July 9, 2018

Group Three

1. What is the harmattan?

2. Why does Unoka sing to the kites?

3. Why does Unoka enjoy playing music for the egwugwu, or the masqueraders who impersonate the ancestral spirits of the village?

4. What is the meaning of the proverb “He who brings kola brings life”? (p. 5)

5. Why is Okonkwo ashamed of his father, Unoka?

6. Compare Okonkwo with his father.

Group Two

1. What is the harmattan?

2. Why does Unoka sing to the kites?

3. Why does Unoka enjoy playing music for the egwugwu, or the masqueraders who impersonate the ancestral spirits of the village?

4. Why is Okonkwo ashamed of his father, Unoka?

Group One

1. What is the harmattan?

2. Why does Unoka sing to the kites?

3. Why does Unoka enjoy playing music for the egwugwu, or the masqueraders who impersonate the ancestral spirits of the village?

July 8, 2019

After you read chapter 1 and 2 of "Things Fall Apart". Please answer the following questions:

Group Three

1. According to the last paragraph of Chapter 1, for what else is Okonkwo known?
2. For what is Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, known?
3. Why does Okonkwo’s father go to the Oracle? What does the Oracle tell him?
4. The story tells us that Okonkwo “ruled his household with a heavy hand.”   What does this mean?

5. According to the first paragraph of Chapter 1, for what is Okonkwo famous?

Group Two

1. According to the last paragraph of Chapter 1, for what else is Okonkwo known?
2. For what is Okonkwo’s father, Unoka, known?

Group One

1. According to the last paragraph of Chapter 1, for what else is Okonkwo known?

Parent Signature: ____________________________

July 26, 2018

All Groups

Malala’s passion and activism for women’s rights and education may lead the reader to forget that she is only 16 years old when writing her story.  

Are there moments in or recollections of her school and home life when you feel that the “teenager” in Malala becomes apparent?  

For example, Malala often describes her friendships and rivalries (“I fought nonstop with my brother Khushal, and he would go crying to our mother.  Never in history have Khushal and Malala been friends” 144-5), and she mentions her interest in the Twilight movies and other staples of Western popular culture.  

Do any of these statements surprise you?  If so, which ones, and why?  

How did they influence your perception of Malala and her story? 

Parent Signature: __________________________________

July 25, 2018

Group Three

Malala’s relationship with her parents, particularly her father, is arguably one of the most important factors in Malala’s story.  Malala writes, “It was my grandmother’s faith in my father that gave him the courage to find his own proud path he could travel along.  This is the path that he would later show me” (36).  

1.  What are some of her father’s courageous acts that appear to inspire Malala most, and lead her on her own “path”?  

2.  How does Malala’s courage mirror that of her father’s?  

3.  How does Malala’s relationship with her mother compare with her relationship with her father?  

4.  What does she see as her mother’s virtues? 

Group Two

Malala’s relationship with her parents, particularly her father, is arguably one of the most important factors in Malala’s story.  Malala writes, “It was my grandmother’s faith in my father that gave him the courage to find his own proud path he could travel along.  This is the path that he would later show me” (36).  

1.  What are some of her father’s courageous acts that appear to inspire Malala most, and lead her on her own “path”?  

2.  How does Malala’s courage mirror that of her father’s?  

3.  How does Malala’s relationship with her mother compare with her relationship with her father?  

 Group One

Malala’s relationship with her parents, particularly her father, is arguably one of the most important factors in Malala’s story.  Malala writes, “It was my grandmother’s faith in my father that gave him the courage to find his own proud path he could travel along.  This is the path that he would later show me” (36).  

1.  What are some of her father’s courageous acts that appear to inspire Malala most, and lead her on her own “path”?  

2.  How does Malala’s courage mirror that of her father’s?  

Parent Signature: __________________________________

July 24, 2018

Group Three

1. Have you come across an epilogue before? What is an epilogue? What is it for?

2.  On page 117 Malala writes, “My world has changed but I have not.” Is this true?

Group Two

1. Have you come across an epilogue before? What is an epilogue? What is it for?

2.  On page 117 Malala writes, “My world has changed but I have not.” Is this true?

Group One

1. Have you come across an epilogue before? What is an epilogue? What is it for?

2.  On page 117 Malala writes, “My world has changed but I have not.” Is this true?

Parent Signature: __________________________________

July 23, 2018

Group Three

Part Five: A Second Life

1. Who is Rehanna and what did she do to help Malala? What did Yma do?

2.  Why was it so hard for Malala’s parents to come and see her in Birmingham? What did they have to do to get there?

3.  Imagine you are Malala.  You received a lot of messages and gifts when you were in hospital. Which is most important to you and why?

4.  On page 108, Malala notes ‘I don’t feel like it’s a story about me at all.’  What do you think she means by this?

Group Two

1. Who is Rehanna and what did she do to help Malala? What did Yma do?

2.  Why was it so hard for Malala’s parents to come and see her in Birmingham? What did they have to do to get there?

3.  Imagine you are Malala.  You received a lot of messages and gifts when you were in hospital. Which is most important to you and why?

Group One

1. Who is Rehanna and what did she do to help Malala? What did Yma do?

2. Imagine you are Malala.  You received a lot of messages and gifts when you were in hospital. Which is most important to you and why?

Parent Signature: __________________________________

July 19. 2018

Group Three


Part Four: Between Life and Death

1.  As clearly as possible, explain what happened to Malala and what the doctors did to save her.

2.  When the Taliban issued a statement saying they were responsible (see page 80), they accuse Malala of “preaching anti-religious messages.” Why did they say this? 

3.  Was Malala preaching anti-religious messages? How could you describe Malala’s faith and views about religion?

4.  Why was Malala taken to Birmingham?

Group Two


1.  As clearly as possible, explain what happened to Malala and what the doctors did to save her.

2.  When the Taliban issued a statement saying they were responsible (see page 80), they accuse Malala of “preaching anti-religious messages.” Why did they say this? 

3.  Was Malala preaching anti-religious messages? How could you describe Malala’s faith and views about religion?


Group One


1.  As clearly as possible, explain what happened to Malala and what the doctors did to save her.

2.  When the Taliban issued a statement saying they were responsible (see page 80), they accuse Malala of “preaching anti-religious messages.” Why did they say this? 

Parent Signature: __________________________________