Podcast
Questions and Answers
What month is it in Chapter 3?
What month is it in Chapter 3?
The boy recalls his father promising to _______.
The boy recalls his father promising to _______.
take him traveling around the world
Why does one of the camp residents get beaten one night?
Why does one of the camp residents get beaten one night?
for being a suspected FBI informant
When the boy listens to the radio at night, he imagines himself to be ________.
When the boy listens to the radio at night, he imagines himself to be ________.
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What does the boy's sister make him do when she changes clothes?
What does the boy's sister make him do when she changes clothes?
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Where does the boy find his sister in the middle of the night one night?
Where does the boy find his sister in the middle of the night one night?
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Who buries the boy's pet tortoise?
Who buries the boy's pet tortoise?
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Because his father is listed as a dangerous enemy alien, the boy envisions him as ________.
Because his father is listed as a dangerous enemy alien, the boy envisions him as ________.
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What was the boy's father wearing when he was taken away by the authorities?
What was the boy's father wearing when he was taken away by the authorities?
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What is greta?
What is greta?
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What does the mother try to alter so that the children can wear them?
What does the mother try to alter so that the children can wear them?
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How many of the camp's residents freeze to death in the subzero weather?
How many of the camp's residents freeze to death in the subzero weather?
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Where had the boy left his bike before leaving home?
Where had the boy left his bike before leaving home?
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For how many days after his father's arrest did the family have no info about where he was?
For how many days after his father's arrest did the family have no info about where he was?
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Where was the boy's father held after his arrest?
Where was the boy's father held after his arrest?
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What did the boy's mother do on the morning after visiting his father?
What did the boy's mother do on the morning after visiting his father?
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Why does the boy's mother leave some clothing of his father's hanging in the closet?
Why does the boy's mother leave some clothing of his father's hanging in the closet?
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What does the boy receive as a Christmas gift from a woman in Ohio?
What does the boy receive as a Christmas gift from a woman in Ohio?
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Why is the boy worried about his sister?
Why is the boy worried about his sister?
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When the boy's sister comes in at night she smells like ________?
When the boy's sister comes in at night she smells like ________?
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How does the boy know that his mother is depressed?
How does the boy know that his mother is depressed?
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Why do the army recruiters come to the camp again?
Why do the army recruiters come to the camp again?
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Why is one family in camp sent back to Japan?
Why is one family in camp sent back to Japan?
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Why did the guard kill one of the internees one night?
Why did the guard kill one of the internees one night?
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What does the boy imagine doing with his father when his father returns?
What does the boy imagine doing with his father when his father returns?
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What advice does the boy receive from his father in a letter?
What advice does the boy receive from his father in a letter?
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What personal element from his father does the boy save?
What personal element from his father does the boy save?
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What does the mother recall that she had been too tired to get the father the night he was taken away?
What does the mother recall that she had been too tired to get the father the night he was taken away?
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What bothers the boy about where his father is now?
What bothers the boy about where his father is now?
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The boy has a photo of _________ on the wall.
The boy has a photo of _________ on the wall.
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Directions the mother gives the boy for behavior?
Directions the mother gives the boy for behavior?
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The boy often walks under the guard towers whispering the name of emperor ______?
The boy often walks under the guard towers whispering the name of emperor ______?
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Who is the boy's former housekeeper?
Who is the boy's former housekeeper?
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Men who had important jobs before the war, now have jobs like _____ at the camp.
Men who had important jobs before the war, now have jobs like _____ at the camp.
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Despite hardships, the boy likes to do what at camp?
Despite hardships, the boy likes to do what at camp?
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In the next room live a man, his wife, and the wife's mother, Mrs. Kato, she often imagines she hears _______.
In the next room live a man, his wife, and the wife's mother, Mrs. Kato, she often imagines she hears _______.
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The mother rations her face cream, and is worried about aging and _______.
The mother rations her face cream, and is worried about aging and _______.
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The boy has a pair of his father's _____
The boy has a pair of his father's _____
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What are some camp rules?
What are some camp rules?
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Study Notes
Key Events and Characters
- The chapter is set in October, emphasizing the changing seasons in the camp environment.
- A boy recalls his father's promise to take him traveling, highlighting the lost aspirations of families affected by internment.
- One camp resident is beaten for being suspected of being an FBI informant, reflecting the paranoia of the era.
Family Dynamics
- The boy imagines himself as a decorated soldier while listening to the radio, showcasing childhood escapism amidst hardship.
- The sister requires the boy to turn his head when she changes clothes, illustrating the innocence and boundaries within their relationship.
- The boy finds his sister digging in the dirt with a spoon at night, symbolizing their struggle for normalcy and play.
Loss and Grief
- The sister buries the boy’s pet tortoise, marking a poignant moment of loss in the narrative.
- The boy envisions his father as an old west outlaw, an imaginative coping mechanism for dealing with his father's absence.
- There is a notable detail that the boy's father was taken by authorities in a bathrobe and slippers, emphasizing the abrupt and humiliating nature of his arrest.
Daily Life in Camp
- Greta refers to traditional Japanese footwear, hinting at the cultural loss experienced by the internees.
- The mother attempts to modify men's coats for the children, showcasing her resourceful adaptation to their new reality.
- One resident froze to death due to subzero conditions, highlighting the dire circumstances of life in the camp.
Separation and Communication
- The boy left his bike chained to a tree, symbolizing his lost childhood security.
- The family was left without information about the father for four days, emphasizing the uncertainty faced by families.
- The father was detained in San Francisco after his arrest, indicating the geographic separation of families.
Emotional State and Relationships
- The mother took the father's suits for cleaning, revealing her struggle to maintain some semblance of normalcy.
- She intentionally leaves his clothing in the closet so the boy can remember his father, portraying a desire to preserve family ties.
- The boy receives a Swiss Army knife as a Christmas gift, which becomes a symbol of hope and connection from the outside world.
Concerns and Changes
- The boy worries about his sister spending more time with other kids, indicating his feelings of abandonment.
- The sister smells of cigarettes at night, hinting at her possible rebellion or coping strategies.
- The boy recognizes his mother's depression through her refusal to eat, revealing the psychological toll of internment.
Loyalty and Identity
- Army recruiters return to the camp for loyalty tests, showcasing the scrutiny and distrust faced by Japanese Americans.
- A family is sent back to Japan due to refusal to serve in the military, highlighting the political pressures on internees.
- A guard justifies killing an internee by claiming he attempted to escape, reflecting the harsh realities and dangers within the camp.
Nostalgia and Aspirations
- The boy imagines conversations with his father upon his return, illustrating his longing for connection.
- A letter from his father advises him it is better to bend than to break, a lesson in resilience against adversity.
- The boy saves his father's hair as a personal keepsake, symbolizing cherished memories and familial bonds.
Everyday Restrictions
- The mother instructs the boy to avoid touching fences, staring at the sun, talking to guards, and uttering the emperor's name, showing the restrictions placed on their freedoms.
- The boy walks under guard towers, whispering the emperor’s name (Hirohito), reflecting a quiet defiance and connection to identity.
- Camp workers, once holding important positions, now find themselves in menial jobs like dishwashing and janitorial work, illustrating the loss of status and dignity.
Coping Strategies and Camp Activities
- Despite hardships, the boy finds joy in simple activities like playing with his tortoise, flying kites, and baseball, highlighting the resilience of childhood.
- Mrs. Kato imagines hearing her mother's voice, signaling the psychological burdens carried by camp residents.
- The mother conserves her face cream and worries about aging and sun exposure, emphasizing the pressures of maintaining appearance and dignity even in hardship.
Camp Regulations
- Camp residents must adhere to specific rules including eating regulations, restricted language use, and prohibitions against Japanese literature or Shinto practices, underscoring the loss of cultural identity.
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Description
Test your knowledge on Chapter 3 of 'When the Emperor Was Divine' with these flashcards. This chapter delves into the experiences of a boy and his family during a challenging time, highlighting themes of hope and nostalgia. Challenge yourself to recall key details and insights from the text.
