young woman in the green dress that was leading him to the restaurant. Lieutenant Blandford decided to meet with the woman with the rose, who ended up being a woman that Hollis begged to impersonate her. The Lieutenant passed the test that Hollis had planned and made his way to the big restaurant across the street where she was waiting for him.

Lieutenant Blandford is a prime example of remaining loyal to others, as it shows in this short story. When he realizes that the woman he has been sending letters to for thirteen months is an old woman, he is put to the test of either introducing himself to her or following the young woman in the green dress. Even though Lieutenant Blandford wants to chase after the young girl, he decides that being loyal to others is more important than getting what he wants. This is very significant because he is staying loyal to the older woman even if that's not what he truly desires. In doing so, he also receives other great qualities of loyalty. 

Quotations

Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it. -Hardy D. Jackson

This quote is significant to being loyal to yourself by staying true to who you are and what you believe. When you're in a situation and you can't stay faithful to yourself, don't stay in it just because that's what others may want. Instead, remain loyal to yourself and do what your heart desires.

"Loyalty is something you give regardless of what you get back, and in giving loyalty, you're getting more loyalty; and out of loyalty flow other great qualities." -Charles Jones

When people aren't treating you properly don't sink to their level, but instead rise above and treat them the way you wish to be treated. This quote directly relates to the main focus of being loyal to others. You must be willing to put others ahead of yourself to truly remain loyal. However, in the act of being loyal to others you will acquire many other important aspects of loyalty.

Additional Quotations
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. -Dr. Suess

"You don't earn loyalty in a day. You earn loyalty day-by-day." -Jeffrey Gitomer

Ancient Story: The Lion's Whisker by Lin Donn





The Lion's Whisker is an ancient fable about a husband and wife living in an African village. For quite some time, the husband had not been happy in his marriage and began to stay late working in the fields. Although, the husband wasn't the only one unhappy, the wife was also miserable. Finally, the wife went to the oldest man in the village for advice. The elder said, "I can prepare a secret potion that will change your husband into a loving man" (Donn). The wife cried of excitement. There was one simple task though. The elder needed a lion's whisker but couldn't get it because he was too old. The wife hurried off to finish the task. She waited by the edge of the forest and watched the lion drink and eat. The lion then disappeared into the forest. For the next four weeks the exact same thing happened but this time a bit faster. Finally, the wife moved quicker than the lion, snatched a whisker and ran to the elder's house. The elder was pleased with her accomplishment but said, "You do not need magic to change your husband back into the loving man he once was. You are brave enough to pull a whisker from the chin of a living lion. It took cleverness and bravery to do what you have done. Can you not use that same patience and courage and wit with your husband" (Donn)? The wife was confused by what the elder was saying but she went home and follwed his advice. Her husband slowly began to love her again and within a year they were a happy couple.

The Lion's Whisker reflects loyalty in many aspects. When the husband and wife's marriage isn't running smoothly, instead of giving up she seeks advice. The wife's loyalty is very important because instead of just leaving her husband she sacrifices her life to strengthen their marriage. Deep down she must find something in her husband that is worth going to extreme measures for. Throughout the story, she remains loyal to her husband and never gives up hope that they can return to having a great marriage. When she accomplishes the task, she is very patient and gives him time to change.

The purpose of this project is to determine the impact of loyalty on one's life, as well as learn every aspect that is needed to be loyal. The effect that is to be conveyed by the end of the project is how the emotional feelings behind loyalty affects the outcome of the situation. Also, I would like to understand how one's behaviour impacts certain situations of loyalty. I want to be able to inspire the audience to make a difference by learning the positive outcomes of loyalty.

Introduction

Have you ever been in a situation where someone is going through a rough time? Instead of keeping your distance you stay right by their side. That alone is a great aspect called loyalty. Loyalty is one's faithfulness to commitments, causes or directly to someone in word and action. It is something that cannot be bought, but instead it must be earned. At some point in life, I believe that everyone has to be loyal. Whether its to someone else, or to yourself. I've learned that even if things aren't running smoothly you must remain loyal, and that itself is the main importance of loyalty.