Riley's+questions

Riley's Questions VOCAB HERE 1a.What do you think of their tribe customs? How are they different and similar to ours?  Their customs are very different from ours in the fact that they have barely any technology so the way they go about things were very different. However their family values and care for each other is very similar to our culture. 1b.Why did the Ashanti tribe turn on them?  The Ashanti tribe probably turned on Amari's people because they were either bribed or threatened by the white men. The Ashanti might have been offered money in return for their services. 2a.What was the significance of Afi's words on page 37 when she says "certain people are chosen to survive"?  She is trying to keep Amari strong and give her hope in order to survive the things to come. She is an older wiser woman and she knows that if Amari has someone who believes in her she will be stronger. 2b.Why do you think the red haired sailor was helping Amari?  The sailor realized how horrible slavery was and what he was doing was immorally wrong. He also realized that if he were to tell the others his feelings they would probably kill him. Instead, he picked a slave girl every night and helped them out greatly saving them from some other sailor. 3a.What significance do you think Afi had to Amari why was she included in the story? Amari needed Afi to survive we think the author included Afi to get across the theme of hope as well as the importance of caring for one another. Even in bad times by just caring and believing in Amari, Afi helped her tremundously. If there were more acts of kindness such as thing our world would be a much better place. 3b.Why wouldn't they let the slaves converse with one another? Since the whites wanted to break the slaves and make them realize they had no freedoms it was important to take away their ability to communicate with one another. Also, by talking to one another they may form closer bonds with the other slaves making them harder to separate. There is also always the possibility of an atempted rebellion. 4a.Why would Amari be assigned a new name what is the significance of this? When she was given a new name her back was turned on freedom and she was forced to start a new life. No longer would she ever be the old Amari she was now Myna. Thesignificance of changing Amari's name is the blow to her morale and pride. 4b.Are Polly and Amari always going to clash or are they eventually grow to become friends? The prediction that Polly and Amari will become friends by the end of the book is logical because of all the similarities between the two. They both are in very rough conditions and have both suffered before being on the farms. They also are both very keen and thoughtful girls who need a companion. Once Amari is able to learn English they will put aside prejudice and become good friends. 5a.Why does Clay dislike his step-mother so much? Clay may be still greiving the fact that he never got to see his birth mother so the fact that his dad is trying to replace her is upsetting him. Or maybe Clay know's or suspects something bad about Mrs. Derby. 5b. What did you think of how Mr. Derby reacted when Amari dropped the pie? What feelings came to you as you read about the whipping? Mr. Derby completely exploded and over reacted because it was really his fault that he tripped her. Draper holds no content back and her description of the brutal beating brings grief, contempt, and distress when you read it. The extreme agony Amari must of been trough is troubling. 6a. Why do you think Amari and Polly started arguing over the berries that made them sick? The tensions caused by the tough situation are starting to get at everyone so when something goes wrong they are both quick to blame each other. Polly was upset Amari gave them bad food and Amari that Polly wasn't helping to find food. It is imperative that they stick together because together is the only way they can survive. 6b. Why did the young boy decide to help them? First, Draper made it seem like the young boy found Polly to be attractive and blushed often. He may have wanted to help her for this reason. Also, maybe he feels like slavery is immoral and wants to help them because its his chance to fight back. 7a. What as happened to Besa? Why did he act so strange when he saw Amari? Besa had been the victim of brutal slavery he was missing an eye and had heavy scars on his face. All the hope had been drained out of him. He was almost like the foil character in the story because he highlights how Amari still has hope to be free where he is the opposite. 7b. Why was the Spanish Soldier added to the story? Why was he given a whole chapter? The Spanish man symbolized peace and the end of their journey. He was just as scared of them as they were of him and he was never threatening or harsh like the previous people they had met. He was important because he was the first sign that things were changing. 8a. Why was the book called Copper Sun? What was the Symbolism? The "Copper Sun" was mentioned several times throughout the story whenever Amari looked at the sunset. It seemed to symbolize hope and her home in Africa because that was the first place she recognized it and so whenever she saw it in America she realized it was the same one she saw back home bringing her all the memories. 8b. If you could edit one thing about the book what would it be? To either add a side plot or cut out some of the chapters in the middle. During the story there were a couple points where nothing was really going on and they were just at the farm going through the motions. Draper could've made something more exciting happen during this time or just omitted it completely.