The Medicine Bag Summary, Lesson Explanation, Word Meanings | ISC Class 12 English Prism B

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ISC Class 12 English - The Medicine Bag-Summary

 

The Medicine Bag Summary and Explanation

ISC Class 12 English Chapter The Medicine Bag Summary, Theme, Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings from English Prism Book 

The Medicine Bag Summary – Are you looking for the summary, theme and lesson explanation for ISC Class 12 English Prism Book (A Collection of ISC Short Stories) Chapter – The Medicine Bag . Get Lesson summary, theme, explanation along with difficult word meanings.

 

ISC Class 12 English Chapter – The Medicine Bag

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve

 

The Medicine Bag is a short story about a young boy named Martin, who is half-Sioux, and his relationship with his grandfather, Joe Iron Shell, who comes to visit from the reservation. At first, Martin feels embarrassed by his grandfather’s traditional ways and looks, especially when his grandfather wants to pass down the family’s medicine bag. The medicine bag is a symbol of their heritage and offers protection. As Martin learns to appreciate his heritage, he begins to understand the significance of the medicine bag.

 

 

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The Medicine Bag Summary 

The Medicine Bag is a poignant short story told from the perspective of a young boy named Martin, who lives with his family in Iowa. Martin and his sister, Cheryl, are proud of their Sioux heritage, especially their great-grandfather, Grandpa Joe Iron Shell, who lives on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. The siblings often boast about Grandpa and the reservation to their city friends, exaggerating his image and the Sioux way of life. However, they are careful not to show a picture of him, knowing the reality of his old age and humble lifestyle doesn’t match the glamorous stories they tell.

The story’s central conflict begins when Grandpa unexpectedly arrives at their suburban home after a long, difficult journey by bus. Martin is initially mortified and embarrassed by Grandpa’s appearance, his baggy suit, strange hat, and a mob of barking dogs and kids following him down the street. Despite his shame, Martin rushes to help his frail great-grandfather. Grandpa greets him formally in the Sioux language, which only adds to Martin’s embarrassment.

Grandpa collapses from heat exhaustion and fatigue shortly after arriving. During his recovery, the family learns the reason for his trip. He felt lonely and wanted to see where his descendants lived, and most importantly, he came because it was time to pass on his family’s sacred medicine bag to Martin, the oldest male descendant.

Grandpa’s visit changes Martin’s perspective. He sees Grandpa interacting with his sister, Cheryl, and her friends, who are fascinated by the old man’s stories and wisdom. Martin’s own friends finally come to see Grandpa, and to his surprise, they are deeply respectful and impressed by him, especially when Grandpa appears in his traditional attire. This makes Martin feel immense pride, though he continues to feel a mixture of honor and apprehension about the medicine bag. He knows he will have to take it, but he’s afraid of how his friends might react to the dirty leather pouch.

One evening, Grandpa calls Martin into his room alone. He explains that the passing of the bag is a sacred, private ceremony meant only for a man’s ears. He tells Martin the history of the bag, tracing it back to his own father, also named Iron Shell, who received a vision in his youth. The vision led him to find a broken piece of iron from a white man’s kettle, which became the first item in the medicine bag. The vision guided his father to become a blacksmith and find a way to thrive in the new world imposed upon his people. Grandpa also shares the tragic story of how his own son, Martin’s grandfather, died in a war without the bag’s protection because he was afraid of losing it.

Finally, Grandpa removes the small leather pouch from his neck. He tells Martin that the bag contains a piece of the iron kettle, a pebble from the butte where the vision quest took place, and a piece of sacred sage. He instructs Martin to never open the bag again until he passes it on to his own son, and to add a piece of prairie sage to it. Grandpa says Martin doesn’t need to wear the bag now, as no one would understand, but he must put it away safely and wear it when he returns to the reservation to add the new sage.

The story concludes with Martin’s family taking Grandpa to the hospital. Two weeks later, Martin stands alone on the reservation, following his great-grandfather’s instructions and placing a new piece of sage in the medicine bag. This final act shows that Martin has moved past his initial shame and fully accepted his cultural heritage and the responsibility passed down to him. The medicine bag, once a source of embarrassment, has become a symbol of his proud connection to his family’s history and traditions.

 

Summary of the Lesson The Medicine Bag in Hindi

द मेडिसिन बैग एक मार्मिक लघु कहानी है जिसे मार्टिन नाम के एक युवा लड़के के दृष्टिकोण से बताया गया है, जो आयोवा में अपने परिवार के साथ रहता है।  मार्टिन और उनकी बहन, चेरिल को अपनी सिओक्स विरासत पर गर्व है, विशेष रूप से उनके परदादा, दादा जो आयरन शेल, जो दक्षिण डकोटा में रोज़बड आरक्षण पर रहते हैं।  भाई-बहन अक्सर दादा और अपने शहर के दोस्तों के लिए आरक्षण के बारे में घमंड करते हैं, उनकी छवि और सिओक्स जीवन शैली को बढ़ा-चढ़ाकर बताते हैं।  हालाँकि, वे इस बात का ध्यान रखते हैं कि उनकी तस्वीर न दिखाई जाए, उनके बुढ़ापे की वास्तविकता और विनम्र जीवन शैली उनके द्वारा बताई गई ग्लैमरस कहानियों से मेल नहीं खाती है।

कहानी का केंद्रीय संघर्ष तब शुरू होता है जब दादा बस से एक लंबी, कठिन यात्रा के बाद अप्रत्याशित रूप से उनके उपनगरीय घर पहुंचते हैं।  मार्टिन शुरू में दादा की उपस्थिति, उसके बैगी सूट, अजीब टोपी, और भौंकने वाले कुत्तों और बच्चों की भीड़ से शर्मिंदा और शर्मिंदा होता है।  अपनी शर्म के बावजूद, मार्टिन अपने कमजोर परदादा की मदद करने के लिए दौड़ता है।  दादाजी औपचारिक रूप से सिओक्स भाषा में उनका स्वागत करते हैं, जो केवल मार्टिन की शर्मिंदगी को बढ़ाता है।

दादा पहुंचने के तुरंत बाद गर्मी की थकान और थकान से गिर जाते हैं।  उसके ठीक होने के दौरान, परिवार को उसकी यात्रा का कारण पता चलता है।  वह अकेला महसूस कर रहा था और यह देखना चाहता था कि उसके वंशज कहाँ रहते हैं, और सबसे महत्वपूर्ण बात यह थी कि वह आया क्योंकि यह उसके परिवार का पवित्र दवा का थैला सबसे बड़े पुरुष वंशज मार्टिन को देने का समय था।

दादाजी की यात्रा मार्टिन के दृष्टिकोण को बदल देती है।  वह दादा को अपनी बहन, चेरिल और उसके दोस्तों के साथ बातचीत करते हुए देखता है, जो बूढ़े आदमी की कहानियों और ज्ञान से मोहित हैं।  मार्टिन के अपने दोस्त आखिरकार दादा से मिलने आते हैं, और उन्हें आश्चर्य होता है कि वे उनका बहुत सम्मान करते हैं और उनसे प्रभावित होते हैं, खासकर जब दादा अपनी पारंपरिक पोशाक में दिखाई देते हैं।  इससे मार्टिन को बहुत गर्व महसूस होता है, हालांकि वह दवा के थैले के बारे में सम्मान और आशंका का मिश्रण महसूस करता है।  वह जानता है कि उसे इसे लेना होगा, लेकिन उसे डर है कि उसके दोस्त चमड़े की गंदी थैली पर कैसी प्रतिक्रिया दे सकते हैं।

एक शाम, दादाजी मार्टिन को अकेले अपने कमरे में बुलाते हैं।  वह बताते हैं कि थैले को पास करना एक पवित्र, निजी समारोह है जो केवल एक आदमी के कानों के लिए होता है।  वह मार्टिन को थैले का इतिहास बताता है, इसे अपने पिता, जिनका नाम भी आयरन शेल है, से जोड़ता है, जिन्हें अपनी युवावस्था में एक दृष्टि प्राप्त हुई थी।  इस दृष्टि ने उन्हें एक गोरे आदमी की केतली से लोहे का एक टूटा हुआ टुकड़ा खोजने के लिए प्रेरित किया, जो दवा के थैले में पहली वस्तु बन गई।  इस दृष्टि ने उनके पिता को लोहार बनने और अपने लोगों पर थोपी गई नई दुनिया में फलने-फूलने का रास्ता खोजने के लिए निर्देशित किया।  दादा ने इस दुखद कहानी को भी साझा किया कि कैसे उनके अपने बेटे, मार्टिन के दादा, थैले की सुरक्षा के बिना युद्ध में मारे गए क्योंकि उन्हें इसे खोने का डर था।

अंत में, दादा उसकी गर्दन से चमड़े की छोटी थैली निकालते हैं।  वह मार्टिन को बताता है कि थैले में लोहे की केतली का एक टुकड़ा, बट्टे से एक कंकड़ जहां दृष्टि की खोज हुई थी, और पवित्र ऋषि का एक टुकड़ा है।  वह मार्टिन को निर्देश देता है कि जब तक वह इसे अपने बेटे को नहीं देता, तब तक वह बैग को फिर कभी न खोले, और उसमें प्रैरी ऋषि का एक टुकड़ा जोड़ दे।  दादाजी का कहना है कि मार्टिन को अब थैला पहनने की आवश्यकता नहीं है, जैसा कि कोई भी समझ नहीं पाएगा, लेकिन जब वह नए ऋषि को जोड़ने के लिए आरक्षण में लौटता है तो उसे इसे सुरक्षित रूप से दूर रखना चाहिए और इसे पहनना चाहिए।

मार्टिन के परिवार द्वारा दादा को अस्पताल ले जाने के साथ कहानी का समापन होता है।  दो हफ्ते बाद, मार्टिन अपने परदादा के निर्देशों का पालन करते हुए और दवा के थैले में ऋषि का एक नया टुकड़ा रखते हुए आरक्षण पर अकेला खड़ा है।  इस अंतिम कार्य से पता चलता है कि मार्टिन अपनी प्रारंभिक शर्म से आगे निकल गया है और अपनी सांस्कृतिक विरासत और उसे सौंपी गई जिम्मेदारी को पूरी तरह से स्वीकार कर लिया है।  दवा का थैला, जो कभी शर्मिंदगी का स्रोत था, अपने परिवार के इतिहास और परंपराओं के साथ उनके गौरवपूर्ण संबंध का प्रतीक बन गया है।

 

Theme of the Lesson The Medicine Bag

Culture Clash and Shame
The central conflict of the story revolves around the tension between Native American and white American cultures. This is shown through Martin’s initial embarrassment about his Grandpa. He has created a glamorous image of his Sioux heritage for his friends based on stereotypes from movies and television. His friends are impressed by items like moccasins and a drum, but Martin fears they’ll laugh at his grandpa’s real appearance, which doesn’t fit the tall and stately like TV Indians stereotype. This fear stems from his own internal struggle with how his two worlds, which is his family’s heritage and his life in a predominantly white, urban neighborhood perceive each other.

Identity and Self-Acceptance
Martin’s journey is a profound coming-of-age story about accepting his identity. At the beginning, he is ashamed of his grandpa, who represents a part of himself he has tried to hide. He is worried about what his friends will think and is more focused on fitting in than honoring his family. However, as the story progresses, Martin’s perspective shifts. When his friends finally meet Grandpa, they are impressed and respectful, not mocking. This experience helps Martin realize that his shame was self-imposed and that he can be proud of his heritage. By the end, he fully accepts his identity and the responsibility of carrying on his family’s traditions.

The Importance of Heritage and Tradition
The story emphasizes the deep significance of heritage and the continuity of tradition. Grandpa Joe’s long and difficult journey is a testament to the importance of passing on the medicine bag. This act is not just about a physical object; it’s about sharing a family’s history, spiritual beliefs, and connection to the past. The stories of Grandpa’s father, Iron Shell, and his own life are woven into the bag’s history, highlighting how tradition provides guidance and strength through generations. Even though Martin lives in a modern world, Grandpa recognizes the importance of the tradition continuing, and Martin ultimately accepts this role. The medicine bag becomes a powerful symbol of Martin’s heritage and the link between his past and his future.

 

The Medicine Bag Lesson Explanation 

Passage: My kid sister Cheryl and I always bragged about our Sioux grandpa, Joe Iron Shell. Our friends, who had always lived in the city and only knew about Indians from movies and TV, were impressed by our stories. Maybe we exaggerated and made Grandpa and the reservation sound glamorous, but when we’d return home to Iowa after our yearly summer visit to Grandpa, we always had some exciting tale to tell.
We always had some authentic Sioux article to show our listeners. One year Cheryl had new moccasins that Grandpa had made. On another visit he gave me a small, round, flat rawhide drum which was decorated with a painting of a warrior riding a horse. He taught me a real Sioux chant to sing while I beat the drum with a leather-covered stick that had a feather on the end. Man, that really made an impression.

Word Meanings
bragged: talked boastfully
Sioux: A group of Native American tribes from the Great Plains of North America.
Impressed: Felt admiration or respect for someone or something.
Exaggerated: Described something as being larger, better, or worse than it really was.
reservation: small parcels of land on which native Americans were supposed to live.
glamorous: attractive in an appealing way
authentic: genuine
moccasins: soft leather shoes without a separate heel with the heel sewn to the upper in large stitches, originally worn by Native Americans
Rawhide: Untanned skin of an animal, especially cattle, used for making articles.
Chant: A repeated rhythmic phrase, typically sung or spoken in a monotone.

Explanation of the above passage—The narrator’s kid sister, Cheryl, and the narrator himself always bragged about their Sioux grandpa, Joe Iron Shell. Their friends, who had always lived in the city and only knew about Indians from movies and TV, were impressed by their stories. Perhaps the narrator and Cheryl exaggerated and made Grandpa and the reservation sound glamorous, but when they would return home to Iowa after their yearly summer visit to Grandpa, they always had some exciting tale to tell. They always had some authentic Sioux article to show their listeners. One year Cheryl had new moccasins that Grandpa had made. On another visit, he gave the narrator a small, round, flat rawhide drum which was decorated with a painting of a warrior riding a horse. He taught the narrator a real Sioux chant to sing while the narrator beat the drum with a leather-covered stick that had a feather on the end. That really made an impression.

 

Passage: We never showed our friends Grandpa’s picture. Not that we were ashamed of him, but because we knew that the glamorous tales we told didn’t go with the real thing. Our friends would have laughed at the picture, because Grandpa wasn’t tall and stately like TV Indians. His hair wasn’t in braids but hung in stringy gray strands on his neck, and he was old. He was our great-grandfather, and he didn’t live in a tepee, but all by himself in a part log, part tar-paper shack on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. So when Grandpa came to visit us, I was so ashamed and embarrassed I could’ve died.
There are a lot of yippy poodles and other fancy little dogs in our neighborhood, but they usually barked singly at the mailman from the safety of their own yards. Now it sounded as if a whole pack of mutts were barking together in one place.
I got up and walked to the curb to see what the commotion was. About a block away I saw a crowd of little kids yelling, with the dogs yipping and growling around someone who was walking down the middle of the street.

Word Meanings
Stately: Dignified, majestic, and grand in appearance.
braids: a length of hair made up of three or more interlaced thin locks of hair.
stringly: hair having the appearance of strings
strand: a single piece of hair, cotton or wool
Tepee: A cone-shaped tent traditionally made from animal skins, used by some Native American tribes.
Tar-paper shack: A small, simple hut or house, often cheaply built, with a roof and/or walls covered in tar paper for protection from the weather.
shack: a roughly built hut or cabin made from pieces of wood or metal
Poodles: A type of dog with a curly coat, often considered a fancy breed.
mutts: stray dogs
commotion: great noise or excitement
yipping: giving out sharp high-pitched bark

Explanation of the above passage—The narrator and his sister never showed their friends a picture of their grandpa. It wasn’t because they were ashamed of him, but because they knew the exciting stories they told didn’t match what he actually looked like. Their friends would have laughed at the picture, because Grandpa wasn’t tall and dignified like the Native Americans they saw on TV. His hair wasn’t in braids but hung in thin, gray pieces on his neck, and he was old. He was their great-grandfather, and he didn’t live in a traditional tepee, but all alone in a house made partly of logs and partly of tar paper on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. So when Grandpa came to visit, the narrator was so ashamed and embarrassed he felt like he could die. A lot of small, noisy poodles and other fancy little dogs lived in their neighborhood, but they usually barked by themselves at the mailman from inside their own yards. Now, it sounded as if a whole group of mixed-breed dogs was barking together in one spot. The narrator got up and walked to the curb to see what the commotion was. About a block away, he saw a group of little kids yelling, with dogs yapping and growling around a person who was walking down the middle of the street.

 

Passage: I watched the group as it slowly came closer and saw that in the center of the strange procession was a man wearing a tall black hat. He’d pause now and then to peer at something in his hand and then at the houses on either side of the street. I felt cold and hot at the same time as I recognized the man. “Oh, no!” I whispered. “It’s Grandpa!”
I stood on the curb, unable to move even though I wanted to run and hide. Then I got mad when I saw how the yippy dogs were growling and nipping at the old man’s baggy pant legs and how wearily he poked them away with his cane. “Stupid mutts,” I said as I ran to rescue Grandpa.
When I kicked and hollered at the dogs to get away, they put their tails between their legs and scattered. The kids ran to the curb, where they watched me and the old man.
“Grandpa,” I said, and felt pretty dumb when my voice cracked. I reached for his beat-up old tin suitcase, which was tied shut with a rope. But he set it down right in the street and shook my hand.
“Hau, Takoza, Grandchild,” he greeted me formally in Sioux

Word Meanings
Procession: A line of people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly way. In this context, it’s used to describe the group of kids and dogs following the old man.
growling: making a low guttural sound in the throat that indicates hostility.
Nipping: bite or pinch sharply.
Wearily: In a tired manner.
Hollered: Shouted loudly.
Scattered: Moved quickly in different directions.
Curb: The edge of a sidewalk.
Cracked: A break in the sound of a voice, often due to emotion.
Beat-up: Worn out from long use.
Hau, Takoza: Sioux words meaning “Hello, Grandchild.”
Formally: In a polite or official manner.

Explanation of the above passage—He watched the group approach slowly and saw an old man in the center of the strange crowd. The man wore a tall black hat and occasionally stopped to look at something in his hand, then at the houses along the street. The narrator felt a rush of emotion, both cold and hot, as he recognized the man. He whispered to himself dismissively that it’s his Grandpa. The narrator stood frozen on the curb, wanting to run and hide but unable to move. Then, he became angry as he watched the yipping dogs growl and nip at the old man’s pants and saw how tiredly the man poked them away with his cane. He cursed the dogs and ran to help his grandpa. When the narrator kicked and yelled at the dogs, they scattered with their tails between their legs. The kids in the group ran to the curb to watch the narrator and the old man. The narrator’s voice cracked as he said, ‘Grandpa’. He reached for the beat-up old tin suitcase, which was tied with a rope, but his grandpa set it down in the street. The grandpa then formally greeted him in Sioux, saying, hello, Takoza, Grandchild.

 

Passage: All I could do was stand there with the whole neighborhood watching and shake the hand of the leather-brown old man. saw how his gray hair straggled from under his big black hat which had a drooping feather in its crown. His rumpled black suit hung like a sack over his stooped frame. As he shook my hand, his coat fell open to expose a bright-red satin shirt with a beaded bolo tie under the collar. His get-up wasn’t out of place on the reservation, but it sure was here, and I wanted to sink right through the pavement.
“Hi,” I muttered with my head down. I tried to pull my hand away when I felt his bony hand trembling, and looked up to see fatigue in his face. I felt like crying. I couldn’t think of anything to say, so I picked up Grandpa’s suitcase, took his arm, and guided him up the driveway to our house.
Mom was standing on the steps. I don’t know how long she’d been watching, but her hand was over her mouth and she looked as if she couldn’t believe what she saw. Then she ran to us.
“Grandpa,” she gasped. “How in the world did you get here?”
She checked her move to embrace Grandpa, and I remembered that such a display of affection is unseemly to the Sioux and would embarrass him.
“Hau, Marie,” he said as he shook Mom’s hand. She smiled and took his other arm.

Word Meanings
straggled: walked slowly
rumpled: ruffled or dishevelled
Stooped: Having the shoulders and upper back bent forward; a posture often associated with old age.
Beaded bolo tie: A type of necktie consisting of a piece of cord or braided leather with decorative metal tips, secured with an ornamental clasp or slide, often decorated with beads.
unseemly: unbecoming or indecorous in appearance, speech, conduct etc.

Explanation of the above passage—The narrator could only stand there, with the entire neighborhood watching, and shake the old, leather-brown man’s hand. He saw how the grandpa’s gray hair hung in thin strands from under his large black hat, which had a drooping feather. His wrinkled black suit hung loosely on his bent frame. As he shook the narrator’s hand, his coat opened, revealing a bright-red satin shirt with a beaded bolo tie. His outfit seemed normal on the reservation but was completely out of place here, and the narrator wished he could disappear. He muttered ‘Hi’ with his head down and tried to pull his hand away when he felt the grandpa’s bony hand trembling. He looked up and saw exhaustion on the old man’s face, which made him feel like crying. Unable to think of what to say, he picked up Grandpa’s beat-up suitcase, took his arm, and helped him up the driveway toward their house. His mother was standing on the steps, with her hand over her mouth, looking as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She then ran to them and gasped out to Grandpa that how in the world did he get there. She started to move to hug him, but then stopped, remembering that showing such affection is considered inappropriate for the Sioux and would make him uncomfortable. He formally greeted her, saying hello, Marie, as he shook her hand. She smiled and took his other arm to help him.

 

Passage : As we supported him up the steps, the door banged open and Cheryl came bursting out of the house. She was all smiles and was so obviously glad to see Grandpa that I was ashamed of how I felt.
“Grandpa!” she yelled happily. “You came to see us!”
Grandpa smiled and Mom and I let go of him as he stretched out his arms to my ten-year-old sister, who was still young enough to be hugged.
“Wicincala, little girl,” he greeted her, and then collapsed.
He had fainted. Mom and I carried him into her sewing room bed. where we had a spare
After we had Grandpa on the bed, Mom stood there helplessly patting his shoulder.
“Shouldn’t we call the doctor, Mom?” I suggested, since she didn’t seem to know what to do.
“Yes,” she agreed, with a sigh. “You make Grandpa comfortable, Martin.”

Word Meanings
Banged: To hit a surface or object, making a loud noise.
Bursting: To move suddenly and with great energy.
Wicincala: A Sioux word meaning “little girl.”
Collapsed: To fall down suddenly because of illness or weakness.
Fainted: To lose consciousness for a short time.
Helplessly: Unable to do anything to help oneself or someone else.
Suggested: To put forward an idea or plan for consideration.
Sigh: To let out a long, deep breath, often to show sadness or relief.

Explanation of the above passage—He collapsed after Martin’s mother and Martin helped him up the steps. Cheryl, his ten-year-old sister, came bursting out of the house. She was overjoyed to see him and yelled happily that he had come to see them. Grandpa smiled and stretched out his arms to her, greeting her in Sioux as ‘Wicincala’, a little girl. He then fainted. Martin and his mother carried him to a spare bed in the sewing room. As his mother stood helplessly patting his shoulder, Martin suggested that she call the doctor since she didn’t seem to know what to do. She agreed with a sigh and asked Martin to make Grandpa comfortable.

 

Passage: I reluctantly moved to the bed. I knew Grandpa wouldn’t want to have Mom undress him, but I didn’t want to, either. He was so skinny and frail that his coat slipped off easily. When loosened his tie and opened his shirt collar, I felt a small leather pouch that hung from a thong around his neck. I left it alone and were moved to remove his boots. The scuffed old cowboy boots tight and he moaned as I put pressure on his legs to jerk them off. I put the boots on the floor and saw why they fit so tight. Each one was stuffed with money. I looked at the bills that lined the boots and started to ask about them, but Grandpa’s eyes were closed again.
Mom came back with a basin of water. “The doctor thinks Grandpa is suffering from heat exhaustion,” she explained as she bathed Grandpa’s face. Mom gave a big sigh, “Oh hinh, Martin. How do you suppose he got here?”
We found out after the doctor’s visit. Grandpa was angrily sitting up in bed while Mom tried to feed him some soup.

Word Meanings
Reluctantly: Unwillingly; with hesitation.
Frail: Weak and delicate.
Pouch: A small bag or sack.
Thong: A thin leather strap or cord.
Scuffed: Worn or scraped on the surface.
Moaned: Made a low, mournful sound, usually from pain or discomfort.
Heat exhaustion: A condition caused by overheating of the body, often due to physical activity in hot weather.
Sigh: A long, deep audible breath expressing sadness, relief, or tiredness.
Angrily: In an irritable or upset manner.

Explanation of the above passage—Martin moved reluctantly towards the bed, knowing Grandpa would not want his mother to undress him, and he himself didn’t want to either. Because Grandpa was so skinny and weak, his coat came off easily. As Martin loosened his tie and opened his shirt collar, he felt a small leather pouch hanging from a strap around his grandfather’s neck. He decided to leave it alone and then tried to take off the boots. The scuffed, old cowboy boots were tight, and Grandpa moaned as Martin had to pull hard on his legs to get them off. After he put the boots on the floor, he saw why they were so tight: they were each stuffed with money. Martin saw the bills lining the boots and was about to ask about them, but Grandpa’s eyes were closed again. Martin’s mother returned with a basin of water. She told Martin that the doctor believed Grandpa was suffering from heat exhaustion. Sighing heavily, she wondered aloud how he could have possibly gotten there. They discovered the full story after the doctor’s visit. Grandpa was sitting up in bed angrily while his mother tried to feed him some soup.

 

Passage: “Tonight you let Marie feed you, Grandpa,” spoke my dad, who had gotten home from work just as the doctor was leaving.
“You’re not really sick,” he said as he gently pushed Grandpa back against the pillows. “The doctor said you just got too tired and hot after your long trip.”
Grandpa relaxed, and between sips of soup he told us of his journey. Soon after our visit to him Grandpa decided that he I would like to see where his only living descendants lived and what our home was like. Besides, he admitted sheepishly, he was lonesome after we left.
I knew everybody felt as guilty as I did-especially Mom. Mom was all Grandpa had left. So even after she married my dad, who’s a white man and teaches in the college in our city, and after Cheryl and I were born, Mom made sure that every summer we spent a week with Grandpa.
I never thought that Grandpa would be lonely after our visits, and none of us noticed how old and weak he had become. But Grandpa knew and so he came to us. He had ridden on buses for two and a half days. When he arrived in the city, tired and stiff from sitting for so long, he set out, walking, to find us.

Word Meanings
descendants: A person, plant, or animal that is descended from a particular ancestor.
sheepishly: in an embarrassed manner due to shame or lack of confidence.
lonesome: Sad because one has no friends or companions.
stiff: Unable to move or bend easily; rigid.

Explanation of the above passage—That night, Martin’s dad returned home from work just as the doctor was leaving. He told Grandpa that he should let Marie (Mom) feed him that night. He also gently pushed Grandpa back against the pillows and said that he wasn’t really sick, but just tired and hot from his long trip, as the doctor had said. Grandpa relaxed and told them about his journey in between sips of soup. He said that soon after their visit, he decided that he wanted to see where his only living descendants lived and what their home was like. He also sheepishly admitted that he was lonely after they left. Martin realized everyone felt as guilty as he did, especially his Mom, since Grandpa was all she had left. Even after she married a white man who was a college professor, and after Martin and Cheryl were born, she made sure that they spent a week with Grandpa every summer. Martin had never thought that Grandpa would feel lonely after their visits, and none of them had noticed how old and weak he had become. But Grandpa knew, which is why he came to them. He had traveled on buses for two and a half days. When he arrived in the city, he was tired and stiff from sitting for so long, so he started walking to find them.

 

Passage: He had stopped to rest on the steps of some building downtown and a policeman found him. The cop, according to Grandpa, was a good man who took him to the bus stop and waited until the bus came and told the driver to let Grandpa out at Bell View Drive. After Grandpa got off the bus, he started walking again. But he couldn’t see the house numbers on the other side when he walked on the sidewalk, so he walked in the middle of the street. That’s when all the little kids and dogs followed him.
I knew everybody felt as bad as I did. Yet I was proud of this eighty-six-year-old man, who had never been away from the reservation, having the courage to travel so far alone.
“You found the money in my boots?” he asked Mom.
“Martin did,” she answered, and roused herself to scold.
“Grandpa, you shouldn’t have carried so much money. What it someone had stolen it from you?”
Grandpa laughed. “I would’ve known if anyone tried to take the boots off my feet. The money is what I’ve saved for a long time–a hundred dollars- for my funeral. But you take it now to buy groceries so that I won’t be a burden to you while I am here.”
“That won’t be necessary, Grandpa” Dad said. “We are honored to have you with us and you will never be a burden. I am only sorry that we never thought to bring you home with us this summer and spare you the discomfort of a long trip.”

Word Meanings
Roused: To cause to feel a particular emotion; to stir up.
Scold: To express disapproval of someone’s behavior.
Burden: A hardship or a difficult thing to deal with.
Discomfort: A state of being uneasy or in pain.

Explanation of the above passage—After resting on the steps of a building, a policeman found Grandpa. According to Grandpa, the policeman was a good man who took him to the bus stop and waited with him. The policeman told the bus driver to let Grandpa out at Bell View Drive. When Grandpa got off the bus, he began walking again. Since he couldn’t see the house numbers from the sidewalk, he walked in the middle of the street, which is when the children and dogs started following him. Martin felt bad about what happened, but he was also proud of his eighty-six-year-old grandfather for having the courage to travel so far alone, as he had never left the reservation before. Grandpa asked Martin’s mother if she had found the money in his boots. She replied that Martin had. She then started to scold Grandpa, saying that he should not have carried so much money and asking what he would have done if someone had stolen it. Grandpa laughed and said that he would have known if someone had tried to take his boots. He explained that he had saved one hundred dollars for a long time for his funeral. He told her to take the money to buy groceries so that he wouldn’t be a burden to her while he was there. Martin’s dad told Grandpa that it wasn’t necessary, that they were honored to have him, and that he would never be a burden. He also said he was sorry that they hadn’t thought to bring him home with them to spare him the long, uncomfortable trip.

 

Passage: Grandpa was pleased. “Thank you,” he answered. “But do not feel bad that you didn’t bring me with you, for I would have come then. It was not time.” He said this in such a way that no one could argue with him. To Grandpa and the Sioux, he once told me, a thing would be done when it was the right time to do it and that’s the way it was.
“Also,” Grandpa went on, looking at me, “I have come because it is soon time for Martin to have the medicine bag.”
We all knew what that meant. Grandpa thought he was going to die and he had to follow the tradition of his family to pass the medicine bag, along with its history, to the oldest male child.
“Even though the boy,” he said, still looking at me, “bears a white man’s name, the medicine bag will be his.”
I didn’t know what to say. I had the same hot and cold feeling that I had when I first saw Grandpa in the street. The medicine bag was the dirty leather pouch I had found around his neck. “I could never wear such a thing,” I almost said aloud. I thought of having my friends see it in gym class, at the swimming pool, and could imagine the smart things they would say. But I just swallowed hard and took a step toward the bed. I knew I would have to take it.
But Grandpa was tired. “Not now, Martin,” he said, waving his hand in dismissal, “it is not time. Now I will sleep.”

Word Meanings
Bears: Carries or has.
Pouch: A small bag or sack, often made of leather or cloth.
Swallowed hard: An idiom meaning to suppress a feeling of fear, shame, or emotion, often by a noticeable swallowing motion.
Dismissal: The act of ending or waving away something. 

Explanation of the above passage—Grandpa expressed his pleasure, saying thank you. He told them not to feel bad that they hadn’t brought him with them earlier because, at that time, it was not the right moment. He stated this in a way that made it impossible for anyone to disagree with him. To Grandpa and the Sioux people, as he had once explained to the narrator, something would happen only when the appropriate time had arrived, and that was the way things were. Grandpa then continued, looking at the narrator, saying that he had also come because it was soon time for Martin to receive the medicine bag. Everyone present understood what that meant: Grandpa believed he was close to dying, and he needed to follow his family’s long-standing custom of passing the medicine bag, along with its historical stories, to the oldest male child. He kept looking at the narrator and stated that even though the boy had a white man’s name, the medicine bag would still belong to him. Martin did not know how to respond. He felt the same mix of hot and cold emotions he had experienced when he first saw Grandpa in the street. The medicine bag was the dirty leather pouch Martin had found hanging around Grandpa’s neck. He almost said aloud that he could never wear such a thing. He imagined his friends seeing it during gym class or at the swimming pool and could easily picture the clever, mocking comments they would make. But he just swallowed hard and took a step towards the bed. He understood that he was obligated to accept it. However, Grandpa was tired. He waved his hand, dismissing the idea of giving it then, and told Martin that it was not the right moment. He then said he would sleep.

 

Passage: So that’s how Grandpa came to be with us for two months. My friends kept asking to come see the old man, but I put them off. I told myself that I didn’t want them laughing at Grandpa. But even as I made excuses, I knew it wasn’t Grandpa that I was afraid they’d laugh at.
Nothing bothered Cheryl about bringing her friends to see Grandpa. Every day after school started, there’d be a crew of giggling little girls or round-eyed little boys crowded around the old man on the patio, where he’d gotten in the habit of sitting every afternoon.
Grandpa would smile in his gentle way and patiently answer their questions, or he’d tell them stories of brave warriors, ghosts, animals, and the kids listened in awed silence. Those little guys thought Grandpa was great.
Finally, one day after school, my friends came home with me because nothing I said stopped them. “We’re going to see the great Indian of Bell View Drive,” said Hank, who was supposed to be my best friend. “My brother has seen him three times, so he oughta be well enough to see us.”

Word Meanings
Put them off: To postpone or delay a meeting or a visit with someone.
Crew: A group of people who work together or are associated in a particular way.
patio: a paved outdoor area adjoining a house
Oughta: An informal, contracted version of ought to,  meaning should.

Explanation of the above passage—The narrator, Martin, says his grandpa stayed with them for two months. Martin’s friends kept asking to visit Grandpa, but Martin kept making excuses. He told himself he was doing this because he didn’t want them to laugh at Grandpa. However, he knew the truth: he was afraid that they would laugh at him, not his Grandpa. Unlike Martin, his younger sister, Cheryl, had no problem inviting her friends over. Every afternoon after school, a group of giggling little girls and wide-eyed little boys would gather around Grandpa on the patio, a place where he often sat. Grandpa would smile gently and patiently answer their questions. He would tell them stories about brave warriors, ghosts, and animals, and the children would listen in quiet, amazed silence. The narrator notes that all those kids thought Grandpa was wonderful. Eventually, one afternoon after school, Martin’s friends came over to his house, as nothing he said could stop them. His best friend, Hank, said that they were going to see ‘the great Indian of Bell View Drive’. He added that since his own brother had already seen him three times, Grandpa should be well enough to see them too.

 

Passage: When we got to my house, Grandpa was sitting on the patio. He had on his red shirt, but today he also wore a fringed leather vest that was decorated with beads. Instead of his usual cowboy boots he had solidly beaded moccasins on his feet that stuck out of his black trousers. Of course, he had his old black hat on – he was seldom without it. But it had been brushed and the feather in the beaded headband was proudly erect, its tip a brighter white. His hair lay in silver strands over the red shirt collar. I stared just as my friends did and I heard one of them murmur, “Wow!”
Grandpa looked up and when his eyes met mine, they twinkled as if he were laughing inside. He nodded to me and my face got all hot. I could tell that he had known all along I was afraid he’d embarrass me in front of my friends.
“Hau, hoksilas, boys,” he greeted, and held out his hand.
My buddies passed in a single file and shook his hand as I introduced them. They were so polite I almost laughed. “How, there, Grandpa,” and even a “How do you do, sir.”
“You look fine, Grandpa,” I said as the guys sat on the lawn chairs or on the patio floor.
“Hanh, yes,” he agreed. “When I woke up this morning, it seemed the right time to dress in the good clothes. I knew that my grandson would be bringing his friends.”
“You guys want some lemonade or something?” I offered. No one answered. They were listening to Grandpa as he started telling how he’d killed the deer from which his vest was made.

Word Meanings
Patio: A paved outdoor area, usually next to a house, used for dining or relaxing.
Fringed: Decorated with a border of hanging threads or cords.
Beaded: Decorated with beads.
Moccasins: A type of soft leather shoe, typically without a separate sole, originally worn by Native Americans.
Erect: Upright; standing straight.
Twinkled:  Shone with a light that rapidly and repeatedly changes in intensity, often indicating amusement or cheerfulness.
Hoksilas: A Sioux word meaning “boys.”
Hanh: A Sioux word of agreement, like saying “yes.”
Polite: Having or showing behavior that is respectful and considerate of other people.

Explanation of the above passage—When Martin and his friends arrived at his house, Grandpa was already on the patio. He was wearing his red shirt, a fringed, beaded leather vest, and beaded moccasins instead of his cowboy boots. He also had on his old black hat, which had been brushed clean, with the feather standing proudly upright. His hair was silver and rested on his red collar. Martin and his friends stared, and one of them whispered in amazement.  Grandpa looked up at Martin, his eyes twinkling as if he were laughing. He nodded, and Martin’s face felt warm. He knew Grandpa had understood his earlier fears about him being embarrassed. Grandpa then greeted the boys and held out his hand. Martin’s friends lined up to shake his hand as Martin introduced them. The boys were so polite that Martin nearly laughed. They said things like, ‘How, there, Grandpa’, and ‘How do you do, sir’. Martin told Grandpa he looked well. Grandpa agreed, saying that morning had felt like the right time to dress in his ‘good clothes’, and that he knew his grandson would be bringing his friends. Martin offered his friends lemonade, but no one responded because they were busy listening to Grandpa tell the story of how he had killed the deer for his vest.

 

Passage: Grandpa did most of the talking while my friends were there.
I was so proud of him and amazed at how respectfully quiet my buddies were. Mom had to chase them home at suppertime. As they left, they shook Grandpa’s hand again and said to me:
“Martin, he’s really great!”
“Yeah, man! Don’t blame you for keeping him to yourself.”
“Can we come back?”
But after they left, Mom said, “No more visitors for a while, Martin. Grandpa won’t admit it, but his strength hasn’t returned. He likes having company, but it tires him.”
That evening Grandpa called me to his room before he went to sleep. “Tomorrow,” he said, “when you come home, it will be time to give you the medicine bag.”
I felt a hard squeeze from where my heart is supposed to be and was scared, but I answered, “OK, Grandpa.”
All night I had weird dreams about thunder and lightning on a high hill. From a distance I heard the slow beat of a drum. When I woke up in the morning, I felt as if I hadn’t slept at all. At school it seemed as if the day would never end and when it finally did, I ran home.
Grandpa was in his room, sitting on the bed. The shades were down and the place was dim and cool. I sat on the floor in front of Grandpa, but he didn’t even look at me. After what seemed a long time, he spoke.

Word Meanings
Amaze: To surprise or impress someone greatly.
Respectfully: In a way that shows admiration or deep politeness.
Suppertime: another word for dinner time or the evening meal.
Medicine bag: A medicine bag is not a typical first-aid kit. In many Native American cultures, it’s a small pouch or bag that holds sacred items, often with a deep spiritual meaning for the person who owns it. The items inside are believed to provide protection, strength, or guidance.
dim: faintly lit or shadowy. 

Explanation of the above passage—Grandpa did most of the talking while Martin’s friends were there. Martin was very proud of his grandfather and amazed at how respectfully quiet his friends were. His mom had to send them home when it was time for supper. As they left, they shook Grandpa’s hand again and told Martin that Grandpa was really great. They said they didn’t blame him for keeping his grandfather all to himself and asked if they could come back. After they were gone, Martin’s mom told him there would be no more visitors for a while. She explained that Grandpa wouldn’t admit it, but he was still weak and that having company, while enjoyable for him, was also tiring. That evening, Grandpa called Martin to his room before going to sleep. He told Martin that the next day, after school, it would be time to give him the medicine bag. Martin felt a tightening in his chest and was scared, but he agreed. That night, Martin had strange dreams of thunder and lightning on a high hill, and he heard the distant sound of a slow drumbeat. When he woke up, he felt like he hadn’t slept at all. The school day seemed to go on forever, and when it finally ended, he ran straight home. He found Grandpa in his room, sitting on the bed. The shades were down, making the room dim and cool. Martin sat on the floor in front of him, but Grandpa didn’t look at him. After a long silence, he began to speak.

 

Passage: “I sent your mother and sister away. What you will hear today is only for a man’s ears. What you will receive is only for a man’s hands.” He fell silent and I felt shivers down my back.
“My father in his early manhood,” Grandpa began, “made a vision quest to find a spirit guide for his life. You cannot understand how it was in that time, when the great Teton Sioux were first made to stay on the reservation. There was a strong need for guidance from Wakantanka, the Great Spirit. But too many of the young men were filled with despair and hatred. They thought it was hopeless to search for a vision when the glorious life was gone and only the hated confines of a reservation lay ahead. But my father held to the old ways.
“He carefully prepared for his quest with a purifying sweat bath and then he went alone to a high butte top to fast and pray. After three days he received his sacred dream—in which he found, after long searching, the white man’s iron. He did not understand his vision of find-ing something belonging to the white people, for in that time they were the enemy. When he came down from the butte to cleanse himself at the stream below, he found the remains of a campfire and the broken shell of an iron kettle. This was a sign which reinforced his dream. He took a piece of the iron for his medicine bag, which he had made of elk skin years before, to prepare for his quest. “He returned to his village, where he told his dream to the wise old men of the tribe. They gave him the name Iron Shell, but neither did they understand the meaning of the dream. This first Iron Shell kept the piece of iron with him at all times and believed it gave him protection from the evils of those unhappy days.

Word Meanings
Wakantanka: The supreme being and creator of the Lakota (Natives from Western South Dakota) Sioux.
Confines: The limits or borders of a space; in this context, the small, restricted area of a reservation.
Purifying: To make something clean or pure, often in a spiritual or ceremonial way.
butte: a hill that has steep sides and a flat top.

Explanation of the above passage—Grandpa told Martin that he had sent his mother and sister away. He said that what Martin was about to hear and receive was only for a man. Grandpa then fell silent, and Martin felt shivers down his back. Grandpa began to speak again, telling Martin that his father, in his early manhood, had gone on a vision quest to find a spirit guide for his life. He explained that at that time, the great Teton Sioux people had just been forced to live on reservations. Many young men were filled with sadness and anger, feeling it was pointless to seek a vision when their traditional life was gone. However, his father held onto the old ways. Grandpa continued, saying his father prepared for the quest with a purifying sweat bath. He then went alone to the top of a high hill to fast and pray. After three days, he received a sacred dream in which he found the white man’s iron. He didn’t understand the vision, as the white people were their enemies then. When he came down the hill, he found a broken piece of an iron kettle, which he believed confirmed his dream. He took the piece of iron for his medicine bag, which he had made from elk skin years earlier. When he returned to his village, he told his dream to the wise elders. They gave him the name Iron Shell, but they also didn’t understand the dream’s meaning. This first Iron Shell kept the piece of iron with him always, believing it would protect him from the bad things of that sad time.

 

Passage: “Then a terrible thing happened to Iron Shell. He and several other young men were taken from their homes by the soldiers and sent far away to a white man’s boarding school. He was angry and lonesome for his parents and the young girl he had wed before he was taken away. At first Iron Shell resisted the teachers’ attempts to change him and he did not try to learn. One day it was his turn to work in the school’s blacksmith shop. As he walked into the place, he knew that his medicine had brought him there to learn and work with the white man’s iron.
“Iron Shell became a blacksmith and worked at the trade when he returned to the reservation. All of his life he treasured the medicine bag. When he was old and I was a man, he gave it to me, for no one made the vision quest anymore.”
Grandpa quit talking and I stared in disbelief as he covered his face with his hands. His shoulders were shaking with quiet sobs and I looked away until he began to speak again.
“I kept the bag until my son, your mother’s father, was a man and had to leave us to fight in the war across the ocean. I gave him the bag, for I believed it would protect him in battle, but he did not take it with him. He was afraid that he would lose it. He died in a faraway place.”
Again Grandpa was still and I felt his grief around me.
“My son,” he went on after clearing his throat, “had only a daughter and it is not proper for her to know of these things.”

Word Meanings
Boarding school: A school where students live during the school term. In this context, these were often harsh schools designed to force Native American children to adopt white culture.
Blacksmith shop: A workshop where a blacksmith works. A blacksmith is a person who creates and repairs things made of iron by shaping metal with tools, typically by hammering it when it’s hot.
Treasured: Valued greatly; held as very precious.
Vision quest: A sacred spiritual journey undertaken by individuals in some Native American cultures, typically involving fasting and solitude, to gain guidance or a spiritual vision.
Disbelief: The inability or refusal to accept that something is true.
Sobs: Short, convulsive gasps made in crying.
Grief: Intense sorrow, especially caused by someone’s death.

Explanation of the above passage—A terrible event occurred for Iron Shell. Soldiers forcibly removed him and several other young men from their homes and sent them to a white man’s boarding school far away. Iron Shell felt very angry and missed his parents and the young woman he had married before he was taken. Initially, he refused to cooperate with the teachers who tried to change him and did not attempt to learn. One day, it was his turn to work in the school’s blacksmith shop. As he entered the building, he realized that his special power or medicine had led him there to learn and work with the white man’s iron. Grandpa continued, explaining that Iron Shell became a blacksmith and worked at this job when he returned to the reservation. He cherished the medicine bag for his entire life. When Iron Shell was old, and Grandpa was an adult, Iron Shell gave the medicine bag to him because no one was performing the vision quest ritual anymore. Grandpa then stopped speaking, and Martin stared in disbelief as Grandpa covered his face with his hands. Grandpa’s shoulders were shaking with quiet cries, and Martin looked away until Grandpa started talking again. Grandpa said he kept the medicine bag until his son, who was Martin’s mother’s father, became a man and had to go fight in a war overseas. Grandpa gave his son the bag, believing it would protect him in battle. However, his son did not take it with him because he was afraid he would lose it. Tragically, he died in a distant place.Grandpa fell silent once more, and Martin sensed the strong feeling of grief around him. After clearing his throat, Grandpa resumed, saying that his son had only a daughter (Martin’s mother), and it was not proper for her to know about these sacred traditions.

 

Passage: He unbuttoned his shirt, pulled out the leather pouch, and lifted it over his head. He held it in his hand, turning it over and over as if memorizing how it looked.
“In the bag,” he said as he opened it and removed two objects, “is the broken shell of the iron kettle, a pebble from the butte, and a piece of the sacred sage.” He held the pouch upside down and dust drifted down. “After the bag is yours, you must put a piece of prairie sage within and never open it again until you pass it on to your son.” He replaced the pebble and the piece of iron and tied the bag.
I stood up, somehow knowing I should. Grandpa slowly rose from the bed and stood upright in front of me, holding the bag before my face. I closed my eyes and waited for him to slip it over my head. But he spoke.
“No, you need not wear it.” He placed the soft leather bag in my right hand and closed my other hand over it. “It would not be right to wear it in this time and place, where no one will understand. Put it safely away until you are again on the reservation.
Wear it then, when you replace the sacred sage.”
Grandpa turned and sat again on the bed. Wearily he leaned his head against the pillow. “Go,” he said, “I will sleep now.”
“Thank you, Grandpa,” I said softly, and left with the bag in my hands.
That night Mom and Dad took Grandpa to the hospital. Two weeks later I stood alone on the lonely prairie of the reservation and put the sacred sage in my medicine bag.

Word Meanings
sacred: pious, holy
drifted: moved away
prairie: a large area covered with grass
sage: an aromatic plant
wearily: tiredly

Explanation of the above passage—Grandpa unbuttoned his shirt, took out the leather pouch, and lifted it over his head. He held it in his hand, looking at it carefully as if he was trying to remember every detail. He then opened the bag and took out two things. He told Martin that inside the bag were the broken shell of the iron kettle, a pebble from the butte, and a piece of sacred sage. He turned the pouch upside down, and dust fell out. Grandpa explained that once the bag belonged to Martin, he must put a new piece of prairie sage inside and never open it again until he passed it on to his own son. He put the pebble and the piece of iron back and tied the bag shut. Martin stood up, knowing it was the right thing to do. Grandpa slowly got up from the bed and stood facing Martin, holding the bag in front of him. Martin closed his eyes, expecting Grandpa to put it around his neck. But Grandpa spoke, telling him that he did not have to wear it. He placed the soft leather bag in Martin’s right hand and closed his other hand over it. Grandpa explained that it would not be right to wear the bag in a place where no one would understand its meaning. He told Martin to put it away safely and only wear it when he was back on the reservation, at which time he should replace the sacred sage. Grandpa then turned and sat back down on the bed. He looked very tired and leaned his head against the pillow. He told Martin to go, saying he would sleep now. Martin softly said, ‘Thank you, Grandpa’, and left with the bag in his hands. That night, Martin’s parents took Grandpa to the hospital. Two weeks later, Martin stood alone on the quiet prairie of the reservation and put the sacred sage into his medicine bag.

 

Conclusion 

The Medicine Bag is a short story about a young boy named Martin, who is half-Sioux, and his relationship with his grandfather, Joe Iron Shell, who comes to visit from the reservation. At first, Martin feels embarrassed by his grandfather’s traditional ways and looks, especially when his grandfather wants to pass down the family’s medicine bag. The medicine bag is a symbol of their heritage and offers protection. As Martin learns to appreciate his heritage, he begins to understand the significance of the medicine bag. Students can take help from this post to understand the story and also learn the difficult word meanings to get a better grasp of The Medicine Bag. This post includes a summary of The Medicine Bag, which will help students of ISC class 12, Prism book to get a quick recap of the story.

 

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