Journal 4
Alive in the Killing Fields
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Setting
Use of language
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Reader Response Questions
Did any of the characters change? Pick one and discuss how an event, person, and decision change that character.
Zhen was a man that used to work on Mop’s families farm in the very beginning of the novel before the Khmer Rouge and the Vietnamese took over. He did a horrible job in the fields and with the animals to Mop’s father decided it was time to let him go. After the attack on the Cambodians by the Khmer Rouge, Mop’s father learns that Zhen is now a member of this violent gang. Zhen is now out to get their family as well as making other gang members want to attacks Mop’s family too. Zhen made this time extremely difficult for Mop’s family and Mop later learns that after his dads time in the jungle he is reported missing and Zhen has been bragging about killing him. After Zhen was fired he snapped and did everything in his power to make Mop and his family’s lives a living hell.
Discuss what you think the protagonist learned about himself, his family, or his friends.
I think that protagonist learned that even in the worst of times he will do everything in his power to stay alive. Mop was extremely brave when the Khmer Rouge enslaved his family and left them to starve in the rice fields and work long hours every day. Mop and his brothers as well as Van Lan risked their lives to steal food from the gang and Mop even started eating rice chaff to fill him up which gave him a horrible infection. Many times Mop was caught stealing and was lucky he wasn’t killed. It just goes to show how brave and hungry Mop’s family was and how they would do anything for just the slightest bit of food.
Describe a conflict between two or more characters. How was it resolved? What did you learn about these characters?
The main conflict in my novel was between the Khmer Rouge and the Cambodians. The main conflicted affected thousands of people after they were mercilessly taken from their homes to be slaves for the gang with all the guns and power. Many civilians were brutally killed as well, leaving their family members depressed, in mourning and scarred. The Cambodians prayed that someone would save them from this new lifestyle and then the Vietnamese saved many people from the brutal murders. The Vietnamese had greater power over the Khmer Rouge but many people still had very little power so Mop and a few members of his family moved to France, America and Canada to be free and happy once more
Name one to two minor characters. Show how each affected the main characters.
When Mop’s dad was living in the jungle he requested for Mop to be taken from the rice fields to visit him. During Mops visit, his dad taught him many things about living in the wild and how to catch food. His dad showed him how to make traps and catch snakes and what berries to eat and which would kill him. He showed him how to cook and which snakes would kill him in a second. After his visit with his dad, Mop brought home food for his family to save them from starvation. Even though Mop’s dad had a small roll he helped save his sons life and his family’s many times. When Mop was sent to a different field to work on his own, he made traps to he could catch food and survive without starving.
Were there conflicts characters couldn’t solve? Identify one or two and explain why you think they weren’t resolved.
Before the Vietnamese took over Mop and his family heard word that his father was missing and most likely dead. There was no way for them to check the jungle without being seen and killed by the Khmer Rouge so there was no way for them to know for sure that that was true. Zhen a horrible gang member had bragged about killing him and it affected Mop so much and hurt him greatly, but in a way I think it made him stronger. He then fought for not only himself but for his father as well.
Finally, identify three areas or topics for further research. For each topic discuss whether this book changed your thinking about this topic and at least two things you might like to know more about.
- Goal of killing so many innocent civilians
- Why they made so many people work on rice farms
- If any were attacked
-If people enjoyed staying their
- Who was in charge of the camps
- Why they wanted to harm so many people
- The goal of the slaves and murders
Zhen was a man that used to work on Mop’s families farm in the very beginning of the novel before the Khmer Rouge and the Vietnamese took over. He did a horrible job in the fields and with the animals to Mop’s father decided it was time to let him go. After the attack on the Cambodians by the Khmer Rouge, Mop’s father learns that Zhen is now a member of this violent gang. Zhen is now out to get their family as well as making other gang members want to attacks Mop’s family too. Zhen made this time extremely difficult for Mop’s family and Mop later learns that after his dads time in the jungle he is reported missing and Zhen has been bragging about killing him. After Zhen was fired he snapped and did everything in his power to make Mop and his family’s lives a living hell.
Discuss what you think the protagonist learned about himself, his family, or his friends.
I think that protagonist learned that even in the worst of times he will do everything in his power to stay alive. Mop was extremely brave when the Khmer Rouge enslaved his family and left them to starve in the rice fields and work long hours every day. Mop and his brothers as well as Van Lan risked their lives to steal food from the gang and Mop even started eating rice chaff to fill him up which gave him a horrible infection. Many times Mop was caught stealing and was lucky he wasn’t killed. It just goes to show how brave and hungry Mop’s family was and how they would do anything for just the slightest bit of food.
Describe a conflict between two or more characters. How was it resolved? What did you learn about these characters?
The main conflict in my novel was between the Khmer Rouge and the Cambodians. The main conflicted affected thousands of people after they were mercilessly taken from their homes to be slaves for the gang with all the guns and power. Many civilians were brutally killed as well, leaving their family members depressed, in mourning and scarred. The Cambodians prayed that someone would save them from this new lifestyle and then the Vietnamese saved many people from the brutal murders. The Vietnamese had greater power over the Khmer Rouge but many people still had very little power so Mop and a few members of his family moved to France, America and Canada to be free and happy once more
Name one to two minor characters. Show how each affected the main characters.
When Mop’s dad was living in the jungle he requested for Mop to be taken from the rice fields to visit him. During Mops visit, his dad taught him many things about living in the wild and how to catch food. His dad showed him how to make traps and catch snakes and what berries to eat and which would kill him. He showed him how to cook and which snakes would kill him in a second. After his visit with his dad, Mop brought home food for his family to save them from starvation. Even though Mop’s dad had a small roll he helped save his sons life and his family’s many times. When Mop was sent to a different field to work on his own, he made traps to he could catch food and survive without starving.
Were there conflicts characters couldn’t solve? Identify one or two and explain why you think they weren’t resolved.
Before the Vietnamese took over Mop and his family heard word that his father was missing and most likely dead. There was no way for them to check the jungle without being seen and killed by the Khmer Rouge so there was no way for them to know for sure that that was true. Zhen a horrible gang member had bragged about killing him and it affected Mop so much and hurt him greatly, but in a way I think it made him stronger. He then fought for not only himself but for his father as well.
Finally, identify three areas or topics for further research. For each topic discuss whether this book changed your thinking about this topic and at least two things you might like to know more about.
- History of the Khmer Rouge.
- Goal of killing so many innocent civilians
- Why they made so many people work on rice farms
- Escapee camps in Thailand during the 1970's- 1980's
- If any were attacked
-If people enjoyed staying their
- Who was in charge of the camps
- Leader of the Khmer Rouge
- Why they wanted to harm so many people
- The goal of the slaves and murders