Culture-Specific and Postmodern Literary Devices in Sherman Alexie’s Indian Killer

Abstract

Sherman Alexie’s Indian Killer (1996) rewrites the traditional framework of crime fiction by using Native American culture-specific and postmodern literary devices such as fragmentation, intertextuality, irony, and dark humour. The story revolves around a series of brutal murders in Seattle attributed to the so called Indian Killer. The murderer receives the moniker from the media because the victims are scalped, and owl feathers are found at the crime scenes. An omniscient third-person narrator reveals crucial details and leaves readers to play the role of detective, tasked with unravelling the mystery and determining the true identity of the Indian Killer.