Podcast
Questions and Answers
In this chapter, the season is ___________ and the family is returning from the war.
In this chapter, the season is ___________ and the family is returning from the war.
fall
Why doesn't their mother wave to the man raking leaves next door?
Why doesn't their mother wave to the man raking leaves next door?
She says many people would not be happy to know that the Japanese are back in town.
The mother takes the key off her head and puts it into the lock with _________ fingers.
The mother takes the key off her head and puts it into the lock with _________ fingers.
steady
How long has it been since the family was away?
How long has it been since the family was away?
Back inside the house for the first time, they notice _________ paint and trash on the floor.
Back inside the house for the first time, they notice _________ paint and trash on the floor.
What do they find missing from their home?
What do they find missing from their home?
What did the mother regret regarding the wedding china?
What did the mother regret regarding the wedding china?
What frantic thoughts did the children have on their first night sleeping at home?
What frantic thoughts did the children have on their first night sleeping at home?
The children eat quickly because they are starving.
The children eat quickly because they are starving.
What program do they listen to after dinner?
What program do they listen to after dinner?
How did the children feel about the war?
How did the children feel about the war?
What do the children no longer want to be mistaken for?
What do the children no longer want to be mistaken for?
These neighbors had not said anything when they saw the family being evacuated- their mother said they were ____________.
These neighbors had not said anything when they saw the family being evacuated- their mother said they were ____________.
What do the children observe about their old friends at school?
What do the children observe about their old friends at school?
The children received warm welcomes from their old friends.
The children received warm welcomes from their old friends.
What is the reaction of children towards the family of Japanese descent at school?
What is the reaction of children towards the family of Japanese descent at school?
Their father believes anyone can be an ______________.
Their father believes anyone can be an ______________.
What is the father's mental state upon returning?
What is the father's mental state upon returning?
What does their father do all day at home?
What does their father do all day at home?
Their mother describes it was a _____________ to have somewhere to go every morning.
Their mother describes it was a _____________ to have somewhere to go every morning.
The weather grows warmer, but their father remains engaged with the children.
The weather grows warmer, but their father remains engaged with the children.
What do the children wander the streets doing in May?
What do the children wander the streets doing in May?
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Study Notes
Chapter 4 Overview
- The setting in this chapter is fall, marking the family's return from war.
- The narrative is seen through the perspective of the children.
Family's Return Home
- Upon returning, the family's home displays peeling paint and trash on the floor, indicating neglect.
- Most of their furniture is gone, but the family feels fortunate compared to others without homes.
- The family's mother opens their door with a key worn on a silver chain around her neck for three years and five months.
Condition of the House
- They find dirty mattresses and inappropriate magazines left behind, reflecting the state of their home during their absence.
- Their mother's regret is not using the wedding china daily, which was a cherished family item.
First Night Back
- The family chooses rooms that resemble barracks, reminiscent of their time in the camps.
- Past wrongdoings against returning Japanese families cause the children to feel anxious about potential violence.
Community's Reception
- Neighbors, some afraid, either ignore them or respond indifferently to the family's return.
- Their father's letters indicate uncertainty about his release, creating worry about his potential views on loyalty.
School and Social Isolation
- At school, they face polite but distant treatment from peers, reinforcing their feelings of exclusion.
- Whispers and avoidance indicate their classmates’ discomfort with their return.
Economic Struggles
- The family encounters financial difficulties, leading to new family rules for saving resources.
- Their mother works as a cleaner for wealthy families, taking care to not appear superior to her clients.
Hopes and Dreams
- Despite accumulating belongings, the family struggles with the reality of their situation, including their father's changed demeanor after the war.
- They hold onto small family rituals, including telling stories and enjoying snacks together.
Father's Return
- After years apart, the father returns, appearing physically altered with a wrinkled face, bald head, cane, and wears dentures.
- The children's initial hesitance reflects a shattered ideal of the strong figure they remembered.
Psychological Changes
- The father exhibits signs of suspicion and paranoia, affecting family dynamics.
- The children sense that their father is preoccupied and struggles to connect, highlighting the impact of trauma.
Seasonal Transformation
- Spring brings blooming roses and a sense of renewal, yet the family continues to confront their past and missing elements of their lives.
- The children search for their mother's missing rosebush, symbolizing hope and loss amidst their return to normalcy.
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