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Questions and Answers
Why does the author use different styles of print and different time periods in the same chapter? What can be learned from this style of writing?
Why does the author use different styles of print and different time periods in the same chapter? What can be learned from this style of writing?
Describe Salva as a student.
Describe Salva as a student.
Salva studies at a school that only has boys and learns Arabic.
Describe Salva's family and home life.
Describe Salva's family and home life.
Salva has 2 sisters, 2 brothers, a mom, and a dad.
What are the issues for which the rebels are fighting the government?
What are the issues for which the rebels are fighting the government?
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Why does the teacher urge them to 'run into the bush'?
Why does the teacher urge them to 'run into the bush'?
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What are you wondering about as this chapter ends?
What are you wondering about as this chapter ends?
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How does Nya spend her time?
How does Nya spend her time?
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What is happening around Salva as he runs away from the school?
What is happening around Salva as he runs away from the school?
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What three questions occupy Salva's thoughts?
What three questions occupy Salva's thoughts?
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When the people organize by village, what does Salva discover?
When the people organize by village, what does Salva discover?
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Describe the rebels.
Describe the rebels.
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Salva considers himself a man.
Salva considers himself a man.
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The rebels consider Salva a man.
The rebels consider Salva a man.
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Why does the group leave the rebels?
Why does the group leave the rebels?
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Why do they leave Salva in the barn the next morning?
Why do they leave Salva in the barn the next morning?
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Can you imagine how Salva is feeling at the end of this chapter?
Can you imagine how Salva is feeling at the end of this chapter?
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In each of the chapters so far, the author tells Nya's story first. Why do you think she does this?
In each of the chapters so far, the author tells Nya's story first. Why do you think she does this?
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What has been the purpose of Nya's journey every day?
What has been the purpose of Nya's journey every day?
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What is Salva's situation?
What is Salva's situation?
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Why doesn't he return to his school?
Why doesn't he return to his school?
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How does the woman from the Jur-chol tribe help him?
How does the woman from the Jur-chol tribe help him?
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What is the history between the Nuers and the Dinka tribe?
What is the history between the Nuers and the Dinka tribe?
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Why is Salva insulted to be called an orphan?
Why is Salva insulted to be called an orphan?
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Why must the old woman move on?
Why must the old woman move on?
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What does it mean they are 'walking to nowhere'?
What does it mean they are 'walking to nowhere'?
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How do they survive?
How do they survive?
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Why do Buksa and Salva fall behind?
Why do Buksa and Salva fall behind?
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Can an entire group of people exist on the food they found?
Can an entire group of people exist on the food they found?
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Explain how water dictates Nya's life every day.
Explain how water dictates Nya's life every day.
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How was the honey worth it for Salva and the others in his group?
How was the honey worth it for Salva and the others in his group?
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Why is Salva dismayed that they are walking to Ethiopia?
Why is Salva dismayed that they are walking to Ethiopia?
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What do Salva and Marial have in common?
What do Salva and Marial have in common?
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What does it mean that Salva 'heard that sigh all the way to his heart'?
What does it mean that Salva 'heard that sigh all the way to his heart'?
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Describe the Atuot people.
Describe the Atuot people.
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Would you fear the Atuot people?
Would you fear the Atuot people?
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Salva is amazed at the end of this chapter. Predict the cause of his speechlessness.
Salva is amazed at the end of this chapter. Predict the cause of his speechlessness.
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Nya and her mother think differently about the camp. Explain.
Nya and her mother think differently about the camp. Explain.
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Would Nya and Salva have been friends if they knew each other in the same time?
Would Nya and Salva have been friends if they knew each other in the same time?
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Finally, something good happens for Salva. Explain. How does this make a difference for the group?
Finally, something good happens for Salva. Explain. How does this make a difference for the group?
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Why does everyone in the group become nauseous?
Why does everyone in the group become nauseous?
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List all the elements working against their survival.
List all the elements working against their survival.
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What does it mean: 'A cold fist seemed to grip Salva's heart'?
What does it mean: 'A cold fist seemed to grip Salva's heart'?
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Study Notes
Character Insights
- Salva has two sisters and two brothers, raised in a family where boys go to school at age ten, while girls learn domestic skills.
- Nya works daily to fetch water, emphasizing her struggle for survival in a war-torn environment; she has siblings and makes the trek for 7 months.
Conflict and Setting
- The rebels fight against the Sudanese government, which aims to convert the entire south to Islam, leading to widespread conflict and war.
- Salva's school experiences a bomb explosion, showcasing the immediate dangers of the civil war.
Themes of Isolation and Community
- Throughout his journey, Salva grapples with feelings of abandonment and isolation, questioning if he will ever reunite with his family.
- He encounters harsh realities as he transitions from school to survival, requiring him to adapt quickly to new circumstances.
Survival Mechanisms
- The group struggles to survive, facing challenges such as scarcity of food and the threat of attacks from soldiers or wildlife.
- Salva and a friend, Buksa, discover a bee hive, indicating hunger drives them to risk harvesting honey despite the danger of getting stung.
Cultural Context
- Cultural differences are highlighted by the rivalry between the Nuer and Dinka tribes, complicating Salva's quest for safety and community.
- Tribal identification is emphasized, as tribes differentiate themselves through distinctive practices, such as head carvings.
Emotional Responses
- Salva feels a wave of despair when discovering Marial's disappearance, represented by the metaphor "A cold fist seemed to grip Salva's heart," indicating intense fear.
- Connections between characters, such as Salva and Marial, emphasize shared backgrounds but highlight the divisions created by tribal affiliations.
Leadership and Responsibility
- Salva’s uncle emerges as a leader within their group, which bolsters the morale and organization of the journey they undertake.
- The responsibilities of those who lead increase significantly as they must ensure the survival of the entire group while navigating threats.
Daily Life Struggles
- Water scarcity is a constant challenge impacting the daily lives of characters like Nya, whose efforts underscore the broader implications of war on fundamental resources.
- The necessity of safety and caution is emphasized throughout their journey, as even the act of eating can result in nausea and further health challenges.
Future Visions and Hope
- Salva's hope fluctuates throughout the chapters, particularly when contemplating meeting other Dinkas but hampered by loneliness.
- The narrative focuses on resilience and the search for belonging amid chaos and uncertainty in their lives.
Studying That Suits You
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Description
This quiz focuses on the first six chapters of 'A Long Walk to Water' by Linda Sue Park. It explores key themes, character development, and the author's use of narrative styles between different time periods. Test your understanding with these flashcards and enhance your comprehension of the text.