A Long Way Gone Ch. 17 Questions

Ch 17 questions

1. Describe the nurse in your own words. The nurse had white teeth which contrasted with her dark, shiny skin, and when she smiled, not only her face increased in beauty, but also glowed with charm. She was tall and had big brown eyes that were kind and inviting.
2. Why were Ishmael's friends teasing him about? Have you ever been in that situation? What did your friends tease you about? Ishmael friends were teasing Ishmael, because it seem like the nurse liked Ishmael after she handed him a soft drink. I've been in that situation before, when my friends would tease me about a guy that they supposedly likes me.
3. What did the nurse tell Ishmael about them being friends? The nurse concluded if Ishmael wanted to be friends with her, he would have to ask her first, and she will have to trust him.
4. When he was talking to the nurse he was quiet in the beginning, and he stated he didn’t trust anyone in his life. Why does he feel this way? Give me examples. Ishmael didn't trust anyone in this point of his life. He had learned to survive and take care of himself. Ishmael came to believe that people only befriended only to exploit one another. Why would Ishmael trust someone now when he didn't trust anyone in his short life.
5. Have you ever been in a situation where you feel the same as Ishmael? It was really hard for me to trust people, because of the past. I've had friends and family back stab me, so then I was careful at the new people I meet. I don't fully trust them, but a long the way, they slowly start gaining my trust.
6. What did the nurse give Ishmael? The nurse gave Ishmael a Walkman and cassettes.
7. How does Ishmael respond when he unwraps the gift? Why?? Ishmael jumped up and hugged Esther after he unwrapped the package. He then suddenly held back his happiness and asked the nurse why she got him the Walkman and cassette if they werent eve friends.
8. Describe when Ishmael shot the prisoners that had allegedly shot him. The captives were all lined up. There were six of them, with their hands tied. Ishmael shot them on their feet and watched them suffer for an entire day before finally shooting them in the head so that they would stop crying. Before Ishmael shot each man, he looked at them and saw how their eyes gave up hope and steadied before he pulled the trigger.
9. What was Esther’s response to Ishmael’s story? Esther had tears in her eyes, and she couldnt decide whether to rub his head or hug him. She neither did any of those, but instead she told him that it wasnt his fault, he was just a little boy, and if he wants to tell her anything, she'll always be there to listen.
10. Why didn’t Esther want Ishmael taking the walkman with him? Esther didnt want others to envy him and steal his Walkman.
11. What stood out to you the most about his story of his past ? Why? The most that stood out to me was when Ishmael shot the prisoners foot and watched them suffer until he shot them in the head so they would stop crying.
12. What do you think about his lieutenant? I think his lieutenant was nice to all his boys, especially when he did everything just to save Ishmael.
13. Has he ever been injured? Tell me what happened.Ishmael had many bullet wounds that people would often ignore. As Ishmael was filling his backpack with ammunition from the hut, bullets started to pour down from the village hitting him three times on the foot. The first bullets went in and out, and the last one stayed in his foot.
14. What did Ishmael see when he tried to remember his child hood? Ishmael tried to remember his childhood, but instead he would get flashbacks his first time slitting a man's throat. The scene kept surfacing in his memory like lightning on a dark rainy night.
15. Explain his surgery, how did the doctors fix him up. Detail As they got back to the base, the sergeant doctor began to work on his wound. Ishmael was injected with something. He had no idea that they had needles at the base, but in his condition he couldnt ask what was happening. He was given cocaine upon his request. The doctor operated on him before the drugs took effect. The other soldiers held his hands and stuffed a cloth into his mouth. The doctor stuck a crooked looking scissors inside his wound and fished for the bullet. The doctor then pulled the bullet out, and then he fainted after a piercing pain rushed up from his spine.
16. What is the worst thing you have ever endured?explain. I've never endured anything painful physically but one of the worst was when I tripped really hard.
17. What did he do right after he gained consciousness? Ishmael asked for his weapon, and the sergeant handed his G3 that was on top of the mortar, and he began cleaning it. He shot a couple of rounds against a wall, ignoring the bandage on his foot and everyone else.
18. What did he do to the “people responsible for his foot” Ishmael shot the people, whom were responsible for his foot, on their foot and watched them suffer, then shot them in the head ending their cries and miseries.
19. When he gets flashbacks, how does he feel? Have you ever received flashbacks, what are they of? Everytime Ishmael gets flashbacks, he would hear a sharp cry in his head that made his spine hurt. I've recieved flashbacks before, but nothing like Ishmael of course. I've get flashbacks that would make my heart sink.
20. Why did Esther come on her Day off? Esther came on her day off, because they are going to the hospital for Ishmael's examination and she wanted to tour him in the city.
21. What cassette did the field worker buy him at the market? The field worker bought Ishmael a Bob Marley cd.
22. Why do you think song writing is a passion for Ishmael? Ishmael loved music even before the war had begun. He would listen to rap music and dance to it.
23. Have you ever written a song? Why? I've tried writing a song before, but stopped because it was too hard. I cant even write a simple poem. My mind isnt creative when it comes to words.
24. Why did Ishmael like the story of Rastafarianism and King Solomon and the queen of Sheba? Ishmael related to the long distance they traveled and their determination to reach their chosen destination. he wished his journey had been so meaningful and as full of merritment as theirs.
25. He listens to Bob Marley to avoid nightmares, what is your favorite song from marley? Why? I dont have any favorite songs from Bob Marlet, because I dont listen to his music.
26. What phrase did Ishmael start to believe? The phrase that Ishmael started to believe in was, " None of these things are your fault."
27. Ester is like a savoir for him, who is your person that has helped you out of your rut? My friends, and this special someone has helped me out.
28. Why did Ishmael like talking to Esther? Ishmael liked talking to Esther, because he felt that she didnt judge him for what he had been part of; she looked at him with the same inviting eyes and welcoming smile that said that he was a child.