When Broken Glass Floats
Incoming Sophomore Summer Reading:
“When Broken Glass Floats”
(This can be purchased through the bookstore)
The author, Chanrithy Him is a Cambodian (Khmer, pronounced k’mai) refugee who lived under the Khmer Rouge (Red Khmer) a communist guerilla army that took over the government of Cambodia in 1970, partly due to instability created by the war in Vietnam To prepare for your exam in the fall, answer the following questions as you read the memoir of Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge.
Essential Questions:
· What does it mean to be a displaced person?
· What are the events and circumstances that force people to leave their homes?
· Where do refugees go when they leave their homes?
-What do you know about post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD?) What is it and what are its symptoms?
These are guided questions you will answer on loose-leaf and submit to your subject teacher in September. There will be a test which will be based on the story by the end of the first cycle.
Chapter 1
· Why do you think the conflict started in the countryside before making its way into the cities?
· How is the conflict beginning to change people and how they live?
Chapter 2
· What does the chapter title mean? Where does the phrase come from?
· Explain the meaning of the story about Buddha and the woman with her dead son.
-Why were Cambodians killing other Cambodians? Why did the Cambodians in the city want to kill the Khmer Rouge?
Chapter 3-5
-Why do you think the Khmer Rouge emptied people out of the cities, especially out of the capitol, Phnom Penh? What did the Khmer Rouge hope to accomplish or gain by
this action?
-When the Khmer Rouge first arrive in Phnom Penh, they are ruthless and brutal with the civilians in the city, going so far as to throw hand grenades into peoples’ bomb shelters. Why do you think they behave this way?
Chapters 6-8
-When Chanrithy and her family arrive in Srey Va village, at the house of Pa’s aunt, -What do they learn about the Khmer Rouge’s impact on peoples’ lives in rural areas?
-Describe the propaganda of the Khmer Rouge so far. What kinds of language and phrases do they use, and why do you think they speak that way? As Chanrithy asks, why
do they go to all of the trouble of making people repeat slogans and phrases that everyone knows to be false?
-Explain the following quote: “It’s the frustrating New World Order, the Khmer Rouge way.” What is happening at this point in the story, and what does she mean by this
statement?
-What is meant by the phrase “Year Zero?”
-Describe some of the ways in which the Khmer Rouge tried to forcibly change the peoples’ culture. Give at least three examples from the reading.
-As resources become scarce, describe how Chanrithy and her family learn to survive? What tricks and strategies do they use to get food, clothing, and other basic needs?
Chapters 9-10
-Explain what the author means when she says “Our family ebbs and flows like the tide” and
give some examples of these ebbs and flows from earlier chapters.
- Name and describe the physical afflictions that people are suffering at this point in the
story, using specific examples from the reading. What is happening to their bodies, and
why?
- Explain what the title of chapter 9 means, and the events in the story that lead to this title.
Chapters 11-12
-What is the promise that chapter 11 is named for?
Chapter 13
· Rumors are spreading that the Vietnamese are invading Cambodia – what do we know about this so far? Why is it happening? Where is the fighting taking place?
· Why are the lovers killed? Why is the execution so public? What is the connection between the wedding ceremony and the executions?
Chapter 15
· What seems to be happening in the war at this point? Athy is too young to understand, but what can you figure out from what she describes?
· What are all the “free” Cambodians doing now that they are not contained in commune or work camps? What are they doing, where are they going, and why?
Chapter 16
· Describe the progress of the war at this point in the story – do the best you can with the clues and hints in the chapter, make some educated guesses. How is the war going? Where is the fighting heaviest? What seem to be the strategies of both sides? Who seems to be winning, and how are the “losers” responding to the change in circumstances?
Chapter 17
-When Athy arrives at the New Camp, how much time has passed since the start of the book? · How did Athy end up being separated from the rest of her family?
· Why is it so important for New Camp to be located close to the Thai border?
Chapter 18
· Why is trade with Thai merchants prohibited in the Khao I Dang refugee camp? What’s the point of stopping people from buying and selling essentials like food and clothing?
· Why do you think Christian religious films were shown in the camp, even though the camp was set up by the non-religious United Nations?
Chapter 19
· What was different about Sakeo II compared to Khao I Dang?
· How do the Thai soldiers treat the refugees? Why do you think the Thai soldiers treat the Cambodians the way they do?
· What does the word “retribution” mean, and how is a part of the story at this point? Explain what is happening in Cambodia now that the war is essentially over.
· If the war is over, or almost over, why don’t any of the refugees consider returning to Cambodia?
Chapter 20
· Why are Athy and the others moved so many times from camp to camp? Is there a big picture to all these relocations? What is happening here, and what is the ultimate goal?
· Compare and contrast Athy’s experiences in the Philippine refugee camp to her experiences in Thailand. Pick at least 3 points of comparison and use evidence to support your ideas.
· How has Athy’s personality changed from the beginning of the book to now?