Assignment:
Readings & Videos for Half of a Yellow Sun:
• Background Information from Wikipedia
• In Photos: Nigeria's Civil War
• Nigeria Is Still Haunted by Its Civil War
YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9cSA1gLiz
Part I of Half of a Yellow Sun takes place in the early 1960s, prior to The Nigerian Civil War (also called The Biafran War). This part of the story introduces the reader to the lives of a variety of different characters who seem to be designed to provide us with a variety of different ways of experiencing what life was like in Nigeria at the time. At this point in the story, little mention has been made of the political turmoil that is coming. For this assignment, I would like to focus on looking at the characters we meet and then the upcoming war. Please read both questions carefully prior to writing your answers. Be sure to cite specific examples from the book and/or articles to support your answer. As always, format your answers in proper MLA format.
1. In Part I of Half of a Yellow Sun, we experience the events through the perspectives of three different narrators: Ugwu, Olanna, and Richard. I would like you to choose one of these narrators to examine. How does Adiche characterize them? What kind of person are they? What do they value and believe? What do they think about Nigeria and the current situation there?
2. The Readings & Resources contains a short video and a couple articles about The Nigerian Civil War. Please read/view these. Then, I would like you to tell me about what you learned. Basically, what struck you about what you read and learned? Was there anything in particular you found intriguing? Or did the reading help you understand Nigeria in a different way?
3. Reflect: The course theme is revolutions. So far we've looked at two revolutionary texts, and we just started a third. What have you learned about how revolutions shape peoples' lives? Are there any positives--or ways you see that facing adversity benefitted the characters? What do these kinds of tales teach about the human experience?
4. Looking forward: We've just read Part I of our next book, and the characters we've met have not yet faced revolutionary struggles. From what you know about the characters, who do you think will thrive--who will struggle? Defend your response with evidence from the texts.
5. Near the beginning of Part II, there is a military coup. Odenigbo's friends all discuss their reactions to the coup. How does Odenigbo and his guests' reactions differ from Olanna's? What does Ugwa think about the coup?
6. This first coup leads to more drastic events that impact the characters' lives. Choose one character and trace out how their life changes as a result of the political turmoil. As a reader, how do you respond to the character you chose and how they respond to the growing turmoil?
7. What is "The World Was Silent When We Died?" How does it add to our understanding of the text?