the first killed my father.

Topic: First They Killed My Father

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First They Killed My Father (Page 69 – 158)

1. Why do Laine and Khouy marry? - Their father plans for their wedding in order to avoid Khmer Rouge soldiers from taking them to be soldiers.

2. Is sexual assault for women an issue? – Yes it, however since Khmer Rouge soldiers are in control nothing can be done.

3. Who is Pol Pot? – Pol Pot is the Cambodian revolutionary leader leading the Khmer Rouge soldiers.

4. How does the family survive despite the lack of food? – They survive by working in the fields in order to receive rations and Kim also earns extra food by working at the chief’s home before he is fired.

5. Explain Anker and Khmer Rouge’s reasoning for “ethnic cleansing”. – they desired to bring back the country to its mystic past as well as the desire to return the nation to its agrarian practices and this was not possible with the existence of the other minority influences.

6. What happened to Kiev? – Kiev died due to dysentery and food poisoning due to lack of treatment at the infirmary.

7. What happened to Pa? – Pa was taken by the Khmer Rouge soldiers on the pretense they needed his help fixing their truck never to return again.

8. What is the relationship between China, Vietnam and Cambodia?- The relationship between the two countries China and Vietnam against Cambodia was strained due to the killing of the minorities from the nations living in the Cambodia.

9. What happened to Sarrin family? – The Sarrin family was killed off by the Khmer Rouge soldiers after they accused him of being a Lon Nol.

10. What does the mother do with the children? – In order for the children to survive and remain safe from the soldiers, the mother separates them to stay in different abandoned huts.

11. What is life like in their new work camp? - The living conditions there is filthy and they also receive rations that are not enough even though they work harder.

12. Describe the scene when she visits her mother? – The place was filthy and deserted.

13. What ailment sent the entire family to the infirmary? – They all moved to the infirmary due to starvation.

Page 149 – Epilogue

1. What happened to Ma after the narrator went to find her? – Her mother and sister had been taken by soldiers and killed.

2. Who invaded Cambodia? – The Vietnamese.

3. What happened to the kids when after/during the invasion? –

4. What is life like after Khmer Rouge for the kids? – The surviving kids had to find foster families to live with.

5. What is the larger significance, in terms of post genocide reconstruction, of the search for a good foster family? – It was important to find a good foster family for the children so that they could experience the good family values and erase the war they had experienced.

6. How does Khmer Rouge treat the civilians living under Youns when they counter attack? - They starve torture and kill them.

7. What is the significance of the crowds’ public execution of a Khmer Rouge soldiers? – They saw it as a form of revenge for all the crimes Khmer Rouge soldier had committed against them.

8. What is plan for Meng and Luong when they flee for Thailand? – Meng’s plan is for him and Luong to flee first to Thailand and the rest to follow thereafter.

9. Describe their journey by boat to Thailand? – The journey was perilous with dangerous waves threatening to overturn the boat and also the threat from pirates.

10. How does one go from a refugee camp to America? – For one to go to America, one must first have a sponsoring family who will accommodate them when they get there.

11. Do they get sent to California? – No, they were sent to Vermont.

12. What happens to their plan to bring the entire family to Vermont? – The plan failed since they did not have enough money to bring them.

13. Does the story end on a triumphant note? – The story end in a triumphant note, since Loung and the rest of her family except Chou get to America and start a new life.

References

Ung, L. (2000). First they killed my father: A daughter of Cambodia remembers. New York: HarperCollinsPublishers.