Themes & Symbols
This is one of the main themes of The Breadwinner about facing difficult situations with bravery.
What is courage in the face of adversity?
Parvana’s biggest fear about pretending to be a boy.
What is being recognized?
Parvana’s mother and sister tell people she has gone to stay here.
What is with an aunt in Kunduz?
The best synonym for “gingerly” in paragraph 43.
What is hesitantly?
“Go to sleep, my son” shows this shift in Parvana’s relationship with her mother.
What is acceptance of Parvana’s role as a boy?
Parvana’s haircut symbolizes this.
What are new responsibilities?
Mother asks Parvana if she wants to watch her haircut for this reason.
What is to help her accept the idea?
Parvana’s haircut represents this moment in the story.
What is a turning point where she takes on new responsibilities?
The word that best describes Parvana’s haircut scene in relation to change.
What is transformation?
Parvana resents this when first asked to dress as a boy.
What is the loss of her identity?
Mother calls Parvana “my son” in the last paragraph to show this.
What is her acceptance of Parvana’s new role?
While cutting Parvana’s hair, Mother’s behavior shows this about her feelings
What is that she misunderstands Parvana’s resistance?
In paragraph 30, this is the most likely reason Mother asks Parvana if she wants to watch the haircut.
What is to help her accept the idea?
The word “invisible” reflects this feeling Parvana has under Taliban rule.
What is being unseen and powerless?
The sentence correction in Question 3 is written this way.
What is: Parvana dresses up as a boy and pretends she is a cousin from Jalalabad. Her mother and sister tell people she has gone to stay with an aunt in Kunduz?
These two feelings best describe Parvana’s experience living under Taliban rule.
What are invisible and unimportant?
Parvana pretends to be this relative from Jalalabad
Who is a cousin?
This event forces Parvana to take on the role of provider.
What is her father’s arrest?
Another word for “wary” or “guarded,” like Parvana when adjusting to her new role.
What is cautious?
This character is described as protective, caring, and resilient in the story.
Who is Parvana’s mother?
Paragraphs 21–24 mark a turning point in the story for this reason.
What is when Parvana begins to accept her role and adapt to her new identity?
Parvana’s feelings after visiting the store for the first time change in this way.
What is she begins to feel more confident and capable?
This is how enduring love of family is shown throughout the story.
What is through their sacrifices and support for one another?
This character trait best describes Parvana throughout the story.
What is courageous/determined?
The reason Mother sometimes confuses Ali with Hossain
What is because she misses her son who was killed?