Part III Plot Knowledge
Describe the circumstances the men found themselves in at the outset of Part III in as much detail as possible.
Consider both their physical condition and the supplies they have at their disposal.
The men find themselves in grim circumstances.
Physical Condition: Phil had two large gashes on his forehead and felt "woozy" (132). Louie broke all of his ribs (135). Mac was unharmed.
Supplies: Since the provisions box was lost, the men had only a few chocolate bars and pints of water. They also had a few other tools, including a flare gun, a set of fishhooks and line, sea dye, etc.
Describe the general circumstances the men found themselves in during their captivity in as much detail as possible.
Consider living quarters, rations, expectations regarding labor, etc., in your response.
The men found themselves in incredibly harsh circumstances throughout their captivity.
Living Arrangements: The cells/barracks the men were placed in did not tend to provide shelter from heat or cold.
Rations: Rations were limited to a ball of rice (Kwajalein), spoiled vegetables (Ofuna) or a bowl of seaweed (Naoetsu).
Labor: At Omori and Naoetsu, enlisted men were expected to perform hard labor on railways, transporting coal/salt, and more.
Name two guards who Louie interacted with during his time in captivity. Provide a fact about each guard listed that demonstrates their relationship with the POWs.
the Bird: was jealous of officers and targeted Louie as a result
the Quack: was Ofuna's medical officer who tortured POWs (including William Harris)
What is a theme, and how is a theme distinct from a universal idea?
Universal ideas are broad ideas explored in a text; they can be summed up in one word or a short phrase (i.e. love, loyalty, justice, fate, etc.).
Theme, on the other hand, is what the author wants the reader/audience to learn about a universal idea (i.e. "Love conquers all").
Define the literary term foil. Then, explain how Louie and Mac function as foils to one another in Part III.
Answers will vary, but might include:
- Louie and Mac function as foils in how they respond to their situation on the raft. Mac panics and struggles to retain any hope of survival, while Louie remains optimistic and actively works toward survival.
How did the Zamperinies know that the speaker on the Postman Calls broadcast was indeed Louie?
He requested those at home to keep his guns in good condition--a detail his Japanese captors couldn't have possibly come up with.
What event incites the main conflict in Part III?
Be specific about who, (did) what, where, when, why, and how.
Mac eating all of the chocolate during the men's first night at sea expedites the major challenge of having to attain food. He seems to have acted out of panic (138).
What event(s) incite the main conflict in Part IV?
Be specific about who, (did) what, where, when, why, and how.
Event 1: The Kwajalein guards sparing Louie and Phil's lives leads to the hardships they will face once they arrive in Japan. Japanese officials intended to make Louie's life difficult enough that he would be unable to resist the comforts propaganda prisoners were afforded.
Event 2: When Louie met the Bird on his first day at the Omori prison camp, a battle of wills began: the remaining chapters in Part IV consist of a constant effort by the Bird to strip Louie of his dignity and a constant effort by Louie to preserve that dignity.
Who was Kawamura? Provide a fact that illustrates his relationship with the POWs.
Kawamura was one of the POW guards on Kwajalein. He showed Louie and Phil compassion, giving them candy, protecting them from brutal guards, and teaching them Japanese words.
Provide a specific example from the text that supports the following theme statement:
Hope and optimism can help individuals endure extreme suffering.
Answers will vary, but might include:
The time that Louie and Phil spend discussing their future plans (getting back to Torrance and Indiana, for instance) is "healing" (153). It helped them to make a happy ending their expectation and to work toward it.
The Zamperinies continued belief in Louie's survival allows them to carry on: Sylvia writes Louie letters, Louise buys Christmas presents for him, and the whole family tells invented stories to cheer each other up (221).
Define the propaganda technique testimonial.
Then, explain how the Postman Calls producers attempted to use testimonial as a persuasive tactic in the broadcast scripted for Louie.
In the script that the Postman Calls producers wrote, they explicitly mention Louie's claim to fame as a track star.
According to Hillenbrand, every conversation on the raft meandered back to what topic? (153)
Food--Louie would spend time describing how his mother made meals and the men would discuss the dishes in great detail.
List three challenges the men faced during their time as castaways and how they overcame them. Be as specific as possible.
Challenge 1: They lacked drinking water, so they used the canvas air pump cases as rain catchers.
Challenge 2: They lacked food, so Louie tied fishhooks to his fingers to use as claws for catching pilot fish.
Challenge 3: They risked going insane, so Louie and Phil quizzed each other on trivia and shared memories/future plans to keep their minds sharp.
List three challenges the men faced during their time in captivity and how they overcame them. Be as specific as possible.
Challenge 1: Rations at the camps were grossly inadequate, so enlisted men would steal commodities like sugar from the work sites where they labored.
Challenge 2: Men were not allowed to access updates on the state of the war, so they would steal newspapers and maps, then keep recreations hidden.
Challenge 3: Men were constantly dehumanized, so they would find ways to resist their captors (secretly communicating, sabotaging the Japanese war effort, etc.).
Who was Cecy? Provide at least one fact about her that showcases how she dealt with Phil's disappearance.
Cecy was Phil's high school sweetheart. She sought out the advice of a fortune teller, who told her that Phil would be found before Christmas. She also quit her teaching job, and began working with an airline in hopes of getting information on Phil (225).
Provide a specific example from the text that supports the following theme statement:
Resistance, even in small acts, can preserve the sense of dignity needed to endure oppression.
Answers will vary, but might include:
When Louie, knowing he's risking a beating, defeats the opponent sent to race against him, he asserts his sense of dignity.
When Louie refuses to read propaganda on Postman Calls, he asserts his inner strength and integrity.
When Louie holds the beam over his head for 37 minutes, he asserts his indomitable will.
Define the propaganda technique emotional appeal.
Then, explain how the Postman Calls producers attempted to appeal to audiences' emotions in the broadcast scripted for Louie.
The producers included fabricated stories about a nonexistent friend of Louie's whose wife remarried since she thought he was dead.
What belief(s) did the Japanese hold regarding capture in war?
In the Japanese belief system, "to be captured in war was intolerably shameful" (201).
Many Japanese soldiers would fight to the death or commit suicide before succumbing to capture; as a result, the number of Allied captives far surpassed the number of Japanese captives.
Describe the climax of Part III in as much detail as possible.
Consider who, (did) what, where, when, why, and how.
On the morning of the twenty-seventh day, a Japanese bomber fired on the castaways, strafing their raft but failing to hit any of the men (161). The men were forced to work together to patch the raft and fend off sharks after the fact.
Describe the climax of Part IV in as much detail as possible.
Consider who, (did) what, where, when, why, and how.
After the Naoetsu camp commander announced that the war was over, the men were told they could bathe in the river. At that point, an American torpedo bomber flew overhead and confirmed that the war was finished.
Name two of Louie's family members. Then, provide a fact about each one that showcases A) the toll Louie's disappearance took on them or B) how they coped with Louie's disappearance.
Anthony (father) & Pete (brother) - agreed that when the war ended, they would start a search for Louie; Pete goes bald and thins out due to stress
Louise (mother) - experiences a severe rash that makes her unable to use her hands due to emotional duress
Sylvia (sister) - moves back in with her parents; spends time thinking of Louie at Torrance High and writing letters to him
All family members uphold their belief that Louie is alive.
Provide a specific example from the text that supports the following theme statement:
Acts of kindness and compassion can be lifesaving.
Answers will vary, but might include:
When Kawamura protects Louie and Phil from other guards' extreme brutality.
Louie gifted Harris his Red Cross rations to help him recover (277).
When the Scottish POWs donated some of their sugar supply to an ailing Frank Tinker.
Define the propaganda technique repetition.
Then, identify what the Postman Calls producers repeated as a persuasive tactic in the broadcast scripted for Louie.
The Postman Calls producers continually repeated that Louie was alive to highlight the mistake made by the U.S. War Department.
What percentage of Americans died in Japanese prisoner of war camps (as opposed to the percentage who died in German and Italian camps)?
37% of American POWs died in Japanese camps whereas only 1% died in German and Italian camps.
Explain how Part III of the text resolves itself in as much detail as possible.
Be specific about who, (did) what, where, when, why, and how.
On the forty-sixth day at sea, the men finally spotted land; what they seeing was the Marshall Islands.
Although they attempted to reach shore without being seen (to avoid capture), they were quickly spotted and picked up by boat of Japanese sailors.
Describe the falling action of Part IV in as much detail as possible.
Consider who, (did) what, where, when, why, and how.
Name three fellow POWs who Louie interacts with during his time in captivity. Provide a fact about each captive listed.
William Harris - photographic memory; beaten senseless by the Quack when his stash of hand-drawn maps was discovered; witnessed Japan's surrender firsthand
Fred Garrett - had his leg amputated by the Japanese with no anesthetic; shared the same Kwajalein cell as Louie
John Fitzgerald - ranking officer at Naoetsu; arranged transport for liberated POWs; stayed behind with ill POWs until they could leave Naoetsu
Frank Tinker - schemed with Louie and Harris to create a plan to escape Ofuna
As a group write your own theme statement that could be supported by the events of Parts III and IV specifically.
Answers will vary, but might include:
Loyalty (to country, to family, etc.) is rewarded.
Living a morally principled life is more meaningful than living a life of physical comfort.
By the time of Mac's death in Part III, Hillenbrand asserts that Mac is a dynamic character.
Explain your group agreement or disagreement with this viewpoint on Mac.
Answers will vary, but should make an assertion about the degree to which Mac changes in response to the circumstances through which he passes.
What was the name of the region described as "the eerie pause of wind and water that lingers around the equator?" (173)?
How do Louie and Phil interpret the day they spent floating here?
Louie and Phil interpret their day spent in the doldrums as a compassionate gift from a higher power.