When the Emperor Was Divine Chapter 3 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What month is it in Chapter 3?

October (correct)

November

September

December

The boy recalls his father promising to _______.

take him traveling around the world

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 ________.

a heroic and decorated soldier Signup and view all the answers

What does the boy's sister make him do when she changes clothes?

turn his head Signup and view all the answers

Where does the boy find his sister in the middle of the night one night?

digging in the dirt with a spoon Signup and view all the answers

Who buries the boy's pet tortoise?

the sister Signup and view all the answers

Because his father is listed as a dangerous enemy alien, the boy envisions him as ________.

an old west outlaw Signup and view all the answers

What was the boy's father wearing when he was taken away by the authorities?

bathrobe and slippers Signup and view all the answers

What is greta?

Japanese footwear Signup and view all the answers

What does the mother try to alter so that the children can wear them?

men's coats Signup and view all the answers

How many of the camp's residents freeze to death in the subzero weather?

1 Signup and view all the answers

Where had the boy left his bike before leaving home?

chained to a tree in the backyard Signup and view all the answers

For how many days after his father's arrest did the family have no info about where he was?

4 days Signup and view all the answers

Where was the boy's father held after his arrest?

San Francisco Signup and view all the answers

What did the boy's mother do on the morning after visiting his father?

took all his suits to the dry cleaners Signup and view all the answers

Why does the boy's mother leave some clothing of his father's hanging in the closet?

so the boy could remember him Signup and view all the answers

What does the boy receive as a Christmas gift from a woman in Ohio?

a Swiss army knife Signup and view all the answers

Why is the boy worried about his sister?

she spends more time with other kids Signup and view all the answers

When the boy's sister comes in at night she smells like ________?

cigarettes Signup and view all the answers

How does the boy know that his mother is depressed?

she won't eat Signup and view all the answers

Why do the army recruiters come to the camp again?

to administer loyalty tests Signup and view all the answers

Why is one family in camp sent back to Japan?

the man would not agree to serve in the military Signup and view all the answers

Why did the guard kill one of the internees one night?

he said the man was trying to escape Signup and view all the answers

What does the boy imagine doing with his father when his father returns?

having a convo Signup and view all the answers

What advice does the boy receive from his father in a letter?

it is better to bend than to break Signup and view all the answers

What personal element from his father does the boy save?

hair Signup and view all the answers

What does the mother recall that she had been too tired to get the father the night he was taken away?

a drink of water Signup and view all the answers

What bothers the boy about where his father is now?

that he doesn't have proper clothes to wear Signup and view all the answers

The boy has a photo of _________ on the wall.

Joe DiMaggio Signup and view all the answers

Directions the mother gives the boy for behavior?

never touch the fence, never stare at the sun, never talk to the guards, and never say the emperor's name out loud Signup and view all the answers

The boy often walks under the guard towers whispering the name of emperor ______?

Hirohito Signup and view all the answers

Who is the boy's former housekeeper?

Mrs. Ueno Signup and view all the answers

Men who had important jobs before the war, now have jobs like _____ at the camp.

dishwashers and janitors Signup and view all the answers

Despite hardships, the boy likes to do what at camp?

play with his pet tortoise, fly kites, and baseball Signup and view all the answers

In the next room live a man, his wife, and the wife's mother, Mrs. Kato, she often imagines she hears _______.

her mother calling her name Signup and view all the answers

The mother rations her face cream, and is worried about aging and _______.

sun exposure Signup and view all the answers

The boy has a pair of his father's _____

shoes Signup and view all the answers

What are some camp rules?

eating rules, certain words can't be used, no Japanese books, and can't practice the religion of Shinto Signup and view all the answers

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.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

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.