Question

Answer any one of the following questions in about 80 words:
(b) What did Zitkala-Sa feel when her long hair was cut?

Hint:

When analyzing emotional responses in literature, explore the personal and cultural significance of the event and how it shapes the character's identity.

Answer 1

Step 1: Emotional Impact of the Haircut.
When Zitkala-Sa's long hair was cut, she experienced a deep sense of loss and humiliation. Her long hair was an important part of her identity and cultural heritage, and the act of cutting it made her feel disconnected from her roots.

Step 2: The cultural significance of long hair.
In Zitkala-Sa's culture, long hair symbolized strength, pride, and a deep connection to her Native American heritage. The cutting of her hair by the authorities represented the forceful imposition of a foreign culture, stripping her of a part of her identity.

Step 3: A moment of resistance and oppression.
Zitkala-Sa felt helpless and defiant. She resented the loss of her cultural symbol, feeling betrayed and oppressed by the decision to cut her hair, which was part of her personal and cultural expression.

Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{Zitkala-Sa felt a profound sense of loss, humiliation, and anger when her long hair was cut, as it symbolized the loss of her cultural identity.}} \]