Pre Attack
How is the miserable messenger related to Khalilous family leaving?
How is this attack related to the previous attack in Mogbwemo?
Ismael was in the middle of the attack and had been shot at while in Mogbwemo, he was already away from his village.
Why would some of the frantic civilians jump into the river and drown instead of taking a risk and continuing their escape?
For many, death was a preferable option to being forced to join the rebels. Even if they did allow themselves to be captured and recruited, they would have “the initials RUF were carved wherever it pleased the rebels, with a hot bayonet.” (Beah 24). With this branding, if they were to ever attempt to run, they were not only “scarred for life but that you could never escape from them, because escaping with a carving of the rebels’ initials was asking for death, as soldiers would kill you without any questions and militant civilians would do the same.” (Beah 24)
What did Ishmael realize about the importance of people being in the towns on Page 22 and how did the war impact it?
"That night for the first time in my life I realized that it is the physical presence of people and their spirits that gives a town life. With the absence of so many people, the town became scary, the night darker, and the silence unbearably agitating." (Beah 22)
What can you say about the hiding the town did for days on end?
Using the quote "The majority of the town's population was in hiding for a week." (Beah 4), which shows how absolutely terrified the townspeople were of the rebels.
What facts/quotes would you select to support how the six reacted to the attack?
“We stood still, trying to determine whether the soldiers had fired the shot.” (Beah 23)
“We stood there, in front of mounted bags, unable to decide which way to go next.” (Beah 24)
“We ran for more than an hour without stopping. It was unbelievable how fast and long we ran. I didn’t sweat or get tired at all.” (Beah 24)
How has the threat of being killed or captured by the RUF affected the actions/morals of the people?
They grew up being taught to respect their elders and help those in need. However, in their desperate attempt to escape, they have lost the rules they once lived by. As the boys ran, they ran “past handicapped people who couldn’t be helped, for anyone who stopped to do so was risking his own life.” (Beah 24) They now act selfishly, only doing what was necessary for their own survival rather than helping others.
Why did Ishmael include details about his mom teaching him how to cook? How did it connect back to Ishmael as the story was progressing?
"When the rebels finally came, I was cooking. The rice was done and the okra soup was almost ready when I heard a single gunshot that echoed through the town." (Beah 23)
"after 10 days of hiding and still the rebels hadn't arrived. There was nothing to do but conclude they weren't coming.(Beah 4). They couldn't for sure tell it people started running out of food so they had to come back to society.
How are the RUF boys and Ishmael’s group related? Different?
The RUF are composed of young boys Ishmael’s age and grew up very similar to how he did. The difference is that the RUF boys had encountered the rebels during an attack and had been taken and transformed into an anti-military fighting group.
“Young boys were immediately recruited, and the initials RUF were carved into wherever it pleased the rebels, with a hot bayonet. This not only meant that you were scarred for life but that you could never escape from them, because escaping with the carving of the rebels’ initials was asking for death, as soldiers would kill you without any questions and militant civilians would do the same.” (Beah 24)
What was the significance of the mutilation caused by the RUF being called "one love"? How was that phrase used before the war?
"They had carved their initials, RUF, on his body with a hot bayonet and chopped off all of his fingers with the exception of his thumbs. The rebels called this "one love". Before the war, people raised a thumb to say "One love" to each other, an expression popularized by the love and influence of reggae music." (Beah 21)