A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah takes us into the depths of the Sierra Leone Civil War, which began in 1991. We will look at themes centered around
loss of innocence, loss of family, the all pervasive damages of war, and the search for hope
.
What is the main conflict in A Long Way Gone?
This true story
involves the life of Ishmael Beah who lives a fairly happy life in Sierra Leone until civil war breaks out
. Then, like other civilians, he is forced to run for his life, becoming separated from his family and later losing them to murder by the rebels.
What is the message of A Long Way Gone?
But in addition to its emphasis on the beauty of human resilience and hope, a central message of A Long Way Gone is that
war, hatred and violence consume everything in a society, especially children
.
What is the tone of A Long Way Gone?
The tone of A Long Way Gone is
sad, serious, and brutal
. The tone is sad because Beah recalls sorrowful flashbacks and memories from his experience as a child soldier consistently throughout the story.
What does the return of the moon symbolize A Long Way Gone?
For Ishmael and his family, the moon is a
symbol of goodness and joy
. … The moon is constantly looking over Ishmael’s shoulder reminding him of his life before the war and his connection to the people he loves. Even after the war, whenever Ishmael sees the moon, he remembers the happier times of his childhood.
Why should people read A Long Way Gone?
This is a beautifully written book about
a shocking war and the children who were forced
to fight it. Ishmael Beah describes the unthinkable in calm, unforgettable language; his memoir is an important testament to the children elsewhere who continue to be conscripted into armies and militias.
How was Ishmael manipulated?
When Ishmael first joins the army in A Long Way Gone, he doesn’t seem to suspect that he’s being played. His commanding officers tell him
to kill to avenge
his family. Then, they give him a whole bunch of drugs and turn on some war movies. Pretty soon, Ishmael’s a killing machine.
Who is the antagonist in a Long Way Gone?
Antagonist. The antagonists at first are the rebels who bring horror and death to civilians for reasons
Ishmael
can never discern. Later, the antagonist becomes Ishmael himself when he very nearly cannot find the strength within himself to recover from begin a bloodthirsty soldier to a child once more.
Is a long way gone a true story?
A Long Way Gone is the
true story of Ishmael Beah
, who becomes an unwilling boy soldier during a civil war in Sierra Leone. When he is twelve years old, Beah’s village is attacked while he is away performing in a rap group with friends.
Who is jummah in a Long Way Gone?
A part of the second group of boys Beah travels with, Jumah eventually becomes
a child soldier
, although he ends up in a different squad from Beah. Saidu’s best friend, and a part of the second group of boys Beah travels with. Moriba eventually becomes a child soldier.
AUTHOR’S STYLE
The style is
very straightforward and graphic
. Ishmael leaves nothing to the imagination about the atrocities of the civil war and his own bloodthirsty behavior. However, he also relates the hope still existing in his life in a way that makes the reader hope that someday we will no longer turn to war.
Who is Laura in A Long Way Gone?
Laura Simms is
a storyteller in New York City
. She and Ishmael bond when he visits the United Nations to share his story of being a boy soldier. Laura invites all the children from the delegation back to her home at the conclusion of the conference.
What kept trying to cover the moon in a Long Way Gone?
” Beah becomes much like the moon in spirit. Unlike the adage, however, the parallels are more about appearance. ”I looked into the sky and saw how
the thick clouds
kept trying to cover the moon, yet it would reappear again and again to shine all night long.
What does Ishmael say was the most difficult part of being in the forest by himself?
The most difficult part of being in the forest for Ishmael was
the loneliness
. He was very lonely which made him think far too much.
What bad event did Saidu witness?
Saidu has the most horrific story.
The rebels came to his house and raped his three sisters and then took his parents and sisters hostage
. During all of this, Saidu happened to be hiding upstairs so the rebels never found him.
Who should read A Long Way Gone?
The content, and brutal honesty of the book makes me recommend it to
anyone twelve years old or older
. I choose twelve because that is the age where he starts this hell.
