Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. From 1974 to 1979, the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), also known as “Khmer Rouge,” ruled the Southeast Asian country of Cambodia. During this time, millions of Cambodians experienced violence, poverty, and displacement, as the Khmer Rouge instituted strict laws and ordered the death of specific groups. Consider The Effects of War on Civilians, particularly as it relates to dictatorial political regimes. Why would new governmental regimes introduce laws that ultimately hurt the people living in the country? Explain your answer.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question orients students within the historical context of the novel: a post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge is responsible for the genocide of millions of Cambodians, most of which were educated individuals. The novel focuses on the effects of displacement through Dara’s eyes, and touches on the themes of The Effects of War on Civilians, Hope and Courage in the Face of Adversity, and Friendship and Loyalty. While Ho’s novel is not an exploration of the political regime itself, it does allude to the chaos of war, and the aftermath that political instability causes for civilians, particularly in regard to accessing food, housing, and medical care.