Parvanas best friend, shauzia, has escaped the misery of her life in kabul, only to end up in a refugee camp in pakistan. Other little themes like death, there is an abundance of it,and survival pop in and out of the book. The novel also presents opportunities to discuss the themes of. Human rights is a given theme that has been explained in the pervious post so im not going to explain it now. The breadwinner symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. Women have been drastically oppressed due to the taliban, leaving the outdoors occupied mostly by men. The book is based in afghanistan, the novel shows the living and lifestyle of a young girl named parvana, who is the main character of the novel. The theme was demonstrated by both parvana and her mother as they. Parvana spends most of the book feeling equally tired, but by the end, shes found her father and has a future in pakistan to look forward to. Since the taliban is entirely male, he provides a reminder that not all men are cruel and prejudice in afghanistan. Parvana was extremely petrified when she would sit on the blanket disguised as a male, taking over fathers job. One of the themes of the book is courage, primarily because courage is one of the themes of parvana s life. Parvana novel essay parvana, a novel by deborah ellis, tells a story about a young afghanistan girl struggling to save her family and friends under very constricted taliban rules.
The book parvana displayed this theme various times throughout the novel. Parvanas story includes themes such as the unjust treatment of women by the taliban, the changes made in kabul because of the war, and the lack of education in the area. Redefining children and women as heroes in the children books. This quote gives me a motivational push to do a lot of good things in life and stand up for what i believe in. Refuge is a vague theme that is a focal point for parvana. The title of the book refers to the role of the protagonist, 11yearold parvana, who is forced by circumstances to be the breadwinner for her family in a wartorn. But this is afghanistan, the war is far from over, and many continue to view the education and freedom of girls and women with suspicion and fear. Powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates. This is by far the most important theme in the book, because it is the factor that all of the characters lives revolve. Both girls are faced with many difficulties throughout the novel.
Within our democratic society, our constitution states that every australian is entitled to the necessities of life. Parvanas father was getting dragged out of the house. These themes are shown because the taliban arrested parvana s father and parvana s father lost his leg in the bombings and. A rifle was slung across his chest as casually as her fathers shoulder bag had been slung across hers. Its hard to believe, that the childish eleven year old at the start of the book, turns into the courageous young adult that her family must rely on.
One of the themes of the book is courage, primarily because courage is one of the themes of parvanas life. Courage, war, discrimination of women and refugees. She plants flowers near the spot where she used to work, and although other people tell her that theyll never grow, she believes that the little bit of beauty shes leaving behind will be able to persist. Weera and mother tried to educate the young kids in the family, by making a secret school for only a few hours a week. Parvanas family has survived through thick and thin, they have survived the brink of starvation, losing the man of the house and even depression but nothing has changed, their family is as whole as it was before the taliban invaded. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of parvanas journey by deborah ellis. As we continue through this book, we will map the themes we come across in the novel in the mind map below. You have successfully read the breadwinner by deborah ellis and now it is time to embark on a journey of courage to discover some of the themes in this book. The breadwinner, also known as parvana, is a 2000 childrens novel by. For example, parvana courageously runs into the bombing point to save her friend leila. Harry sharma summary perspective of the narrator the narrator is admiring parvanas courage, loyalty and helpfulness for her friends and family.
Hope in the novel, deborah ellis executes the theme of hope most eminently in parvana. Risk taking is one of the major themes throughout the novel. It isnt just a cool story, thoughit serves as inspiration for parvana to act courageously later on when all she really wants to do is crawl in a hole and hide forever. Although she is reluctant towards a range of ideas that is suggested, she is wants to do anything for her family, to help them in any way she can. Parvanas courage is created as she works on standing up for what she believes in and starts telling people what she thinks of the situation. The goal will be to explain the theme and include the required number of examples for the theme.
Fear is a striking theme shown throughout the fifteen chapters. Parvana throughout the novel breaks the taliban rules and laws and since those were illegal doings she has to dress up like a boy so that she can get a job to provide. So when the taliban forbids all girls to go to school, its devastating to them not only because it denies their children opportunities, but also because they know that education is the only way afghans will rise above the poverty and. The taliban have taken over and forbid girls to go outside their house without a man this is why parvana has to become a boy.
The taliban had taken over kabul, parvanas hometown a few years before. Below are the list of themes picked up throughout the novel. In this book a parvana has been through a lot from separation, to be treated as a boy and has been forced to work so she could help pay for her family. Parvanas family has shown this theme throughout the book but dont forget shauzias family. Parvanas courage is the primary source of her families survival. Themes discrimination this book is all about discrimination. After parvanas father was taken parvana felt insecure and pain inside her. Parvanas father has died, and her mother, sister and brother have gone to a faraway wedding, not knowing what has happened to the father.
Malala yousafzai, new york times the first book in deborah elliss riveting breadwinner series is an awardwinning novel about loyalty, survival, families and friendship under extraordinary circumstances during the talibans rule in. In this book, it was mainly parvanas sister, nooria that she fought with. War has effected parvanas family as their homes have been destroyed by the constant bombing, and they have suffered the loss of hossain because of the. Main themes of parvana written by ryan bayley 8b i would have to say that the most important theme in the entire novel is that of courage, because of her determination and bravery that parvana shows. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Turning her head, she saw the dark turban that was the uniform of a taliban. Her family had just been slaughtered by the taliban and she isnt wearing a burka. Why does parvana do multiplication tables in her mind. The main character, parvana, must be brave in everything she does. The taliban is the terrorist organisation that has control over afghanistan in the time of parvana. This worked fine for a few weeks, but they then deemed it too risky to continue. Parvana always hoped for his return, and followed his footsteps when she worked in the marketplace.
But she still dreams of seeing the ocean and eventually making a new life in france. Parvana is a book with many themes to offer the reader. The book parvanas journey by deborah ellis if full of concepts like courage, perseverance, friendship, adventure, and many others. And that means parvana and her family are in danger.
Despite the family being at a low point, parvana managed to stand tall with hope. In the novel, parvana, it has been suggested that there are a number of themes, however there are three themes which are more significant than the others. Courage the most important theme in the entire novel is courage, because of her determination and boldness that parvana is able to deal with the challenges she faces. Otherwise, she shall be beaten, no education and they are treated as lower class citizens all together. Parvana and her friend, shauzia, experienced a need for social justice many. Though there was constant fear present in the duration of the book, characters never gave up. Courage was a theme underlined throughout all the chapters. The way they also go to the stadium to sell their goods was also another way they showed courage.
Protagonist, parvana believes that what the taliban is doing is wrong and she wants to make a difference to the way that they are running afghanistan, but she has an overwhelming fear of what they are capable of doing to her, based on previous experiences. The destruction caused by war is seen through the eyes of an elevenyearold in the novel the breadwinner by deborah ellis. Deborah ellis displays real life effects of war in her fictional novel. You will investigate three of the following themes. One part in the book is when parvanas father is dragged away from her family, there hands ripped apart from each other as she could not do anything to stop them. This makes parvana a good role model towards her younger sister and brother. In the breadwinner, parvanas parents value education above all elsetheyre both universityeducated themselvesand instill this. Oct 12, 2014 throughout the book, nooria, parvana, mrs. The second book in the fourpart breadwinner series, parvanas journey 2002 is a. The famous book parvana is a book which consist of many different themes.
Courage is used i the book when parvana has to go to the market place and is confronted by. The third book in the internationallybestselling series that includes the breadwinner, mud city and my name is parvana. Father is also the only major positive male influence in the book. Parvanas father tells her of the story of malali, a girl who inspires the afghans to rally in war and beat the british. Living in afghanistan, life immediately switches into survival mode. This book is seen through a year old girl prospective as the taliban is at war in afghanistan. Having to masquerade as a boy to gain access to the outside world, is a sure sign of courage, one of the major issues of the novel. For most of her life, kabul was in war and despair. Parvana first began as a frightened child, unwilling to enter the marketplace of kabul.
But she puts aside this fact and takes the risk to take her. She made money and fed them and became the breadwinner of the family. Fear a distressing emotion caused by apparent danger, evil or pain whether the threat be real or imaginary. As a girl in kabul, afghanistan, parvana lives through extraordinarily difficult. As i read the novel, i was able to identify four major themes displayed through the novel. From early chapters, parvana is a young and naive girl but slowly develops into a courageous young adult, seeking to provide for her. Through this piece of writing you can get a detailed description in what life is truly like for those living in afghanistan, particularly kabul. Often squabbling siblings fight over minuscule differences, just as is the case in parvana. War in the middle east war in the middle east is one of the many themes deborah ellis has weaved into her novel parvana.
Are the people of afghanistan given all necessities for life. Following the arrest of father the whole family was at a low point, however parvana managed to stay hopeful right through to his arrival. Other themes are also notable in demonstrating violence and. The theme risk taking is mainly shown by the books main character parvana, where she attempts to take the risk of dressing up as a boy for her familys survival, and deborah ellis develops the theme very strongly and wonderfully throughout the storyline. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the breadwinner by deborah ellis. In this interactive video, we explore three key themes in the novel and the film. It took courage to dress up as a boy when girls had their hands cut off for simply having nail polish on their fingers.
The significance of the book parvana has in her backpack. This, however, is absent in afghanistan and is easily detected. Parvana showed great courage because she was willing to put her family first and risk her life. Parvana the main character faces many challenges, risks and important decisions in order to save her family. This study guide consists of approximately 49 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the breadwinner. The most direct impact of war displayed was parvana s brother. Parvana and shauzia show a lot of courage the way they were trying to get money for their family by working at the graveyard. In parvanas journey, the taliban still control afghanistan, but kabul is in. The themes of parvanas journey were pretty basic once you found them and you can see them displayed through out the text. Study guide for my name is parvana groundwood books. Parvana knows that if she is caught with this girl not wearing a burka she could be in grave trouble. The determination that parvana displays in the book is outrageous. Family, courage and information about the taliban are the main themes.
The impacts of war are one of the most evident themes throughout the book. Parvana has to do everything she can so she and her family can survive. Investigating themes in the narrative the breadwinner by. The way ellis developed fear throughout the book was through the characters. It isnt just a cool story, thoughit serves as inspiration for parvana to act courageously later on when all. At the beginning of the book she felt like she didnt belong anywhere, she had no meaning. Refuge refuge is a theme talked about vaguely but is actually a main focal point for the book.
However, the main theme of this book in my opinion is courage. In the breadwinner, parvanas parents value education above all elsetheyre both universityeducated themselvesand instill this value in their children. Harry sharma summary perspective of the narrator the narrator is admiring parvana s courage, loyalty and helpfulness for her friends and family. These themes are shown because the taliban arrested parvanas father and parvanas father lost his leg in the bombings and. Nooria, ali, maryam, and hossain, but hossain had died in a land mine accident. Protagonist, parvana believes that what the taliban is doing is wrong and she wants to make a difference to the way that they are running afghanistan, but she has an overwhelming fear. One of the most overlooked but surprisingly large themes in the book is friendship. Throughout parvana, human rights are lacking, this is shown in. Sep 11, 2014 parvana is a book with many themes to offer the reader. Also in one section of the book parvana finds a girl who is lost. May 04, 2011 this sean in the book foreshadows what will happen later on.
For the majority of her existence, she and her family included, have been in refuge, this is shown by them moving from house to house as each gets bombed. Their aim is to make afghanistan the purist islamic nation, and through attempting to do this they become religion extremists who change the korans true meaning. There was extreme prejudice developing throughout the text, when even young parvana could suddenly be entitled to roam around the streets freely once disguised as a boy. Some situations throughout the novel, in which survival had been involved in, was when. Parvana and shauzia are 2 young girls who life in a taliban ruled country, known as afghanistan. The theme risk taking is mainly shown by the books main character parvana, where she attempts to take the risk of dressing up as a boy for her familys survival, and deborah ellis develops the theme very. Parvana also states throughout the book about the number of abandoned buildings all over afghanistan which could have belonged to someone who is now homeless. Theyre are many themes in the book, ranging from courage and determination all the way to the retaliation of the taliban.
Mother and parvana tried fighting for fathers survival. Simply because of her ability to go outside and make money in the marketplace. It takes a great deal of courage to go to the marketplace each day disguised as a boy, because discovery will mean certain death for her and her family. Every family member is devoted to there family and always due there duties to serve the family. Themes survival, friendships, gender discrimination, family death. Ellis the breadwinner and parvanas journey, and khans. Parvana is an 11 year old girl living in one of the most dangerous and hostile countries of the world, afghanistan, under the reign of the taliban. Father had his books, maryam played with ali, nooria had a mother, but parvana didnt have anybody.
The book parvana s journey by deborah ellis if full of concepts like courage, perseverance, friendship, adventure, and many others. Summary taken from book jacket on my name is parvana novel. All girls should read the breadwinner by deborah ellis. How does the author establish the theme of invasion in this chapter.
Parvanas family has survived through thick and thin, they have survived the brink of starvation, losing the man of the house and even depression but nothing has changed, their family is as whole as it. About parvanas journey by deborah ellis a war is raging in afghanistan as a coalition of western forces tries to oust the taliban by bombing the country. The other big theme is your action and reaction is key to how things turn out. Parvanas life has been about avoiding the taliban, moving from house to house as each is bombed. May 03, 2011 the book parvana s journey by deborah ellis if full of concepts like courage, perseverance, friendship, adventure, and many others. Throughout the book, parvana shows a lot of leadership. Novel details themes 9162015 0 comments there were many emerging and reoccurring themes throughout the novel.
Throughout parvana, human rights is an obvious theme. Parvana had moved house many times slowly downgrading overtime which affected the family as they ended up in a 2 room house. The 2 girls are given the chance to leave the wartorn country and shauzia immediately takes this chance. This book doesnt go deep the main perpous is to tell what it is going on in afghanistan through the eyes of the minority.