English - A House Without Walls Flashcards
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Questions and Answers

What is diction?

A writer's or speaker's choice of words

What is a refugee?

A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster

Who is the protagonist?

Safiya

What does patriarchy mean?

<p>Male domination, rule of men</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Saba?

<p>Safiya's twin</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the work week in Arab countries?

<p>Sunday - Thursday</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the weekend in an Arab country?

<p>Friday - Saturday</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a civil war?

<p>A war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who are the mukhabarat?

<p>The secret police</p> Signup and view all the answers

What occupation does Safiya's dad have?

<p>He is a lawyer</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do Safiya and Tariq feel about fleeing to Jordan?

<p>They are scared</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happened on the journey to Jordan?

<p>Someone stole Baba's wallet with all his money. Tariq paid for the bus with the last of his money. Baba didn't realize how vulnerable they were.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Is Aunt Zainab empathic?

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Aunt Zainab treat Safiya?

<p>Terribly; like a servant</p> Signup and view all the answers

Are women safe to go on their own?

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Lamia and how does Safiya feel about her?

<p>Lamia is Safiya's cousin; she hates her</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Tariq feel about moving into a tent?

<p>He is excited because they can be more independent</p> Signup and view all the answers

Does Saba know she has a twin?

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Um Salim?

<p>Aunt Zainab's sister</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Safiya's mom's name?

<p>Mariam</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the school of hard knocks?

<p>Learning through failure and mistakes</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do we know Aunt Zainab may have had a rough childhood?

<p>The way she treats people (mainly Safiya) shows she might have grown up with that bad treatment, and therefore thinks it is correct.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the cat's name?

<p>Snowball</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why would Safiya wish she was a boy?

<p>Patriarchal society; Vulnerable; Can't work; Can't go to school; Has to cook and clean</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some conditions of living in the tent that are hard?

<p>No bathroom; No soap; No warm water</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the currency in Jordan?

<p>Jordanian Dollar (JD)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How would you describe Aunt Zainab?

<p>Snobbish, rude, insecure, changes with different people</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Abu Ali try to help with Safiya's situation?

<p>He offers to sign her family up for monthly refugee packages of food</p> Signup and view all the answers

How would you describe Abu Ali?

<p>Understanding, kind, generous, sympathetic, funny, empathetic</p> Signup and view all the answers

How would you describe Safiya?

<p>Kind, short-tempered, opinionated, brave, mature, strong</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is polygamy?

<p>When you have more than one wife</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Abu' mean?

<p>'Father' or 'father of'</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is accepting charity difficult for Baba?

<p>Baba is proud and he feels ashamed; he is normally the one who gives</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Safiya initially feel about Uncle Malik?

<p>She feels as if just as soon as she settled, he invaded their space. She feels like that is probably how Aunt Zainab feels towards her and her family.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Tariq feel about charity?

<p>He doesn't like it because he is independent and has pride and ego</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do we know about Malik?

<p>Used to be spoilt, but now has nothing; Dad had another wife (polygamy); Was shunned (hated) by his family; Ran away from war because he couldn't shoot his own people</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Malik help with the rain?

<p>He dug a trench around the tent with an old tent pole</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Safiya feel about helping Malik dig the trench around the tent?

<p>Frustrated, tired, wet, overwhelmed; 'I hate it here!'</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Vocabulary and Character Definitions

  • Diction: Choice of words by a writer or speaker, influencing tone and clarity.
  • Refugee: An individual forced to leave their homeland due to war, persecution, or natural disasters.
  • Protagonist: Safiya, the central character in the narrative.
  • Patriarchy: A societal structure where men hold power and dominate.

Relationships and Family Dynamics

  • Saba: Safiya's twin sister who is unaware of her true identity and family situation.
  • Aunt Zainab: Not empathic; treats Safiya poorly, akin to a servant.
  • Um Salim: Sister of Aunt Zainab.
  • Baba: Safiya's father, a lawyer grappling with pride and shame related to their refugee status.

Cultural Context

  • Work Week: In Arab countries, the workweek is Sunday to Thursday.
  • Weekend: Friday and Saturday constitute the weekend.
  • Civil War: Defined as a conflict between factions within a single country.
  • Mukhabarat: The secret police operating within oppressive regimes.

Challenges and Experiences

  • Fleeing to Jordan: Safiya and Tariq express fear regarding their escape; Baba experiences vulnerability for the first time on their journey.
  • Living Conditions: Tent living entails significant hardship, such as lack of bathroom facilities and warm water.
  • Charity Stigma: Baba struggles with accepting aid due to pride; his role has traditionally been that of a provider.

Personal Growth and Interpersonal Relations

  • Safiya's Feelings: Exhibits a mix of frustration, bravery, and conflict, especially toward her family dynamics and living situation.
  • Tariq's Independence: He is excited about tent life as an opportunity for greater self-sufficiency but resists accepting charity.
  • Character Descriptions:
    • Aunt Zainab: Characterized as snobbish and rude, with inconsistent behavior towards others.
    • Abu Ali: Kind and generous, offers support through food packages for refugees.
    • Malik: Struggles with his identity after a life of privilege; helps the family adapt to their new environment.

Emotional and Societal Reflections

  • Gender Roles: Safiya experiences frustration over her limitations as a girl in a patriarchal society; she feels vulnerable and restricted in independence.
  • Reflections on Childhood: Aunt Zainab's harsh treatment suggests a background of being similarly treated, indicating a cycle of abuse.

Key Events

  • Hijacking Incident: During their journey, Baba's wallet is stolen, showcasing their vulnerability and the dire situation they face.
  • Tent Life Adaptation: Safiya's initial resistance and eventual participation in helping Malik showcases her struggle and the reality of adaptation to difficult conditions.

Miscellaneous

  • Currency: The currency in Jordan is the Jordanian Dollar (JD).
  • "Abu" Meaning: Translates to "father" or "father of," often used in names to denote familial relationships.
  • Paligamy Definition: Refers to the practice of having multiple wives, relevant to Malik's family history.

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Test your knowledge of key concepts from 'A House Without Walls' with this set of flashcards covering chapters 1-26. Learn important vocabulary, definitions, and character insights to enhance your understanding of the text.

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