Help with the short story " Body Rituals of the Nacirema"?

Question

Okay, I just have a few questions about it, my teacher put down 35 questions about it, I got most but the one's I can't get can anyone help me? Thanks in advance. Okay here are the questions:

1: what is the relation between wealth and the shrines?

2: What is the font and what is the " mouth rite" ?

3.who would the herbalist and medicine men be in our society today?

4. who is the holy mouth man in our society today?

5. what does the word latipso look like? ( hint: look at it backwards)

6.what is the writer talking about when he says " scraping and lacerating the surface of the face", and " women baking their heads" ?

7. what person in our society most sounds like a " witch doctor" or listener today?

INFO ON THE FONT: it says beneath a charm box is a font , people bow their heads to the charm box.

QUESTION: WHAT IS THE STORY REALLY ABOUT, HOW DO YOU KNOW?

Answer 1

Wealth and shrines = Shrines are bedrooms or bathrooms. THe more bedrooms & bathrooms, the more wealth.
Font = Fountain (a sink).
Mouth Rite = Brushing teeth / seeing dentist ("Holy Mouth Man")

Herbalist / Medicine Men = Doctors/pharmacists "The Medicine Women (Doctors) do not give out the potions though, but decide what the ingredients should be and then write them down in ancient and secret language (prescriptions). The language is only understood by the herbalist (pharmacist), who, for another gift (money), gives out the charm that the person needs."

Latipso = Hospital (In the original version, it was written "Latipsoh".
Scraping & Lacerating their faces = Shaving
"Women baking their heads" = Blow dryers (for hair).
Witch Doctor = Psychiatrist

UPDATE: The "font" is a sink. People bow their heads to rinse their face or to spit while brushing their teeth. It's "beneath the charm box" (beneath the medicine cabinet/mirror).

The story is really about Americans, as described by a person who is unfamiliar with daily American rituals and culture. I know because American spelled backward is Nacirema.

Answer 2

Nacirema Short Story

Answer 3

Nacirema Definition

Answer 4

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RE:
Help with the short story " Body Rituals of the Nacirema"?
Okay, I just have a few questions about it, my teacher put down 35 questions about it, I got most but the one's I can't get can anyone help me? Thanks in advance. Okay here are the questions:

1: what is the relation between wealth and the shrines?

2: What is the font and what is the...

Answer 5

"The Lottery" illustrates the excitement that a society may have about doing a community event. There are essential leaders that promote the event (or idea), a few fanatics that are very exited about it and talk it up and the masses that are influenced to participate. So a few people can influence the whole society through ritual and tradition. The tradition or history of practice makes it easier to promote the ritual.