A Thousand Splendid Suns; Chapters 11-20

12/1/2020

These images could depict some of the main plot points of the beginning of Part II (Laila's Story) of A Thousand Splendid Suns. While these moments are important, they are by no means the only significant points in these chapters.
After having read these chapters:
-Select a single passage (this may be a single paragraph or several) that you feel best typifies the thematic importance of "shelter" in this section of ATSS.
-Explain the action and context of the quoted passage (you must cite the passage) and then,
-Explain how your understanding of this passage (1) supports your contextual understanding of the thematic subject ("shelter"), (2) deepens the character development, and/or (3) builds a central message that aligns with one of the unit's essential questions (see the main ATSS page).

Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 100-150 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name that you were assigned in class as your PEN NAME and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 pm on Friday night!

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 75-100 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name that you were assigned in class as your PEN NAME and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 pm on Sunday night!

Aabroo

12/3/2020 11:29:01 pm

The passage I chose is when Laila got home from school after being bullied from the walk home. "you're angry" "You were supposed to pick me up" "I was" "Mammy croaked"(Hosseini 124) Ever since Laila's brothers went to the war her mother has lacked the motivation to be a mother. This situation means Laila lacks maternal shelter. She doesn't have the one woman in her life that shields and protects her from life's struggle as she's growing. Her mother isn't nurturing her. This deepens Laila's character development as we see her become the woman of the household early on and how she struggles to cope with her mothers obsession to her brothers

Asal

12/6/2020 11:48:11 pm

Yes I totally agree. Now with the death of her 2 son I feel like things are going to get much worse. She will just not be there for her in general. Kind of just a husk of who she once was. Even worse of a parent one might say. I also wonder if he Dad will be effected or something and leave her "parentless"

12/7/2020 01:51:46 am

Oh most definitely the dad is already soft he doesn't even argue with his wife he just let's her yell at him. If anything he's already affected he has to deal with the fact that he let his sons go to war which Fariba constantly reminds him and he can't even do things that Fariba thinks is the man of the households job like fix things. Plus at the funeral the other woman told him he was in the way. He feels totally useless

Nageenah

12/7/2020 10:51:56 pm

i agree, its interesting to think of how there can be multiple forms of shelter other than a physical place or object. having the idea that emotional shelter is bigger than the physical place would make more sense relating to the effect on lailas mental state.

Adja

12/10/2020 10:37:03 pm

I 100% agree with this sgtatement. its so weird to jump from one part of the book where the man says and the woman just does without question, to where the husband is quiet when the WIFE talks. I hate to get off topic but is is very empowering knowing that even know Mariam was going through this, not everyone was. And its even more amzing that they live so close and live such different lives.

Kaamisha

12/13/2020 08:53:38 pm

when you don't feel emotionally secured and abandoned you don't know what else to do and feel alone and by yourself

12/6/2020 07:03:39 pm

Laila lacks shelter from her mother because her mother was supposed to pick her up from school but she didn't remember. I think that because of the fact that the rest of her children are gone, it makes her unmotivated to getup and do anything. She's always in a bad mood, and rarely gets out of bed any more. I personally think that if her children were there, she would be more motivated to be positive and spend time with her last child. Hosseni -119

12/6/2020 11:45:43 pm

The part of the story I chose that shows kind of a lack of shelter for Lalia is right at the beginning. “Downstairs, her parents were fighting. Again. Laila knew the routine: Mammy ferocious, indomitable, pacing and ranting: Babi sitting, looking sheepish and dazed, nodding obediently, waiting for the storm to pass.” This fight between her family proves that she really has no shelter. Outside there is a war going on in the country but also in her own home there are fights between her parents. You gotta wonder how things makes her feel knowing that she is basically in the middle of a consistent fight. No true shelter except for maye Tariq that helps her with bullies and such. And now with her mother in complete shock due to the death of her sons and most likely going to help Lalia less and get into more fights with her dad due to pent up anger it will get worse.

12/7/2020 01:45:57 am

This is a good thought, Laila was clearly put in the middle of this family dynamic her father fired from his teaching job works long hours and can't pickup Laila from school her mother depressed isn't going to offer shelter to her. Then watching her parents argue shows that there isn't an environment of shelter for Laila. What's even worse is that going to Tariq's house she sees what having shelter is as Tariq's parents give him the guidance and love she wants

12/7/2020 10:49:07 pm

this quote is a perfect way to show how lailas shelter is toxic. and i totally agree, the things she is going through could possibly lead up to some sort of outburst that could hurt herself or someone else. but having her breath of air with tariq might ease the stress of her constant involvement in her parents relationship.

12/10/2020 10:40:20 pm

I agree. Speaking on Laila hurting herself or others, it makes me wonder who the candidates may be. Like her father, her mother and her friends from school. considering that her friends joke abaout Tariq only having one leg, and him being handicap, this could result in her saying or doing something out of anger that could get her in serious trouble.

12/13/2020 08:56:40 pm

Laila shelter wasn't stable and she didn't feel safe where she we and was always put in a situation that no one belongs to be in, her relationship with her family might also have not been the best therefore she thought she was all by herself with no one else by her

12/7/2020 10:45:57 pm

"In class that day, laila found it hard to pay attention, between Tariq's absence and her parents fight. so when the teacher called her to name the capitals of romania and cuba, laila was caught off guard"(111 Hosseini) this quote is shorter, but it gives an insight into the effect of lailas shelter life at home on her mental state. her homelife is overwhelming. it distracts her from her schoolwork. which is why having a comfortable shelter is both physically and mentally important for the development of ones character at a younger age.

Firouzeh

12/10/2020 11:36:24 pm

The passage that I chose that shows the lack of shelter in Laila is, "Laila found herself caught in a net of terrible thoughts. He would never come back" (Hosseini 126). I think that this passage shows how much she missed Tariq because of how close they were and she probably felt like he was her only protection or shelter. She wasn't getting any feeling of shelter because her mother was stuck on the loss of her two brothers who were sent out to war. After her brothers Ahmad and Noor were killed in war Laila’s mother stopped caring about her because she wasn’ the same person after her sons were killed.

12/13/2020 08:44:49 pm

All of Mariam's reactions, or lack thereof, show that she is unable to challenge her fate or question the life she's ended up with. Part of her motivation is her great sense of loss and shame — she does not quite feel she deserves happiness, nor does she see how she can do any better than the life handed to her by Jalil's wives. While Mariam's response reveals much about her, her discoveries also tell the reader more about Rasheed.

12/17/2020 08:23:59 am

Hi Kaamisha,

I think that you meant for this post to be on the Part 1 entry. I will put the score for this under that assignment.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

Class Period E Blog

A Thousand Splendid Suns; Chapters 11-20

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