A LONG WAY GONE

SECTION 2: CHAPTERS 8-10

English 11

KNOWLEDGE
In order to know and follow what is taking place in this memoir, you need
to know a few things.
Please begin a notes section in your binder s for this book , and answer
the following questions for chapter s 8-10
1.

Why does Ishmael hate being in the forest in chapter 8?

2.

What do the boys encounter at the beginning of chapter 9?

3.

What punishment are they given?

4.

How do they escape the village?

5.

What does Ishmael say say is one of the most unsettling things about
his journey in chapter 10?

6.

Who, or what, do the boys see on the bridge in chapter 10, and how
do they react to seeing it/them?

7.

What makes all the boys cr y at the end of chapter 10?

UNDERSTANDING
In order to know and follow what is taking place in this memoir,
you need to understand some of the themes and significant
impact of the war on Ishmael.
Continuing in your notes section in your binder, answer the
following questions for chapters 8-10. You will not hand these
in, but are expected to understand these aspects of the book.
7. What is the significance of storytelling in this section? What
do the boys learn from the story of Bra [brother] Spider?
8. What role do memories play in this section of the book? Why
do you think that Ishmael remembers what he does (be
specific, and state what memories are in this section)?

DO (SKILLS)

EXAMPLE
Quote:
These days I live in three worlds: my dreams, and the experiences of
my new life, which trigger memories from the past (20).
Context: after a month of living in safety in New York City
Explanation: Hes still haunted by nightmares of his time fighting the
war in Sierra Leone. His new life is unfamiliar to him and cannot
protect him from returning to the past terrors of his young life. Worse
still, his vivid dreams constantly draw him back to the terror of his life
in Sierra Leone as a victim of the RUF violence.
Analysis: He is a young man divided against himself, as his countr y
had been divided against itself - in both cases, due to the rebels'
violent actions.

CH. 8-10
DO (SKILLS) QUOTE #1
One of the skills we will be working on as we move throughout
the book is close reading. I will be giving you a quote to analyze
using your knowledge and understanding. This you will hand in,
so please write in full sentences with proper grammar.

If you are alive, there is hope for a better day

and something good to happen. If there is
nothing good left in the destiny of a person, he
or she will die (54).
Context: where does this fit in the story?
Explanation: what does it mean, literally?
Analysis: what does it mean, figuratively?

CH. 8-10
DO (SKILLS) QUOTE #2
One of the skills we will be working on as we move throughout
the book is close reading. I will be giving you a quote to analyze
using your knowledge and understanding. This you will hand in,
so please write in full sentences with proper grammar.

. . . our emotions were in disarray. I couldnt

comprehend what or how I felt (86).
Context: where does this fit in the story?
Explanation: what does it mean, literally?
Analysis: what does it mean, figuratively?