- Write a paragraph that analyzes the ways in which conflict has impacted both Nusrat and Najmah's characters so far in the book. Use at least three pieces of textual evidence with citations in your paragraph.
- Your paragraph should have a topic sentence, a concluding sentence, and use evidence as support. For each piece of textual evidence, explain how it connects to your topic sentence.
Monday, September 28, 2015
UTPT Blog Post #1 DUE TUESDAY, OCT. 6
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ReplyDeleteIn the book Under the Persimmon Tree conflict has impacted the lives of Najmah and Nusrat in countless important ways. The war going on between the Taliban and America has torn Najmah's family apart. "To repay us for helping our enemy, you must come and fight for the Taliban" (Staples 17). Baba-Jan and Nur have left to go fight for the Taliban. This means that Najmah has extra responsibilities that she must take care of in order to survive and take care of her pregnant mother. She needs to walk long distances to gather food, water, wood, and other supplies. As the war now begins to pick up in Afghanistan, life becomes more dangerous by the minute for Najmah and Mada-Jan. "My mother cannot travel... We must stay here for the next few days, until the baby comes" (Staples 36). Since Habib has not been born yet it is unlikely that Mada-Jan will survive if she must walk a long distance, putting her life in danger as well as the well being of Najmah and the baby. Countless bombings have taken place including the one that took Mada-Jan and Habib's lives.
Nusrat's husband, Faiz has left her for a little while because he feels that has to help. "He had gone to an area north of Kandahar on the road to Kalat to establish a free clinic" (Staples 25). Nusrat sees the war as a chance to turn people's lives around and help the refugees."She's determined to turn their time of greatest need into a time of opportunity" (Staples 76). People from all around come to see Nusrat and ask for help because they know that Nusrat will always share food and stories with everyone. These previous statements prove that a conflict can impact people around the globe in life altering ways.
I really like how your quotes explained what you were talking about in your blog post and it made everything you were talking about more clear
DeleteGood post, the examples of conflict are very good and the explainations are very well done
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ReplyDeleteI really liked yours Joseph. I like the quotes that explain the conflict
DeleteThe conflicts going on in Pakistan has impacted both Nusrat & Najmah in multiple ways. One day, Najmah took her goats, chickens, sheep, all to graze in the fields. Then all at once, she saw Taliban trucks roaming towards her house. When she got back she found out the Taliban was taking her father and brother, Nur, with them to fight. "To repay us for helping our enemy, you must come and fight for the Taliban" (Staples 17). Najmah and her Mother's, Mada-Jan, hearts were broken. To make it worse, her mother was about to go into labor. "Go, today the baby will come" (Staples 39). The baby came that day and a new life was about to begin. On the other side of Pakistan, there was a women called Nusrat who's husband has been gone for a month. Where is her husband Faiz? She is scared her husband has died in the American bombings. "When the American President announced the United States would bomb Afghanistan, Nusrat felt her heart break into fragments. And now she lives every day with dread" (Staples 25). Nusrat moved to Pakistan because her husband set up a medical clinic in Afghanistan. But if he dies, what will she have left? Clearly, these conflicts have impacted their lives.
ReplyDeleteConflict has impacted Nusrat and Najmah's characters a lot so far in the book. At the beginning Najmah thought that her brother Nur was nothing but mean to her. She try's to tel herself that "Nur was only teasing."(page 6). However, after the Taliban came in on trucks and took all the men and boys away to fight in the war, she does nothing but with he would return. "I lying to go with him because I think perhaps I'll see Baba-Jan and my brother, or hear something about them." (page 89). Nusrat has been impacted by conflict as well. She is learning how to be strong without her husband, Faiz, who she hasn't heard from in a while (page 45). She gets used to gun shootings and teaches kids from refugees. They have both grown through their tough times and traumatizing experiences.
ReplyDeletePlease grade my second post
DeleteThere are many conflicts going on in the book for Najmah and Nusrat. The war going on in Afghanistan has ruined Najmah and her family, The Taliban went to Kunduz to get all the men to fight for them, including Baba-Jan and Nur. "To re-pay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban." (Staples 17) Najmah's mom Mada-Jan is pregnant with a boy who she names Habib so Najmah has to do most of the responsibilities at home because Mada-Jan can't really do much. Najmah has to travel very far to get supllies for themselves and to get food and water. Eventually as time goes on being in Kunduz is not safe anymore and if they want to live they have to travel to Pakistan but Mada-Jan cannot travel and Najmah doesn't want to leave her behind so they stay in Afghanistan. When Najmah is coming back from one of her trips she sees the house was blown up and Habib and Mada-Jan were laying there lifeless. "Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt." (Staples 67)
ReplyDeleteNusrat also has many problems throughout the first 9 chapters. Faiz her husband left her to go to Afghanistan and help people stuck their from war. "When will uncle Faiz be home?" (Staples 24) Also Nusrat has been helping refugees because she started a school under the persimmon tree in her yard where she teaches refugees who came from Afghanistan and have no home. "Nusrat stands before children, who are refugees from Afghanistan." (Staples 68)
I agree with you Jason, as my blog post brought up similar topics.
DeleteIn the book Under The Persimmon Tree, the conflicts for both main characters in the book are caused by the same source. The Taliban is an extremist group that was responsible for a major attack on the U.S in New York called 9/11. In the book, the Americans are starting to bomb the Taliban camps in Afghanistan near where the first main character, Najmah, lives. The Taliban has taken away her older brother and father away to fight. They also took her remaining food away. Now all she has is her mom and baby brother, but then a bomb drops on her house and her remaining family was killed. Nusrat's conflict is that her husband went to set up a camp four months ago and he hasn't returned or sent any messages in a while. Nusrat is getting nervous that the Taliban has hurt him and all she can do is wait. On page 65 it states," and the ground heaves and a loud thump echoes from somewhere below." Najmah has just come back from a long night of herding the animals in the mountains when she heres a loud boom. She starts to run down the path when she glances at the house where here mother is banging out the quilts, when she too here's the sound. For a split second everything is still, then her mother grabs the baby and runs inside. Najmah starts to run even harder when she looks up and sees a streak go through the sky. After the bomb has hit she slips out from behind the rock, battered and bruised she starts back towards the house she realizes it's in pieces. That's when she sees her mother and brother laying there motionless in which used to be her house. Now she is all alone and has no one to help her with anything. On page 83 Najmah states," I sit in the dirt beside them quietly, not crying, not thinking, not even aware I am breathing, and it occurs to me that I might be dead too". Najmah is sitting in the open aired floor which used to be her house, after she realized that she has nothing, yet she still remains calm. She sits there for a good while when out of nowhere, Bibi Usmani's brother Akhatar carries her across the front of the house to the splintered tree. Khalida akhatar's wife cleans off the caked mud and blood where the shrapnel of rock and debris had hit her. This explains how waiting and staying calm is all you can do when your alone and need help. On page 25 Nusrat states," she wishes desperately that she could say 'next week' or 'in a month' but Faiz left four months before." Nusrat is sitting with her sister in law and nephew explaining the pain that not knowing how or where her husband is eating away at her. Faiz left to set up a clinic in Afghanistan some time ago. Nusrat has communicated with him every or so week until a couple of weeks ago when he suddenly stopped writing. Then she heard from a neighbor who had come back from working at the clinic Faiz has set up to take care of his sickened father. Her neighbor had told her that Faiz is closing the clinic and moving it to a different place do to safety issues. He also said that he saw Faiz give someone a note possibly for her when he had left. Nusrat was eaten alive by the news and doesn't know what to expect or what to do. All she can do is wait. In the book, so far there has been two conflicts of Najmah. One of the conflicts that impacted her was alone and the other was she helped but she never knew what had happened. Nusrat was eaten alive by the fact that she has no idea how or where her husband is. Both characters have faced major conflicts so far in the book but I feel it will get worse.
ReplyDeleteI like many of the quotes you used and agree with many of them
DeleteI like your quotes, they are great quotes. Keep up the good work!
DeleteThere are many conflicts that Impact Najmah, and Nusrat and here are some examples. Najmah had to grow up fast into a adult, and she's only 13. Her father (baba-jan) and brother (Nur) left the house to go fight because the Taliban took them. "I awaken the morning of the next day and decide I have to do something or we surly will die, even if the Taliban do not come back." Page 37 chapter 3 (Najmah). Nusrat misses her husband because he went to go and open a free clinic, and help the injured people. "He had gone to an area north of Kandahar on the road to Kalat to establish a free clinic." Page 25 chapter 2 (Nusrat). Najmah also had to leave her mother (mada-jan) because the Americans dropped a bomb near her mother and her newborn brother Habib. "The next thing I am conscious of is being lifted in the arms of Bibi Usmani's brother Akhtar, who carries me across what was the front of our house to the broken acacia tree." Page 83 chapter 7 (Najmah). Those were some of the many conflicts that impact Najmah, and Nusrat in the book "Under The Persimmon Tree".
ReplyDeleteThe conflict going on in this book are effecting both Najmah and Nusrat. In Najmah's case, she was just taking the animals out to graze, when she sees trucks drive by that look like they are headed to her house. She rushes home and sees Taliban soldiers in her house. The leader turns to Baba-jan and says to him "To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban." (Staples 17). They also take Nur with them, which leaves Najmah and Mada-jan completely heartbroken. Mada-jan is also having her baby soon, but Baba-jan and Nur will not be around for his birth. Near the end of this section, Najmah is climbing down from Koh-i-Dil when there is a loud boom and the ground starts to shake violently. Lots of dust starts to kick up and Najmah is blinded by it and hides behind a boulder. When the dust settles, she runs down to find her house completely destroyed and Mada-jan and Habib's dead bodies lying in the dirt.
ReplyDeleteNusrat also has problems of her own in this section. Her husband, Faiz, has left her to help people in Afghanistan. Nusrat teaches refugee children in a school she established under a persimmon tree in her yard. "Nusrat stands before children, who are refugees from Afghanistan" (Staples 68).
You have good quotes
DeleteThe conflict impacts najmah and nusrat by completely changing their normal life by changing their families and their homes.
ReplyDeleteThe conflict impacts Najmah because the Taliban took away Baba-Jan and Nur to fight for them. On Page 18, the Taliban took Najmah's family's food and their livestock and they are about to take Baba-Jan and Nur. "The Pashtun Talib mutters something, and the men shove and drag Baba-Jan and my brother toward the Datsun pickup trucks"(Staples 18). Baba-Jan and Nur were the men of the house, without them, the work for Najmah would be more challenging, especially now that Habib, the baby, is coming. With more hard work, they will grow tired and food will be scarce. That won't be good for their upcoming journey.Najmah and her family are not the only ones getting affected, most of Afghanistan is affected by the conflict, and it has become part of everyday life. On page 80 Nusrat was taking a carriage to the clinic down the street when the Taliban showed up. " She barely had time to wonder what the commotion is about when a terrible explosion thunders down the lane from the center of the bazaar, pushing dust, smoke and scraps of paper along the alleys like puffs of smoke through a pipe" (Staples 80). This is apparently common in Afghanistan at the time and has become part of normal life for them. If this kind of thing happened before the Taliban showed up people would panic and run around. But now, no one panicked, no one screamed, they stayed put and waited for this to end. Then they keep on walking like nothing happened. On page 81 it says this. "Nusrat thinks how easily violence happens here, how quickly it passes, with everyone acting as if everything is normal soon afterward"(Staples 81).
Najmah's village and farm were victims of an American airstrike. Mama-Jan and Habib, the baby brother, were killed. This affects Najmah dramatically by ruining her home, her crop, and killing her family. These reasons forced her to move out. It also traumatized her by killing her family and ruining her home as shown on page 82 "I turn Habib over. He is lifeless, his small body heavy and still. His eyes are closed, and dust covers every inch of him. My mother kept him so clean, but now mud cakes in the saliva drying around his mouth. My heart hammers as if it wants to escape, my chest and it is the only sound I hear apart from the heavy
Ringing in my ears"(Staples 82).Najmah, like anyone else who was put into this scenario, was traumatized with what just happened, her mother and baby brother are gone and she has to fend for herself, luckily her neighbors came along to help protect her.Because of these events hat happened in the book, Najmah and Nusrat have been greatly impacted by the conflict
In the book Under the Persimmon Tree conflicts have affected Najmah and Nusrat's lives dramatically. The war with America and Afghanistan is breaking apart Najmah's family. The Taliban come to Kundaz to take all the men to help them in the war tearing many families apart. "To repay us for helping our enemy, you must come fight for the Taliban" (Staples 17). Now that Baba-Jan and Nur have gone off to fight with the Taliban Najmah has to take care of Mada-Jan and now has more responsibilities than before. Since the Taliban took all if not most of Najmah's food from her house so Najmah has to do something or else they will starve to death since her mother is heart broken since Baba-Jan and Nur have left. "I awaken the morning of the the next day and decide I have to do something or we surely will die, even if the Taliban do not come back" (Staples 37). If Najmah and her mother do not do something soon they will surely starve to death.
ReplyDeleteNusrat also has many conflicts throughout the first nine chapters of the book. Her husband Faiz has left for Afghanistan to help refugees in the war. Nusrat is worried and hasn't heard from him in a while. "But Faiz left four months before, not knowing when he'd return, and they have not heard from him in the last threesome weeks" (Staples 25). Nusrat is worried because of the bombing that is happening in Afghanistan where she is fearing that something happened to him.
ReplyDeleteIn the book Under the Persimmon Tree, several conflicts impact the main characters, Najmah and Nusrat. Conflicts that impact Najmah include the war against the Taliban, which sees Najmah's father and brother being taken away from her, and her mother and 2-week old baby brother being killed by an explosion, as shown in this quote: "My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her... Instead of words, blood pours out from her mouth" (Staples 67). Another conflict that impacts Najmah is the Soviet war in Afganistan. Akhtar, Bibi Usmani's brother, who leads Najmah to Pakistan, fought with the mujahideen during the war, as he knows the hills they are going through well, shown here: "But I remember he fought here with the mujahideen and he knows the hills well" (Staples 107). The war against the Taliban also impacts Nusrat, who in Pakistan "conducts her Persimmon Tree School, founded to teach the children of the Shahnawaz refugee camp" (Staples 50). The refugees that Nusrat teaches are Afghan refugees fleeing from the Taliban. 9/11 impacts Nusrat, as shortly after the President of the U.S. of A announced that they would bomb Afghanistan, "She began to worry about Faiz with every day that passed with no word from him" (Staples 25). Faiz is Nusrat's husband. To summarize, the wars in Afghanistan impact the lives of both main characters in several different ways.
Conflicts in the book "Under the Persimmon Tree" make Najmah and Nusrat very distraught at first but they soon realize they have to be strong not only for themselves but for their family as well and that forces them to rise to the occasion. Nusrats main conflict is she has no idea where her husband Faiz is. On page 25, the authors says "But just a month earlier the Twin Towers fell in New York, and Nusrat knew the world has changed, that no one was safe. She began to worry about Faiz with every day that passed with no word from him." This shows that Nusrat is very worried about Faiz's safety and doesn't know when he is going to return. She tries to stay happy by telling herself that he is ok and that he goes there to help people and is improving the world.
ReplyDeleteNajmah has two main problems. In the beginning of the book, Baba-jan and Nur get taken away. "Again Mada-jan tries to go to him, but I grab her by the arm" (Pg 18). This shows that even though Najmah is sad and doesn't want Baba- jan and Nur to go, she knows she must hold Mada-jan back in order to hopefully stop punishment to Baba-jan and Nur. This shows inner strength in Najmah. Soon after, Najmah is coming down the mountains and a bomb goes off near her house where Mada-jan and Habib are. Najmah runs for her mother and brother. Najmah says "By the time I reach her she stares with glassy, dead eyes. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt, his little arms flung out to his sides in the way he throws them wide when he lies naked on the cot swimming for joy in the fresh air." After Mada-Jan and Habib die, Najmah was very grief stricken, however, when she went with her neighbors family although she rarely talked, she helped out a lot with the kids as a sign of gratitude.
The conflicts the characters face in these first few chapters makes them stronger as people even though it makes them very upset.
I think your quotes strongly explain the conflicts. I really like how you chose them and put them in to your paragraph.
DeleteOne conflict is when najmahs brother and father was taking away by the taliban to fight with them. Pg. 17 "the leader turns to baba-jan and says"to repay us for having helped our enamy, you must come fight with tha taliban". That connects to the topic sentence because the talibans are asking for najmahs father to come fight with them. On page 17" your son too" says the man." He wants to fight and we woulden't want to dissipoint hem". That connects with the topic sentence because the are saying that najmahs brother wants to com fight and they want hem to come. On page 18" the men soved and draged baba-jan and my brother to a pickup truck". This connects to the topic sentence because the taliban wanted to take najmahs brother and father but they didn't want to come. Thats how the conflict najmah had happened.
ReplyDeleteI like how you used the page numbers in your paragraph
DeleteConflict affects much of Najmah and Nusrat's life in the story Under the Persimmon Tree. Conflict impacts Najmah's and Nusrat's daily routines and conflict affects their character. It changes who the characters are throughout the story. One of example of this is this quote, "By the time I reach her she stares with glassy, dead eyes. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her." (Staples 66-67) Najmah's mother and little brother die because of America's bombings against the Taliban. This is conflict and Najmah loses her mom and brother because of this. This makes Najmah upset and affects who she is. Another example of conflict affecting the characters in shown in this next quote. "I ride through most of the night with Akhtar and Khalida's two small sons clinging onto me." (Staples 85) Najmah must go with Akhtar and Khalida because her family is gone, so she rides along with them, which changes her daily routines and her somewhat normal life. The third example of characters being affected by conflict is shown in the next quote here. "At first Nusrat was sure Allah would protect Faiz, He had gone to an area north of Kandahar on the road of Kalat to establish a free clinic." (Staples 24-25) Nusrat is worried about Faiz because he left months ago and hasn't came back, and since there is so much conflict, Nusrat is worried that Faiz might be caught in the middle of the conflict. These three quotes show just a few examples of conflict affecting the characters in Under the Persimmon Tree. This evidence shows how conflict affects Najmah and Nusrat. It affects how they live, how they act and it affects the people around them.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe Taliban are causing terror in Afghanistan including the village that Najmah lives in. On page 14 it says "take care of your mother" Baba jan says this to Najmah. This evidence connects to the topic sentence because the Taliban took Baba jan and Nur this caused conflict. Since the men were taken they had no one to take care of the plants and animals Najmah had to step up and do the men's job. My second part is about Nusrat on page 68 it says "Nusrat stands before the children who are refuges from Afghanistan". The evidence connects to the topic sentence because Nusrat starts to teach young children that are from refugee camps. The refugees are from Afghanistan and crossed the border to Pakistan because the danger that the Taliban are causing to the country. My last piece is on page 82 it says "I turn Habib over he is lifeless,his small body is heavy and still". The Americans have been bombing Afghanistan because the Taliban flew the planes in to the twin towers in New York City. After the Americans bombed Afghanistan it killed many people including Habib and Najmah mom. This was a very tragic event for Najmah. The Taliban is causing a lot of commotion and harm to the people of Afghanistan and America.
ReplyDeleteThe Taliban are causing terror in Afghanistan including the village that Najmah lives in. On page 14 it says "take care of your mother" Baba jan says this to Najmah. This evidence connects to the topic sentence because the Taliban took Baba jan and Nur this caused conflict. Since the men were taken they had no one to take care of the plants and animals Najmah had to step up and do the men's job. My second part is about Nusrat on page 68 it says "Nusrat stands before the children who are refuges from Afghanistan". The evidence connects to the topic sentence because Nusrat starts to teach young children that are from refugee camps. The refugees are from Afghanistan and crossed the border to Pakistan because the danger that the Taliban are causing to the country. My last piece is on page 82 it says "I turn Habib over he is lifeless,his small body is heavy and still". The Americans have been bombing Afghanistan because the Taliban flew the planes in to the twin towers in New York City. After the Americans bombed Afghanistan it killed many people including Habib and Najmah mom. This was a very tragic event for Najmah. The Taliban is causing a lot of commotion and harm to the people of Afghanistan and America.
ReplyDeleteIn the book "under the persimmon tree" by Suzanne Fisher Staples, the two main characters Najmah and Nusrat face several challenges. One challenge that Najmah faces is when her father Baba-Jan and brother Nur had to be sent to war to fight for the Taliban. There is a quote on page 17 that clearly shows this example, "when the men have gathered the food we have stored in baskets, sacks, and earthen jars in the lean-to, the leader turns and says to baba-jan 'to repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the taliban'". This is a major challenge that Najmah has to face because without baba-jan and Nur, there is nobody to carry water from the baba Daria or to carry wood from the pile. This means that Najmah has to do her work, Nur's work and her fathers backbreaking tasks! A struggle that Nusrat has is the emotional struggle of leaving her home in Watertown and moving to Peshawar to live a Muslim lifestyle. She misses her family and wants to return for a visit. An example of this is in page 44, " Nusrat feels more relaxed about her mother and her mind's eye remembers the bland surroundings in which she grew up with affection. Sometimes she even thinks about going home for a visit". Nusrat is struggling with her emotions because she misses her old home and parents and her family doesn't approve of her becoming a Muslim and moving to Peshawar and she isn't certain she's happy with her choices. Another struggle Najmah has is when a tragic explosion kills mada-Jan and the newborn habib. A quote to describe this horrible incident is used on page 67, "the doorframe and the chinks of mud plaster and dust scattered over the footprint of what my home. My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her. She reaches her hand toward me, and opens her lips to speak. Instead of words, good pours from her mouth. By the time I reach her she stares with glassy, dead eyes. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt, his little arms flung out to his sides in the way he throws them wide when he lies naked on the cot swimming for joy in the fresh air". This quote shows struggle because she witnessed the corpses of the remaining members of her family in the destroyed floor of her wrecked house. She also now is the only person supporting her and has not food or shelter. In conclusion, the main characters of "under the persimmon tree" have already faced many struggles in the beginning of the book. There are many more hardships ahead on their road to safety.
ReplyDeleteConflict effects najmah and nusrats characters by changing their lives the way they live forever. Najmah now has no one anymore to take care of her. After her father an brother are taken way by the Taliban. "Whatever happens stay here" baba jan says to her as they grab him and nur roughly by the arms" (staples 18). This shows that her father and brother are being taken by the Taliban. She also has to help out and take care of mother a lot more now. " i go to baba darya and carry the same load that nur always carries two ghee tins filled to the top with water" (staples 38).
Clearly this shows that the survival of habib and mother now depend on najmah because her mother is in shock from the absence of baba jan and nur. Nusrats life is affected differently. Instead of her father being taken away like najmahs her husband faiz is in mazar i sharif working in a clinic." But theres no letter from faiz. He is too busy running a clinic in mazar i sharif" (staples 44). This shows that she has hope he is alive and he is helping people in mazar i sharif. In conclusion the taliban have affected najmahs and nusrats way of life for many years to come
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ReplyDeleteThe conflict of war between America and Afghanistan impact Najmah and Nusrat in many ways. The war impacts Najmah in two big ways. The first is that the Taliban are looking for soldiers to fight. They invade Najmah's village and take Baba-Jan and Nur away against their will. You can see how before her dad and brother are even gone she already must control Mada-Jan "Again Mada-Jan tries to go to him, but I grab her by the arm. 'We cannot stop them' I whisper... I hold on to her with all my strength..." (page 18). With the men in the family gone, no one is left to protect Mada-Jan and Najmah. Najmah will have to do all the work, and care for Mada-Jan since she is pregnant. The other main impact is when Najmah's village is bombed. The bombs kill Mada-Jan and Habib leaving Najmah alone. After the bombing you can see how Najmah finds her family "My mother lies on the ground nearby...blood pours from her mouth...Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her..." (Page 67). Because of this she must travel with another family so she is safe. The main impact the war has on Nusrat is that it has caused her husband to be gone for a long time and he has not written to her. This worries her and she doesn't know if he is dead or alive or if he is injured. She feels bad she can't tell her nephew when his uncle will be back. You see that she worries often on page 25, "...Nusrat knew the world had changed, that no one was safe. She began to worry about Faiz with every day that passed with no word from him.". This all shows that one thing can impact multiple people in many ways. And clearly the war has impacted Najmah and Nusrat majorly.
ReplyDeleteIn the book Under the Persimmon Tree, the two main characters Najmah and Nusrat face many challenges throughout these first few chapters. When the Taliban come for the Golestan Village (Najmahs village), one of the main Taliban leaders forces Baba-Jan (Najmahs father) and Nur (Najmahs brother) to go fight with the Taliban. On page 17 it says,"To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban." When Najmah comes back towards her village after herding the animals, she is traumatized by what she saw. The Taliban had come back to the Golestan Village and had bombed it. After the Taliban bombed the village, Mother and Habib (Najmahs younger brother) die because of the explosion. On page 67 it says, "My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed as odd angles to the rest of her. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt, his little arms flung out to his sides in the way he throws them wide when he lies naked on the cot swimming for joy in the fresh air." After mother and Habib are dead, and Baba-Jan and Nur haven't returned back from the Taliban, Khlida forces Najmah to follow her, Bib Usmani, Akhtar and others to another safe village. Page 85 states, "As the stars disappear one by one, Akhtar leads us away from the path and down into a valley formed by a small stream that flows into a large river," Najmah has a very difficult life to live, but she manages to do the best she can. Nusrat faces many challenges throughout these few chapters. When Nusrat and her husband (Faiz) traveled to Peshawar from Colimbia University, Nusrat opened a garden with its huge persimmon tree to the poor refugee children while Faiz went to Mazari-I-Sharif. When Faiz dosen't contact Nusrat in weeks she becomes very worried. On page 44 it says, "But there is no letter from Faiz. He's too busy running a clinic in Mazar-I-Sharif, she tells herself." Nusrat is very worried for Faiz and wants to make sure he's ok.
ReplyDeleteConflict impacts Najmah and Nusrat's characters by changing the way they act in the situation. For example, on page sixty two, Najmah says "I no longer think of leopards at all." At the beginning of the book her brother scared her and she was frightened to do anything. But, knowing that she is the only able one due to the war, she took a braver role when it comes to helping out and tending the house and livestock. Nusrat has also changed due to conflict. For example, the book says, "Nusrat thinks of another night, when she and Margaret sat in the top field of their grandfather's farm near Watertown, New York." She seems happy in America even though it is a flashback, but she is sad now she moved to Pakistan due to the war. Therefore, conflict changes how Najmah and Nusrat act and how it impacts them.
ReplyDeleteUnder the persimmon tree is a book with many conflicts. Najmah and Nusrat face many conflicts. In the first conflict, Baba-jan and Nur are taken in war to Fight for the Taliban. Even worse is that Mada-jan is pregnant. My quote is "You must come and fight with the Taliban" This shows one conflict in the book. Another conflict in the book is when The Twin Towers collapsed. So as revenge the United States planned to bomb Afghanistan. My quote is "When the American President announced that the United States would bomb Afghanistan". This shows violence in conflict #2, This is how conflict impacts the book
ReplyDeleteNajmah and Nusrat's characters are clearly impacted by conflict. First of all, Najmah's father and brother have been taken away by the Taliban to fight with them and her brother, Nur, is still very young. "I will come back.... Don't leave no matter what!" (Staples 18). On the other hand, her mother is recovering from childbirth as well as paralyzing grief from losing her husband and son to the Taliban. Najmah also has to tend the goats and care for her infant brother besides making sure her mother recovers. Second of all, Nusrat's husband Faiz has left Pakistan and went to Afghanistan to open a clinic. Now, Nusrat is very worried about her husband because she has not received any word from him and she just found out on the news that the Americans are planning to bomb the area where he is. "When the American President announced the United States would bomb Afghanistan, Nusrat felt her heart break into fragments. And now she lives every day with dread" (Staples 25). These are the conflicts that have impacted Najmah and Nusrat's lives.
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ReplyDeleteConflict has impacted Najmah and Nusrat's character. At first Najmah is very passive and obedient. On page 9 it says: "I want to tell him that I can carry as much water as Nur...But I bite the inside of my cheek and say nothing," This shows that Najmah is scared to voice her thoughts and be assertive. However, after the Taliban came and took Baba-jan and Nur, she became more mature and independent. In fact, she is forced to grow up and take on more responsibility, what with her mother being pregnant and the constant overhanging threat of the Taliban. When Uncle tries to take over their farm, Najmah blocks him from entering the purdah and even gets aggressive with him (Staples 32). She is also starting to grow up and see the big picture of life. No more petty fears for Najmah! She finally understands that there are worse things than leopards — like the Taliban, who have taken her father and brother from her: "I have forgotten my childish quarrels with Nur...all I want is to see the top of his head and Baba-jan's..." (Staples 37). Later, when Mada-jan and Habib die from the explosions, she loses her confidence and motive for life. She shrinks into a numb shell with no emotion, barricading herself from any bad thoughts or feelings and refusing to talk. This is shown in the book where it states: "and so my mind flits from one thought to another, not allowing in anything that is so troubling," (Staples 103). She is once again dependent on other people (in this case, Akhtar & Khalida). The only thing she focuses on is Baba-jan and Nur. On page 108 it says: "Perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban...For the first time I forget the gnawing in my stomach, and my eyes fly open." This marks her first step in coming out from the shock. She now has a goal to reach Peshawar and is determined to fulfill it.
ReplyDeleteNusrat has experienced much conflict as well — with herself. Through several flashbacks, we can deduce that before she met Faiz, she felt alone, isolated (much like the current Najmah), and misunderstood after the loss of her sister Margaret. After she met Faiz, she found her motivation for life again and even traveled to Peshawar, Pakistan to help Faiz. Now she is at conflict with herself because of the war between Afghanistan and America. She is technically an American, but she loves Faiz and is struggling with her divided loyalties. The war has disrupted her life and is why Faiz is away. He is the root of her happiness and her worries. Yet it seems that the war has changed how Nusrat worries as well: "But the explosion in the bazaar has turned something in Nusrat's heart," (Staples 99). This represents Nusrat's realization to how big the conflict is. After the bombing in the bazaar, the danger feels so much more real and perhaps this has made her more grim and determined to make sure Faiz is okay.
All in all, this war, this huge conflict between two countries, has truly affected Najmah and Nusrat's character and has sparked a smaller (but life-changing) conflict in themselves too.
I really like the examples that you gave. They were different from mine and they gave me a whole new perspective.
DeleteThe examples that you have were extremely detailed and were well chosen. In addition, you have a wide range of vocabulary! Keep up the good work!!!! :)
DeleteIn the novel "Under the Persimmon Tree" by Suzanne Fisher Staples, the lives of the characters in the book are greatly impacted by many kinds of conflict in many different ways. Najmah, an Afghani girl whose life is turned by the Taliban, becomes stronger as she loses more. Nusrat, a converted Muslim who lives in Pakistan has to cope with memories of her sister who passed away while worrying for her husband's safety. Both face difficulties that are caused by the conflict occuring in the story.
ReplyDeleteNajmah starts off as a young girl living in Taliban-secured Afghanistan. All she knows is that she must follow the rules and help out with the daily chores. When the Taliban comes to take away Babajan and Nur, Najmah's life begins to change. Not long after Babajan and Nur were taken away, Najmah's neighbor, Bibi Usmani, told Najmah, " 'The Taliban have taken all of the food, and it isn't safe to stay. We will wait for our men in Peshawar' " (Staples 31). This is when Najmah realizes what trouble she is in, and that it is up to her to keep Madajan and Habib safe. She is no longer afraid of leapords, nor does she get scared when doing the chores. She is stronger for her mother and baby brother. But when more conflict comes, Najmah finds herself in a deeper pit. The day starts off as any other, with all the farmwork and animal care to be done. Then, a bomb drops on the village, taking the lives of beloved Madajan and sweet Habib. When Najmah comes to the realization that her mother and newborn brother have died, she narrates, "I sit in the dirt beside them quietly, not crying, not thinking, not even aware that I am breathing, and it occurs to me that I might be dead, too" (Staples 83). She was clearly shocked and confused when she found out that Madajan and Habib had died. Najmah is still alive, but now she has greater challenges to face.
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Nusrat lives with her sister-in-law in Pakistan. When she became a Muslim she changed her name from Elaine to Nusrat. She grows produce in her own gardens, and she is especially fond of persimmons. Nusrat is anxious for her husband, Faiz. He is at a refugee hospital, helping out those who are injured and in need of medical care. He has not sent a letter to Nusrat at all. This worries Nusrat. The novel shows reason for Nusrat's worry. It says, "Faiz had left four months before, not knowing when he'd return, and they have not heard from him at all in the last three weeks . . . She began to worry about Faiz with everyday that passed with no word from him" (Staples 25). Although she had hope that her god, Allah, would keep her husband safe, she slowly began to have doubt. When America announced that the United States would bomb Afghanistan because of the attack on the Twin Towers in New York, Nusrat knew that the world had changed. As she yearns for her husband to be safe, she wishes that she were pregnant so she had a reminder of Faiz. Faiz is not the only one who worries Nusrat. Nusrat remembers her family back in the United States. She remembers her sister, Margaret. Nusrat is constantly having flashbacks back to when Margaret was alive, not dead. In the book, it says, "She thinks of the first summer after Margaret got sick . . . All Elaine wanted was for Margaret to get better, and when that didn't happen, she decided she'd rather keep to herself" (Staples 53). Clearly, Margaret was, and still is, very special to Nusrat. Margaret's death greatly impacted Nusrat. This event changed her life forever. She no longer had her sister to care for her, to enjoy with, and to love. She misses her family even to this day, and with Faiz's location unknown, Nusrat's heart is aching.
ReplyDeleteThe novel "Under the Persimmon Tree" portrays characters that change as more and more conflicts affect them. Najmah becomes stronger and more responsible when her brother Nur and Babajan are taken by the Taliban. Then, Nusrat had to care for Madajan and Habib all by herself. But her life becomes harder when Madajan and Habib die while trying to escape a bombing. She travels with Bibi Usmani's relatives, who had come to take her to Peshawar, Pakistan. As she experiences more people with shattered lives, Najmah becomes a different person. Nusrat longs for her husband to return home, and she worries more for him everyday. On top of that, she constantly remembers memories from when she lived the United States, and when her sister, Margaret, was alive. After Margaret passed away, Elaine, or Nusrat, had been greatly saddened. Even now, years after her sister's death, Nusrat longs to be united with Margaret again. In conclusion, the conflict impacts the characters in this book in many different ways.
I think you chose very good quotes to support the conflicts Najmah and Nusrat are going through.
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ReplyDeleteThis conflict affects the two main characters because they have to keep going even if there family is falling apart one by one. For example on Najmahs side Habib only lived for a couple days before dieing. They also have to worry about there dad and brother who are off to war. On Nusrats side his dad still has not called back yet and they assume he is dead. “I turn Habib over. He is lifeless, his small body heavy and still. His eyes are closed and dust covers every inch of him.”(Staples 82). This connects to my topic sentence because, Both Najmah and her mother are going through hard times with Habib dying. They feel helpless like they couldn't have done anything to fix it. But even if they lose people along the way they have to keep on on going.“Nusrat thinks how easily violence happens here, how quickly it passes with everyone acting as if everything is normal soon afterward. Her mind flies to Faiz and she wonders again where he might be and whether he is safe."(Staples 81) .This relates to my topic sentence because violence has became a normal event in these country's. Even after the event has happened It quickly passes here is another quote to prove my topic sentence . “Next we hear whistling and whining and the thud of explosions all around us the sound does not seem to loud,"(Staples105). People are used to explosions and bombs so they are calm like is a fire drill because it happens so often. Clearly this war is tearing family's apart and destroying the entire country. Habib only lived for a couple days before dyin. They also have to worry about there dad and brother who are of to war. On Nusrats side his dad still has not called back yet and they assume he is dead. These conflicts are affecting real people all around the world just like Nusrat and Najmah.
ReplyDeleteIn ‘Under the Persimmon Tree’ by Suzanne Fisher Staples, Najmah and Nusrat are both living through the Afghan refugee crisis. Because of this crisis, their lives have been flipped around completely, and have to take more responsibilities than they did before. In the beginning of the book, the Taliban invaded Najmah’s village, and forced their father and brother, “To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban” (p.17). As a result, Najmah is left alone with their mother, and has to care for her and her pregnant mother. This causes Najmah take on more responsibility, and to take the role of her father and brother. After her father and brother gets taken away, Najmah and her mother are left alone at the village. Since her father had instructed Najmah to not leave until he returns, she obeys and has her brother give birth in their home. Although soon after, her mother and her newborn brother gets killed by a bomb – leaving Najmah practically orphaned. Since she is on her own now, she decides to join her neighbors in escaping. On her journey in heading to the refugee camp, she is told to disguise herself as a man from now on in order to protect herself. Khalida explains to her that, “it isn’t safe for a woman or girl in a strange city,” (p.90) and that they often beat woman right on the streets. In their society and religion, women are degraded and are treated very poorly. This causes Najmah to be extra cautious, and to be careful about exposing her gender. Meanwhile, Nusrat who currently lives in Pakistan is reminded of why she’s living where she is. In the book, she begins to worry about her husband who hasn't returned home for months. "If only they'd stayed in New York as they'd planned, she thinks," (p.94) that she wouldn't have to worry about her husband's whereabouts. However, she doesn't regret moving to Pakistan because she loves her husband enough to do anything for him. She explains that their main motive in moving was because her husband was worried family back in Afghanistan, who are living through the war, and that he felt like a terrible person for not being able to protect them. Because Nusrat loved him, she didn't mind moving. Although, even though she lived across the globe, the war still impacted her and made her leave her homeland.
ReplyDeleteThis story takes place during the Afghan refugee crisis. Because of this crisis, Najmah and Nusrat’s life are impacted by having them take on more responsibility, taking care of others, and even causing them to move to a whole different country.
In the novel, 'Under The Persimmon Tree' by Suzanne Fisher Staples, conflict has impacted Najmah and Nusrat in a number of ways. The conflict that has impacted Najmah is the Taliban. Najmah and her family are at their house when men in black outfits and guns arrive and tell Baba-jan and Nur that they "must come and fight with the Taliban." (pg. 17). Najmah's father and brother are being snatched away from her and being taken to fight with the Taliban. Najmah has to hold back her mother when she tries to go to them, "We cannot stop them...they might hurt Baba-jan and Nur if we resist." (pg. 18). This impacts Najmah because she must step up and help her pregnant mother, who is in hysterics from Baba-jan and Nur leaving. Najmah must be the strong one and care for her mom and her soon to be born baby brother, Habib. The evidence connects to this because the Taliban are telling her family that they are going to take her father and her brother. This shows that Najmah has to be strong. Another conflict that has impacted Najmah is the Afghanistan refugee crisis, which she is living in the middle of. Najmah had to take care of her mother and newborn brother Habib. Due to the crisis in Afghanistan, Habib and Mada-jan were killed by a bomb. This leaves Najmah to join her neighbors on their journey. Najmah then realizes something, "I look back over my shoulder at the path we've ridden all through the night...I realize I will never see [my mother and baby brother] again." (pg. 85). This impacts her a lot because Najmah must be strong and continue on her journey with Akhtar and Khalida. The conflict has affected Nusrat in a number of ways as well. The war that is going on has affected her the most. Nusrat had lived in America when she met Faiz, who is her husband now. Faiz is running a clinic in Mazar-I-Shariff, where fighting is heavy. This causes Nusrat to worry non-stop. "It's been too long since we've heard anything. I don't like it..." (pg. 28). Nusrat worries to her sister-in-law. Nusrat hasn't heard from Faiz in a long time, so she is worried. This impacts her a lot.
ReplyDeleteNusrat and Najmah face different conflicts but they overall are from the same crisis. These conflicts impact them in countless ways and change their characters.
ReplyDeleteThe universal conflict of war impacts both Afghanistan's Najmah, by the Taliban kidnapping her family members, and Pakistan's Nusrat when her husband leaves. Both are impacted by the same central conflict in the book Under The Persimmon Tree. Nursant's husband Faiz leaves her to help out in Afghanistan. Similarly, Najmah is impacted by the Taliban's terror in many ways living in Afghanistan. This quote from page 12 shows an example of the Taliban being cruel and much feared, "Everyone is frightened of the Taliban and the heartless Pashtun Talib who enforces their rules" (Staples). The quote represents the Taliban wanting to cause some trouble and destruction. They terrorize people with brutality. The Taliban, as we know, are cold blooded, evil, psychopathic criminals that feel no guilt. This quote from page 30 states, "My mother cries for most of the two days after the Taliban took baba-jan and my brother away". She knows they must be being tortured or dead. This quote from page 30 shows how the conflict of the Taliban causing harm and making the environment hostile and dangerous.
Nusrat has also had affect and change her in the book. She has to deal with her husband Faiz leaving her to help out the people in Afghanistan. His choice changes the way she must live her life. In the text, on page 25, it states, "She began to worry about Faiz with everyday that passed with no word from him" (Staples). This quote shows how Nusrat is fearful, and worried about the future of her husband. Like Najmah, she questions if he's dead or not. The next quote is a bit of a gap in the story, but demonstrates how she reflects on her feelings for her husband. In the text on page 94, it states, "She loved him even more than she loved being here with him" (Staples). The quote shows that Fiaz is a very nice and caring man to his wife Nusrat. He never gives up hope. She is hopeful her will return safely. In conclusion, the evidence in the text clearly shows how the conflict of war in the book has majorly affected and changed both characters.
I like how you wrote what effected both characters
DeleteSick job!
ReplyDeleteIn under the Persimmon Tree conflict has been a huge part of the book. There is a war going on and life is hard for everyone. A huge conflict is when the Taliban come and take Baba-jan and Nur to fight for the Taliban: "To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come to fight with the Taliban" (17). Now Najmah has to be brave and take care of her pregnant mother. Another conflict is when Mada-jan and Najmah can not travel with the others to Torkhum: "We're leaving for Torkhum in three days-all of us....."The baby could come at any time, we cannot leave" (31). Now Najmah and Mada-jan will be by them selfs in the village with little food and no protection from the Taliban. My final conflict is when Mada-jan and Habib die: "By the time I reach her she stares with glassy, dead eyes" "Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt (67)" Now Najmah is by herself with no body, until Akhtar comes and gets her. Conflict also impacts Nusrat. "What is there to celebrate when Faiz is in danger and she hasn't heard anything from him in more than a month?" Nusrat hasn't heard from her husband, Faiz, in a long time. She is very worried and upset about it. She loves Faiz and doesn't want to lose him. Conflict has affected all of these characters in sad ways, hopefully through out the book these conflicts can be resolved.
In the book 'Under the Persimmon tree' by Suzanne Fisher Staples, the two main characters Najmah and Nusrat both face many conflicts. Like when Najmah had to check on their family's goats and sheep on the mountain and by the time she got back there was an attack from the Taliban on her family! (And her family was her mom and newborn brother, because the Taliban took her dad and brother.) " By then the explosions are closer and louder... After the deafening thumps and roaring of the explosions, suddenly I hear nothing... My mother lays in the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her... Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth" (Staples 66-7). And those pieces of a page really tell how dangerous and brutal the Taliban were to that particular village. And also, Nusrat faces many conflicts as Najmah, a lot of the times in everyday activities like at dances and balls. "These men carry guns. She has barely had time to wonder what the commotion is about when a terrible explosion thunders down the lane from the center of the bazaar... Bombs are not unusual in the bazaar, but she is afraid that gunfire will follow, as it often does" ( Staples 80). Also, at this time, you were not safe a lot of the times especially if you were a girl. " You will be safer traveling through thes strange areas" (Staples 85). Although a short quote it's really has some depth. These are just some of the few conflicts Najmah and Nusrat had to face.
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ReplyDeleteConflict has been taking over a major part of the book Under the Persimmon tree. Conflict has been affecting both Najmah and Nusrat but Najmah in a more bigger away. This all starts when the Taliban came by and took Baba-jan and Nur to be a part of the Taliban. On page 14 before he leaves, Baba-jan says ''take care of your mother.". He said this because at that time Najmah's mother Mada-jan was pregnant with baby Habib. This made Najmah the responsible one in her family because she had to take care of her mother even after the birth of Habib. She was responsible for getting food and taking care of the farm as well. Najmah also goes through another challenge/conflict her life when the Americans drop bombs in Afghanistan to take revenge on what the Taliban/Al-Queada did on 9/11. My the end of the scene, everyone was covered in dust and dirt and Habib and Mada-Jan looked like they were dead. This meant Najmah was orphaned. On page 83, it says " I sit in the dirt beside them quietly, not crying, not thinking, not even aware that I am breathing......I have no recollection of time passing." Najmah was very unconscious and confused but luckily Khalida and Akhthar saved Najmah. She goes align with them on a journey and doesn't talk at all and is living on barely any food, and of any food, it was moldy, rotten naan. The sleeping situations are also pretty bad. On the other hand, Nusrat is going through some conflicts, though they are not as big as the ones Najmah is going through. Nusrat lives in Pakistan and is worrying about her husband cause she hasn't seen him for a long time cause she was hoping he is going to return home. On page 94, it says, "if only they'd stayed in New York as they'd planned" and it also says "he couldn't come back when he thought he needed him." Nusrat hasn't heard from her husband once in the past few weeks/months and now she's very worried because if the Taliban is around, there really isn't anyone to protect the family from any danger or harm the Taliban will cause. This is how conflict has been impacting both Najmah and Nusrat in this book.
ReplyDeleteThe conflict in the book has impacted Najmah and Nusrat in several ways. One way it impacted Najmah was it caused her family to have to separate. "Again Mada-jan tries to go to him, but I grab her by the arm" (Staples 18).This happened when her father and brother had to leave and how her and her mother didn't want them to go. It impacted Nusrat by a similar way because it caused her husband to leave her. "She began to worry about Faiz with every day that passes with no word from him" (Staples 25). It also impacted Najmah because it made her upset and made her confused on how she would move on without them. "And so my mind flits from one thought to another, not allowing in anything that is so troubling" (Staples 103). These quotes show how conflicts can impact someone with who they are and how they look at life.
ReplyDeleteIn The book Under the persimmon tree bothe the chartecters Najmah and Nustrat face conflicts. Some conflicts are how the United States bombed Afghanistan, and how the taliban was taking people to go fight, and how najmah lost people that were close to her.
ReplyDeleteNajmah faced a conflict early in the book when her older brother Nur and her father Baba jan were taken by the taliban to go fight in war. "My mother cries for almost two days after they take Baba Jan and Nur" page 30. "I begin to feel hopeless and i cant survive without Baba jan and Nur." Page 37. This example is a conflict because now najmah and her mom are all alone and her mom cant do much because she is pregnanat. So basically, it is up to najmah to feed her and her mother and take care of their animals and house. Najmah has to keep her mom safe from the uncle next door trying to take their land. Also, this is difficult on Najmah because she has to keep worrying if they will be safe and how much food they can eat and if they will have enough. Furthermore, this conflict affects Najmah and her mother because without Baba Jan and her brother Nur its harder to get food because they could hunt and Najmah cannot.
A second conflict in the book is when another charecter Nusrat cannot find her husband and she does not know were he is. He went to afghanistand to open a medical clinic and never wrote Nusrat and never came back. "When i was checking the mail, their was nithing Faiz" page 44. The quote relates back as a conflict because Nusrat has no knowing were her husband and she is very worried. She does not know if he possibly died or was taken by the taliban. She is been put in a blind spot when is comes to Faiz. This is a conflict because her husband is not their to look after her and help her with house hild chores and overall their for support.
Najmah faced another conflict in the book. Najmahs city was bombed. And, Najmahs home was close to were the bombs went off, and so bother her mother and baby brother Habib died. " My mother lies on the ground with legs at odd angles to the rest of her. She opens her mouth and instead of words blood pours from her mouth. By the time i reach her she stares with dead glassy eyes." Page 67. This realstes as a conflict because Najmah now is basically an orphan, she does not know if she will ever see her father and brother again and she now has no guidence on were or what to do. She is left in the dust. Najmah knows that its not safe to stay but, its hard for her to decide because she has no on telling her "leave us and save yourself".
To conclude, Najmah and Nusrat both faced challenges through the book by loosing people they care about and worrying if what they are doing is correct
Najmah and nusrat both have many conflicts. Conflict impacts Najmah because her father was kidnapped by the Taliban. Then Najmah's little brother habib is born. Then, Namjah's uncle Mohiuddin comes to Najmah's home. He starts to grow poppies, which are used to make opium. Baba-Jon refuses to grow this plant. Her mother then dies in an air raid. She is then taken in by her neighbor's son Akhtar. She and akhtars family flee away from the Taliban. Nusrat who used to live in America, moves back to Afghanistan because of the conflict growing. There nusrat opens up a school in her backyard with a huge persimmon tree. They both face many conflicts. Also, I couldn't get the quotes in, but I will be able to. I left my book somewhere in my house, but when I find it, I'll add the quotes
ReplyDeleteThe conflict caused by the Taliban and other characters in Under The Persimmon Tree have forced Nusrat and Najmah's live to change and adapt in this time of war. The first conflict shown is between Najmah and Nur, her brother. Nur is a teasing older brother, and Najmah doesn't appreciate that. In the first chapter, he tells Najmah that he "saw a leopard's pug marks in the sand" (Staples, 5), knowing that she was terrified of leopards. Later on, when Nur was taken away by the Taliban, Najmah realizes that no matter how much he teased her, she still loves him, and she would give anything to have that be the worst conflict in her life. This resolves that conflict. Almost all of the protagonists are conflicted by the Taliban. The Taliban are first shown on Najmah's farm, where they took away Baba-Jan, Nur, and the baby goat. They take away or kill many people in the village, and force people, including Najmah, to flee the village. Where Nusrat lives, there are not many Talibs, but there are a few bombings or shootings every now and then. A Talib tries to arrest Asma for violating the dress code, but is easily scared off by Sultan. Nusrat and her mother also have a conflict between them. Nusrat gets letters from her mother that talk about how she is heartbroken that she moved to Afghanistan with her husband Faiz. Nusrat described as "her betrayal" (Staples, 44). As much as Nusrat hates her mother shaming her for her decision, she ignores it and tells her about her new life. In conclusion, certain characters in Under The Persimmon Tree cause the characters Nusrat and Najmah to change
ReplyDeleteIn the book, "Under the Persimmon Tree", the lives of Nusrat and Najmah change due to the conflict in their lives. Both characters have been affected by the issues of Pakistan. While taking the farm animals out to graze, the Taliban attacked her house. She discovered that her brother and Father had been abducted by the Taliban. "to repay us for helping our enemy, you must come and fight for the Taliban."(Staples 17) Najmah finds her mother and newborn brother, Habib dead while escaping a bombing in their village. Najmah asks her neighbor’s brother to take her with his family to Peshawar, Pakistan. Along the difficult and strenuous journey, Najmah faces another bombing. “She pulls me with her under her pattu, and we huddle in the ditch beside the road. We do our best to imitate a boulder” (Staples 105).
ReplyDeleteNusrat feels out of place in Peshawar, Pakistan. With blonde hair and blue eyes she really sticks out. Nusrat, whose real name is Elaine, moved to Pakistan with her husband, Faiz, to live a Muslim life. Nusrat's husband is a doctor who works at a refugee hospital, but when Nusrat hasn't heard from her husband in a while it starts to affect her. "People are talking about the Americans dropping bombs on the villages, killing innocent families. Nusrat lies still, trying not to think, and the memory of how she met Faiz plays like a movie on a screen." (Staples 112) Nusrat thinks about her husband constantly wondering where he is, how he's doing and if he's even alive.
The conflict caused by the Taliban and other characters in Under The Persimmon Tree have forced Nusrat and Najmah's live to change and adapt in this time of war. The first conflict shown is between Najmah and Nur, her brother. Nur is a teasing older brother, and Najmah doesn't appreciate that. In the first chapter, he tells Najmah that he "saw a leopard's pug marks in the sand" (Staples, 5), knowing that she was terrified of leopards. Later on, when Nur was taken away by the Taliban, Najmah realizes that no matter how much he teased her, she still loves him, and she would give anything to have that be the worst conflict in her life. This resolves that conflict. Almost all of the protagonists are conflicted by the Taliban. The Taliban are first shown on Najmah's farm, where they took away Baba-Jan, Nur, and the baby goat. They take away or kill many people in the village, and force people, including Najmah, to flee the village. Where Nusrat lives, there are not many Talibs, but there are a few bombings or shootings every now and then. A Talib tries to arrest Asma for violating the dress code, but is easily scared off by Sultan. Nusrat and her mother also have a conflict between them. Nusrat gets letters from her mother that talk about how she is heartbroken that she moved to Afghanistan with her husband Faiz. Nusrat described as "her betrayal" (Staples, 44). As much as Nusrat hates her mother shaming her for her decision, she ignores it and tells her about her new life. In conclusion, certain characters in Under The Persimmon Tree cause the characters Nusrat and Najmah to change
ReplyDeleteIn the book, "Under The Persimmon Tree", by Suzanne Fisher Staples, the main characters, Najmah and Nusrat are affected greatly by the conflict.
ReplyDeleteDuring the book, the Americans are at war with the Taliban, an Islamic group who enforce strict laws against the people. Najmah's brother and Baba-Jan are forced to fight with the Taliban, and have to leave their home and the rest of their family behind. Najmah and her pregnant mother are left at their house in Kunduz, Afghanistan with a little supply of food. This impacts Najmah in a large way, because she has the responsibility of doing all the work around the house, and taking care of her miserable mother so that she can stay healthy and well. "I go to the Baba Darya and carry the same load that Nur always carries.... I go to Baba-Jan's field and pick the few half-formed squash and misshapen eggplants that remain.... I brew tea and make naan and roast potatoes with onion, and cut the vegetables for a spicy stew" (Staples 37).This quote shows that Najmah has to do the labor equivalent to what her father and brother also used to contribute. She is the only one left who can do the harsh work around the farm, so that the rest of her family at home can survive. Another conflict that impacts Najmah, is that her mother and baby brother die after multiply bombs are launched in the neighborhood where they live. This effects Najmah's life in a large way, because she does not have any family left who are with her. Even after Najmah's neighbor's brother took Najmah with them on their journey to the Pakistan border, she was still in disbelief, and could not even communicate after the terrible event occurred. "They speak to me and try to make me feel welcome. But I feel as if my tongue has been locked inside my mouth since the moment I saw my mother airing the quilts just before the bombs fell" (Staples 88).
The main conflict that occurred in Nusrat's life, and impacted her was that Faiz, Nusrat's husband, decided to set up a clinic in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Nusrat is worried about Faiz, because after she sent him several letters, she has not gotten any reply back from him. She is scared that Faiz may not be okay in Afghanistan, where fighting between the Americans and the Taliban has gotten worse. Nusrat says " 'it's been too long since we've heard anything. I don't like it, ...' " (Staples 28). This quote clearly portrays the amount of fear Nusrat has when Faiz has not written back to her. However, Nusrat tries to cope with being worried about Faiz, by having a dinner party with her family, celebrating the shooting stars, by teaching at her school for refugee children and by constantly reminding herself that Faiz is doing fine working in Afghanistan.
In conclusion, conflicts and problems in the story have impacted both the lives of Nusrat and Najmah, and have changed the way they think and the way the act.
I agree with how you noted the conflicts and I also like your quotes and how you explained the conflicts in Afghanistan and Pakistan
DeleteThis is a really detailed paragraph! It definitely gave me a different persoective on how the conflict affects Najmah than what I wrote.
DeleteIn the novel Under The Persimmon Tree conflict has impacted both Najmah and Nusrat in many different and important ways.
ReplyDeleteOne way conflict has affected Najmah is, that because of the war between the Taliban and the U.S her older brother Nur and her dad Baba-jan were taken by the Taliban to fight the U.S. because they are strong, mature men and apparently to the Taliban they are both prepared for battle. "To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come fight with the Taliban". (Staples 17) This is a problem because now Najmah has more responsibility and more work to do now that her mother is pregnant and her brother and father are gone fighting with the Taliban. Also, because of these battles the Taliban need all the resources they can get, so at least half of Najmah's food, and animals are gone. "We want wheat and chickens and sugar, the leader says." (Staples 15) This is an issue because Najmah already has a lot of weight on her shoulders and now she has even more because she has to grow and find food considering that most if their food is gone, and she has to do this all by herself! Another way conflict has affected Najmah is that her mother and new born baby brother, Habib, are dead because of the bombs that were dropped down by the U.S. that were intended to hit and kill the Taliban. "My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her. She reaches her hand toward me, and opens her lips to speak. Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth. By the time I reach her she stares with glassy, dead eyes. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt." (Staples 67) Obviously this is a tragic event in the novel because not only are Najmah's father and brother gone and are possibly dead, but her mother, a key influence on her life, and younger brother who she has just met are no longer with her. Najmah is a young girl all alone, and doesn't no what to do because she has no leader to guide her in her life right now! The reason why her mother and brother died is because of the U.S. bombs, but the reason why U.S. dropped these bombs was to kill the Taliban because they have heard that there is a situation between the citizens of the Middle East and the Taliban. So if there is a huge issue some where, other counties step in and get involved to try and save these innocent people! Now that these terrorists from the Middle East destroyed the World Trade, there is no doubt that America is going to get pay back and kill these insane Taliban men. "But just a month earlier the Twin Towers fell in New York, and Nusrat knew the world had changed, that know one was safe." (Staples 25) So once there is one problem, then more problems spread throughout the whole world. A final way how conflict has affected Najmah is that if you make it out alive, these memories and gruesome flashbacks of the deaths of her mom and brother, and the war itself, will haunt you for life. "It's the first I am aware I can hear again, and I notice that a bitter chill has settled in the early evening air. I do not run or try to hide. I don't care whether the Taliban find me and kill me." (Staples 83) This is definitely a problem because these creepy little recollection of thoughts and pictures could scare her and freak her out for a long time. She is only a little girl too!
Part two on bottom
DeleteIn Under the Perrsimmom Tree, both Nustrat and Najmah have to face many challenges in their life due to the taliban and the civil wars going on in Afghanistan. First, Najmah's brother (Nur) and father, are taken away from them by the taliban because they helped the Talibans enemy. "To repay us for have helping our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban." (Staples 17). This takes a turn for the worse in Najmah's life as both her father and brother are taken away but even worse is when bombs are dropped on Najmah's village, she was forced to take cover in some rocks as she sees both Habib and mada-jan die from the explosions. "By the time I reach her, she stares with glassy dead eyes. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind fave down in the dirt..." Now because Nur and Bada-jan were taken away and Habib and Mada-jan were killed by the explosives, Najmah alone is forced to leave her village in Afghanistan and go to Pakistan to live when the war rages.
ReplyDeleteNusrat on the other hand lives in Peshawar and teaches refugee children things like science, math, literature etc. but her life is also wrecked as her husband Faiz, left her to help take care of the wounded soldiers fighting the Taliban. After a long time, they haven't heard from Faiz despite Nusrat's consistent tries to send messages. "Nusrat cannot explain why Faiz has not written in so many weeks." (Staples 99) Even though Faiz could be dead, Nusrat holds on to the belief that he is still alive.
2nd quote is from Staples 67
DeleteNice explanation of the first few chapters!
DeleteGreat explanation and quotes
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ReplyDeleteConflicts don't only affect Najmah, but they also affect Nusrat as well. Conflict has affected Nusrat because her husband Faiz who is originally from the Middle East heard about his country becoming over ruled by a terrorist group that goes by the name of the Taliban. So Faiz had a thought about moving from New York to his hometown so that he can save his people. "Not just my family, it's the whole country. I feel helpless, and at the same time I know that I can help." (Staples 95) So Nusrat decided that since she is his wife, and that they she is a good wife, they should move to his hometown so that Faiz can save his people. "I would love to go there with you. I could stay in Peshawar with Asma and Sultan and your mother." (Staples 96) This conflict has affected Nusrat because instead of living in the U.S. where she has lived her whole life and where she is comfortable living and knows what it's like living there, she has to sacrifice herself and move for her husband to save his people. Remember, she isn't doing this for herself, but she's doing it for her husband and his family. If there wasn't such thing as the Taliban, than she would be living in New York with Faiz living a whole different life. Also, because of this conflict, Faiz could be dead or alive and Nusrat is at home waiting what seems like 7 years long for him to return. "But Faiz left four months before, not knowing when he'd return, and they have not heard of him at all in the last three weeks." (Staples 25). Obviously this is hurting Nusrat because she now realizes that they might have just came here to see Faiz die. They just got married a year and a few months ago, and it can't end this soon, he is too young to die. A final example how conflict has affected Nusrat is that she has to take care of these desperate, starving children. "The truth was that the boys' mother had heard a rich foreign lady lived in the house with the huge persimmon tree in its garden, and they'd come looking for food. Nusrat promised to feed the boys only if they'd stay and learn there numbers." (Staples 74) This affected Nusrat because she doesn't only teach these kids how to read and write and many other school related things, but she takes care of them by feeding them and providing them with extra food on the way home. These children are literally starving and if they don't get enough food, they may die. Once again Nusrat is sacrificing herself so that she can make other people's lives better and that requires a lot of hard work and effort.
All of these statements up above show how conflict can affect both Najmah and Nusrat in various ways.
In the book Under the Persimmon Tree, Najmah and Nusrat had many conflicts. One conflict for Najmah is the fight between the Taliban and the Americans. The Taliban have been taking people to help them fight as in this case Baba-jan and Nur. "My mother cries for almost two days after they take Baba jan and Nur."(Page 30) Now after this they can't do much because her mom is pregnant and they're all alone. Pretty much now Najmah has to take care of her mom, the animals and the farm. But to add to this conflict her uncle wants to take her land away to plant poppies. Najmah is now scared of being safe with the Taliban trying to take their food and animals. So this conflict affects Najmah because without Baba Jan and Nur, it's harder to get food because they can hunt and Najmah can't.
ReplyDeleteAnother conflict for Nusrat is that she can't find her husband and she doesn't know where he is. Her husband went to Afghanistan to open a medical clinic and he never came back."But there was no letter from Faiz." (Page 44) This quote shows that she doesn't know where he is and she's scared about that. So this is a conflict because without her husband, there is no help for her for the household chores and overall for support.
After Najmah goes through one conflict, another conflict comes quick through the book. Najmah's city has been bombed and her house was once place that had been bombed. Because of the bombed, her mother and newborn brother died. "my mother lies on the ground with legs at odd angles to the rest of her. She opens her mouth and instead of words, blood pours from her mouth." (Page 67) This is a conflict because now she is completely alone, an orphan. She can do anything without her brother and father and doesn't have company from her mother and newborn brother. She also has no guidance of what to do. Now she has no one to tell her to leave and save herself.
Najmah and Nusrat have had been through conflicts that had been a hard hit through their lives. Now they have to continue without any relatives to be safe from the war.
In the book "under the persimmon tree" the lives of Nustrat and Najmah changes due to the conflict in the book. The first conflict is from Najmah and Baba-Jan and Nur get taken by the Taliban unwillingly when they where walking page 18. "As they grab him and Nur roughly by the arm." This is making Najmah not feel at home because Baba-Jan and Nur is pretty much alone and she has to go home and tell her family about this now. The second conflict on Najmah is that Habib dies on page 82. "I turn Habib over. Lifeless, his small body heavy, and still." This makes Najmah not feel at home because Habib was just born by Najmahs mother.
ReplyDeleteThe last conflict is Nustrat is that Faiz traveled to Kandahar to start a free clinic on page 25 "gone to an area north of Kandahar to establish a free clinic." This makes Nustrat nit feel at home because her husband went to Kandahar for s free clinic but the Americans are planning to bomb near where he is and Nustrat wants Faiz to come back but it might not happen because of the Taliban. These three examples show how Nustrat and Najmah and how the conflict impacts them.
ReplyDeleteNusrat and najmah have been, though very differently, affected a lot throughout the book. I think that one of the ways that najmah was affected was that her father and brother were taken away by the Taliban. She was very distraught and she couldn't stop worrying about them. In the text, it says that baba-jan was forced to give wheat and sugar to the Taliban as they came out of their Datsun trucks. When baba-man resisted to fight with the Taliban, he was hit in the shoulder with the butt of a rifle. Baba-Jan and nur were taken away in the trucks, and najmah was watching helplessly (staples 17-19). This relates to the topic sentence because it explains what hardships that najmah was going through. She was basically alone now that her mother was pregnant and that her other family emember were gone. They were running out of food, and in the text is talks about how they saw the American bombers closer and closer and BOOM! All of a sudden she was thrown to the floor and she couldn't hear, her chest ached, and she went unconscious (staples 65-67). She later found her mother and brother dead, so she went with her other friends (staples 82). This also relates to the topic sentence because now since her mother and brother are dead, and that baba-jan and nur are with the Taliban, her only choice is to move with someone else. She went with Bibi usmani and his family escaping to another nearby town. It was still a long walk. In the text it explains that when they crossed a strange city in search of food, they had to dress like men to stay safe, and once akhtar returned he found no food. They continued along the path to the city. In the end they found more bomber s bombing the towns nearby. They stopped to help one of the towns, but they still couldn't find food. They had to cross the mts. And when they got to the bottom they found a place to sleep (staples 102-110). This is fatal for najmah herself because she normally eats, and without getting enough nourishment, she could die. They don't know if the city is still safe. And they are running out of choices. One of the ways that Nusrat was affected was when as hotter entered her part of town and the school. The shooter rang out many shots, creating a big explosion. No one was killed, and it had ended as quickly as it had begun. She now realized how often this kind of violence was and she was so worried about her husband faiz (staples 80-81). This relates back to the topic sentence because it shows how volunteering for helping Afghanistan people is dangerous, and getting killed is easy. She feels also that it's wrong to do things like this, such as violence and she tries to help children educate. But not everyone is safe. This shows how major conflicts affect najmah and Nusrat.
I like the way you used descriptive wording and an ominotapoea to paint a picture in the readers head. Your text really conveys the conflicts that Najmah and Nusrat has through the their journey.
DeleteConflict impacts Najmah and Nusrat's characters by making their lives more difficult. Najmah struggles on her journey to the border without her family, and Nusrat longs for her husband's return.
ReplyDeleteOn page 17, it says "'To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban'"(Staples 17). This shows how Najmah's journey is made tough, as she has to worry about her brother and father, and that they won't be there to help her on the trip. On page 67, her village is flooded with airstrikes, "And then I hear a strange whistling sound that seems to grow louder, and the ground heaves and a loud thump echoes from somewhere below. The village, I think, and begin to run"(Staples 67). This makes Najmah's journey even tougher, since now she has no family to help her on the trip, and she now has a negative impression of the Americans based on what they did to her family and her village. On page 99, it is shown how scared Nusrat is, "Nusrat cannot explain why Faiz has not written in so many weeks. Many stories come from the North, and she is determined to disregard them all until she hears something specific"(Staples 99). This shows how the violence in the North of Afghanistan affects Faiz, and eventually Nusrat. This shows how hard Najmah and Nusrat's lives are because of the American airstrikes and violence in Afghanistan, and how devastating it is for them to have to live through this.
The taliban and the american bombers are the main conflict, for nusrat her husband is in an area where there are many bombs and fighting going on, plus she hasnt heard from him, for najmah the taliban take her brother and father and american bombs kill her mother and baby brother. ""I will go" baba-Jan says turning back to face the Pashtun Talib without raising a voice. "Your son too" says the man." (Page 17) This relates to my sentence because this shows Baba-Jan and Nur being taken. This devastates not only Najmah but her mother too. This shows conflict because they are taking men to fight. More evidence could be "My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her. She reaches her hand toward me, and opens her lips to speak. Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth. By the time I reach her she stares with glassy dead eyes. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her facedown in the dirt" (Page 67) This shows how conflict affects Najmah because it kills her mother and baby brother. They where innocently making a living when American bombers drop bombs killing to very innocent people. Another could be "These men carry guns. She has barley had time to wonder what the commotions is about when a terrible explosion thunders down the lane from the center of the bazaar." (Page 80) This affects her because this is a terrorist attack in her own town. With a big explosion and gun fighting it is not very safe, just imagine what life is like for Faiz. So now you can see what these two have been through in only the first chapters 1-9. Nusrat and Najmah are affected by the Taliban and American conflict, in different ways but they both are aware of the danger. Najmah having not only her father and brother taken but, her mother and baby brother killed by bombs. And Nusrat not only almost harmed and being nervous for her husband.
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ReplyDeleteThe conflict between both American and afganistan conflicts has impacted the way najmah and Nusrat look at things. The war definetly impacts najmah, the talkban are looking for some soilders to fight so they decide to go into najmah village and force bada- jan and nur to go with them before brother and dad leaving najmah takes good control over things and tries to settle her mom, mada-jan down. " i hold on to her with all my strength, and she throws back her head and wails" ( page 18 chapter 1) with the men of the house leaving these women they basically have no one to protect them. But Najmah takes leadership and tried to do all the main things as possible and help out with mada-jan sith her preganancy. A strong impact that also happened was when the bombs hit the vilallage. Those bombs end up killing mada-jan and habib impacting najmah by being left alone. The bombings left najmah describing how she found everything afterward, "she reaches her hand toward me, and opens her lips to speak. Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth." Face down in dirt his little arms flung out tot his sides in the way he throws them wide when he lies." ( page 67 ) concluding to that she travels to another family because it is unsafe for her to stay alone. " but there is no letter from faiz hes too busy running a clinic in Mazar-i Sharif" ( page 44). Nusrut is worried because she has no idea if he is dead, alive , or injured it leaves her so peturbed. Clearly the war has impacted najmah and nusrat in many ways
In Under the Persimmon Tree, conflict impacts Najmah and Nusrat's characters by making them think of the world as an unsafe, scary place with very little hope, and a lot of violence. For example, when the Twin Towers collapse, it causes Nusrat to doubt the safety of herself and everyone around her. In the text it says, "just a month earlier the Twin Towers fell in New York, and Nusrat knew the world had changed, that no one was safe," (Staples 25). This quote shows that, because of conflict in the book, such as terrorism, Nusrat now thinks that the world is a very dangerous place, that no one person is safe. Another example is when two members of her family are killed, Najmah can't think of any hope that will give her a reason to keep living. In Under the Persimmon Tree, she states, "I don't care whether the Taliban find me and kill me,"(Staples 83). This quote shows that, due to this conflict, Najmah no longer has any hope, nor anything worth fighting for. Lastly, conflict impacts Nusrat because she and everyone else are so used to conflict that it has become part of theirdaily lives. In the book it says, "Nusrat thinks how easily violence happens here, how quickly it passes, with everyone acting as if everything is normal soon after,"(Staples 81). This quote shows that, due to constant conflict, Nusrat notices that violence is normal where she lives, and how she is so accustomed to it, that it seems usual, even for her. In conclusion, conflict affects Najmah and Nusrat's characters by convincing them that the world they live in is a dangerous, hopeless place full of violence.
ReplyDeleteIn the book "The Persimmon Tree" Najmahs and Nusrats lives change drastically, both Najmah and Nusrat have been heavily affected by the Pakistan issues in 2001. In the beginning of the book Najajmah thought her brother was always mean to her as she would tell herself "Nur was only teasing" ( page 6 paragraph 2) but after the Taliban came and took all the boys and men all Najmah did was sit around thinking when Nur would arrive back with her father. Najmah has been affected emotionally because she found out that both her father Baba-Jan and her brother Nur have been taken by the Taliban so their family has been separated. "Again Mada-Jan tries to go to him but I grab her by the arm" (page 18 paragraph 5) But Nusrat also has lots of problems in these 9 first chapters, Nusrat husband has gone to Afghanistan to help people who have been suffering from the war. "When will uncle Faiz be home" (page 24 paragraph 5) but also Nusrat had a school where she teaches refugee children under a tree in her yard Nusrat truly strives for kids who are in need even though she is in dark times herself. As you can see Nusrat and Najmahs lives have been impacted in a great amount of different conflicts in these 9 chapters.
ReplyDeleteYou quotes really help support your claim. Nice.
DeleteIn the book under the persimmon tree Najmah's and Nusrat's lives are changing because of the conflict of the Taliban. In the beginning on page 18 Nur and Baba-man are taken away by the Taliban while Najmah's family is walking as they are being taking away Baba-Jan says "I will come back," Baba-jan says, looking back over his shoulder at Mada-jan as they begin to drag Nur away. “Do you hear? Don't leave, no matter what!" The leader shoves Baba-jan so that he almost falls, and tells him to be quite. This shows that Baba-Jan is going to run away from the Taliban later in the book and he tells Najmah's family to stay where they are but in the book Najmah's family keeps walking on. On page 67 it says "Face down in dirt his little arms flung out to his sides in the way he throws them wide when he lies naked on the cot swimming for joy in the fresh air." This shows that when Najmah's family was walking they went to a war zone and there was things flying everywhere and Habib got hit by one and went down. Also on page 67 it says "She reaches her hand toward me, and opens her lips to speak. Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth." And this shows that when they were in the war zone someone got hit and they started bleeding. This is how the Taliban have changed Najmah's and Nusrat's lives.
ReplyDeleteThe conflict effected both Najmah and Nusrat. Without people taking Najmah's brother and father they would not become refuges and on the road. Since Nusrat works at a refuge camps for kids they are bound to cross paths. Since Najmah's mom and little brother got bombed, she is alone. Someone must eventually find her and take her to the camps. "I will be back... Don't leave no matter what!" On page 18, this effects the whole conflict because then they needed to know if they should go or stay in the house waiting. Through out chapter 5 a lot of things at effect the story line happen that effect both Najmah and Nusrat such as Najmah’s brother and mother getting bombed. Because this happened people can take her and take her to the refuge camps, kid nap her, do anything with her. She can even get herself killed if she is not carful living and being on her own. Because of chapter 8 being a flash back explaining why they went back to Peshawar. This effects the story line because if they didn’t make the decision to move there then they would never meet Najmah and this story would not be as effective or even written. This is the conflicts effected both Najmah and Nusrat.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel "Under the Persimmon Tree", there are countless examples of crucial events that portray how conflict has impacted both Najmah and Nusrat's characters so far. Najmah, an Afghani girl, learns how to survive and cope with the idea of the loss of her mom; she continuously becomes stronger and more fulfilled in life this way. As for Nusrat, she is a convert to Islam (the religion of Muslims), and not only does she have to deal with the long days passing by without her beloved one, but she frequently has flashbacks to her life back at home, and of her sister Margaret- specifically what she had done wrong, and if there was anything she could have done to stop the death.
ReplyDeleteIn the strict start to the novel, Najmah's dad says: "Nur can carry water more quickly than you can, and I don't want your mother up in the hills when the baby could come at any time". After Najmah hears this, she thinks: "I want to tell him that I can carry as much water as Nur, who is not much bigger, and as quickly, too. But I bite the inside of my cheek and say nothing" (Staples 9). This quote leaves the reader understanding that at the beginning of the novel, Najmah is passive and likes to keep her thoughts to herself. She is afraid to speak up, because she worries that nobody will take thought into what she is saying. However, later on in the book, Najmah takes account of an important moral: I have forgotten my childish quarrles with Nur- I am no longer angry with him for scaring me about the leopard, and for saying I can't carry water as far as he can. It's as if these things never happened, and all I want is to see the top of his head and Baba-jan's as they trudge up the hill, carrying water from the Baba Darya" (Staples 37). This quote vividly shows that Najmah has built a stronger personality overtime. After hearing numerous explosions, she decides that there is no more time for fussing about such nonsense, the childish days have passed. She realizes that this is the moment that she has to find a solution and preform the best that she can- meaning that she has to have hope that whatever plan she fabricates and desires to follow in her mind, it will work. Najmah knows that her dad is depending on her and her mom to stay alive. One day, there is rumbling and jostling in the ground beneath them, or as Najmah experiences it: "They feel as if they're happening inside my own chest", and soon enough, she finds herself on the ground behind boulders-"my ears feel as if someone clapped them hard, and the pressure in my head is terrible. I try to draw air into my chest, but it will not expand". When she finally stands up, she finds her mother lying on the ground nearby, her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her. She considers herself lucky- after that exact moment, Bibi Usmani's brother Akhatar and his wife, Khalida rescues her in time- she feeds her and puts an extra set of clothes on top of what she is already wearing- tattered, blood-stained clothes with a fresh set of menswear. A few moments later, after Najmah has been settled on top of the donkey along with Khalida and her two sons, she peers back and realizes: "it isn't until the first tinge of light shows on the horizon that I realize the hole where Akhtar has buried my hair also holds my mother and baby brother. I look back over my shoulder at the path we've ridden all through the night. But they are far, far behind us, and I realize I will never see them again". (CONTINUED ON NEXT POST)
Later on, she realizes that this is her new life- she has to learn to adapt to this new family, and get used to her "new parents". Throughout the journey, Najmah is to depressed to speak- she performs kind gestures and responds by nodding and shaking her head, but nothing else. In the book, it indicates that even though Najmah is in a confused state emotion-wise, Akhatar tells her: "you and I must take turns walking and riding", and she does, without showing any signs of hesitance because of the fatigue or even being reluctant.
ReplyDeleteAs for Nusrat, ever since her husband, Faiz, had left to persue his dream to help others in deep need at a hospital four months ago, Nusrat has never had but anything else on her mind. "At first Nusrat felt certain that Allah would protect Faiz"; "But just a month earlier the Twin Towers fell in New York, and Nusrat knew the world had changed" (Staples 25). These specific quotes show how Nusrat is changing- in the way she thinks. Nusrat used to have no doubts about anything, but now she is starting to lose some hope; becoming doubtful. Day by day, night by night, this is the only thing that sticks to Nusrat's mind. Even though she has been sending him letters, she hasn't been able to receive any information back. Also, throughout the novel, Nusrat goes through a number of flashbacks- for example, when the time for the meteor shower arrives it states: "She thinks of the first summer after Margaret got sick, watching the meteor shower by herself in the top field on her grandfather's farm. Elaine was angry with her mother for trying to force friends on her. All Elaine wanted was for Margaret to get better, and when that didn't happen she decided she'd rather keep to herself". Her mother tried to tell her that Margaret was gone and that she would have to learn to do things with other people (Staples 53). But Elaine continued to long for her sister. and this shows the fact that even though it seemed as if Elaine's mother had been coping with this event in a particularly formal way, while showing minimal emotion, it was direct for Elaine, since it was Elaine's true best friend, her one and only sister. (Staples 54)
There are clearly a number of ways in which conflict has impacted both the main characters Najmah and Nusrat. Najmah has just beginning to learn how to cope with the idea of her moms loss and how she will survive, but so far she's managing it. As a person, she has become stronger and fulfilled- she now feels like she has a purpose in life-for once, to show her dad that she is just as strong as Nur; maybe even stronger. Looking towards Nusrat, dealing with the reoccurrence of flashbacks reminding her of the good times at home often has truly helped her get through the days where she was feeling down the most.
Im not trying Trying to be mean but were not writing a 10 PARAGRAPH ESSAY !!!!!!
DeleteI made mines 4 paragraphs too and Ms. Lewis said I have to change it to 1 or 2 paragraphs so...
DeletePlease grade my second blog post. Thank you :)
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ReplyDeleteThe Taliban are causing terror, they are taking people's food and taking the men of the house to fight for them. This has been effecting Najmah because they took her father (baba - jan) so najmah had to do the work and go feed the animals at the Koh-i-dil for example this quote shows what effected her "Take care of your mother" this quote shows now that Najmah has to step up. The way the war and the Taliban effected Nusrat was refugees came from Afghanistan to Pakistan so she started to teach kids, and her husband Faiz left to Afghanistan to make a clinic to help out the people Nusrat also
Is helping these kids learn "nusrat stands before the children who are refugees from Afghanistan" this quote shows how Nusrat wants to help these kids learning. The war is effecting the who,e population and America has bombed them and killed a lot of people through out the book Najmah both charaters need to stay brave and beware the taliban
Conflict impacts Najmah and Nustrat characters by completely changing their environment more uncomfortable. Pg 15 "this man has a gun and Baba-jan does not react"..."we want wheat and chickens"... "I am afraid the talib leader will shot him". This quotes shows how it is making people not comfortable because people who have power over them take their resources and leave them with little to survive. Pg 71 "the child wears no shoes and her ankle and calves are the color of dust"... "Her hair is bleached a dull reddish blonde by malnutrition". This quotes shows that some of the people have barely enough food to survive and not enough clothes to cover them from the environment. Pg 80 "Bombs are not unusual in the bazaar but she is afraid that gunfire will follow, as it often does". The bombs and gunfire happen in their area so often that they're used to it even though they could be dead if it comes to their location. These conflicts show that the area that they live in is not safe and their people are forced to live in bad conditions.
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ReplyDeleteThe conflicts inflicted by the Taliban affected both Najmah and Nusrat by having them both long for their loved ones and making them run away from their dwellings. On page 65-67 Najmah experiences the death of her mother and baby brother. "My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odds angles to the rest of her. She reaches her hand toward me, and opens her lips to speak. Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth. By the time I reach her she stares with glassy dead eyes. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt, his little arms flung out to his sides in the way he throws them wide when he lies naked on the cot swimming for joy in the fresh air."
This evidence connects to my topic sentence because Najmah is without her dad and brother so when her mother and baby brother dies she has no one to take care of her except her uncle. Also Nusrat experiences the leaving of her husband who left to help tend the wounded and never knowing when he will come back. On pg 24-25 when Nusrat is meeting with her husbands younger sister,"when will Uncle Faiz be home?" And " but Faiz left four months before, not knowing when he will return, and they have not heard from him him at all in the last 3 weeks". " he had gone to an area north of Kandahar on the road to Kalat to establish a free clinic." Based on some evidence from the book, I conclude that the both Nusrat's and Najmah's sorrow were made but the Taliban.
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DeleteIn the book, Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples, conflict has impacted the lives of both Najmah, and Nusrat in many different ways.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning, Najmah is living a normal life when suddenly the Taliban comes and takes her father, Baba-jan, and her brother, Nur, away from her. During this time, Najmah’s mother, Mada-jan, was pregnant, and needed a lot of help. Although Najmah didn’t want Nur and Baba-jan to leave, there was nothing she could do about it. But she knew one thing; she had to help Mada-jan with the chores and routine life. She even gave up her fear of leopards to help her mom. Najmah was also in charge of keeping the land safe from her uncle. “He looks at Mada-jan for several seconds. Tears stream down her face, and she repeats over and over again, ‘You can’t go. Please! What will become of us?’ ‘Whatever happens, stay here,’ Baba-jan says to her as they grab him and Nur roughly by the arms.” (Staples 18). Najmah faces a conflict of being away from loved ones. A similar type of conflict happens with Nusrat. She misses her husband, Faiz, a lot. He went to go open a clinic many months ago, but Nusrat hasn’t heard back from him ever since. She has heard rumors, but doesn’t want to believe them. She believes that he is alive and will return to her. “But just a month earlier the Twin Towers fell in New York, and Nusrat knew the world had changed, that no one was safe. She began to worry about Faiz with every day that passed with no word from him. When the American President announced the United States would bomb Afghanistan, Nusrat felt her heart break into fragments. And now she lives every day with dread.” (Staples 25). Nusrat has realized that it is so easy for violence to happen, how fast it passes by, and how normal everyone acts after as if nothing happened. The bombing and war has also created a lot of trouble for Najmah. Najmah lost her mother and newborn brother, Habib, when they were trying to escape the bombs. She didn’t like to be alone. She didn’t even know where her brother and father are. Her neighbor’s brother and sister-in-law came to take Najmah with them to their voyage up. While her neighbor’s sister-in-law, Khalida, changed Najmah and made her look masculine for safety, her husband, Akhtar, buried Mada-jan and Habib. “It isn’t till the first tinge of light shows on the horizon that I realize that the hole where Akhtar buried my hair also holds my mother and baby brother. I look back over the shoulder at the path we’ve ridden all through the night. But they are far, far behind us, and I realize I will never see them again.” (Staples 85).
The war and bombings, as well as being away from loved ones, are major conflicts for Najmah and Nusrat in the book, Under the Persimmon Tree.
In under the persimmon tree for both sides, Nusrat, and Najmah, the main conflict is the bombings and shootings of America and the Taliban. This conflict has impacted Nusrat because that is the reason her and her husband Faiz moved to Pakistan from New York. Also because Faiz is near where bombings were going on and Nusrat hadn't heard anything from him in a long time. On page 94 it says, "Have you ever had something happen to a member of your family that you thought you might have been able to do something about?" (Pg 94). This is the quote Faiz said that started their decision to move to Pakistan to help Faiz's family, and his people. Faiz was talking about the events happening and how he feels he could help if he was in Pakistan not New York. This thought Faiz had effected their move to Pakistan for the American and Taliban fight. Another conflict people that live in these areas are facing is hunger. As said in the book, "Her fingernails are rimed with dirt, and the hands are hatched with dry white cracks like the hands of an old women." (Pg 72). This quote is when Nusrat gets a new students in her class and the student and her mother look very hungry and dirty. Nusrat feeds all her students and let's them bring baskets of food home to their families. There is not much food because the Taliban took most/ all of it for themselves.
ReplyDeleteFor Najmah her family was more directly effected by these events happening. Her father and brother Nur were taken by the Taliban along with all their food, leaving Najmah, Mada-jan, and her unborn brother Habib that later Mada-jan gave birth to alone at their house. Najmahs uncle wants to take over their land which is why they were determined to stay, even when everyone else was leaving to cross the border at Torkhum and wait in a refugee camp in Peshwar including a neighbor (Bibi Usmani). As stated in the book, "I stumble toward broken upright timbers of the doorframe and the chunks of mud plaster and dust scattered over the footprint of what was my home." (Pg 67). This quote is about when the explosions happen and hit their house with Habib and Mada-Jan inside, killing the both of them. Both Nusrat and Najmah were effected immensely by the conflict of Taliban and America.
While war is raging in Afghanistan, the characters face many obstacles, traumas, and loss because of the constant fighting in their home land. Najmah's family greatly suffers when they are separated, "When the men have gathered the food we have stored in baskets, sacks, and earthen jars in the lean-to, the leader turns to Baba-jan, 'to repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight for the Taliban'" (Staples 17). Najmah's brother and father have been captured and forced to fight for the Taliban. Additionally, Najmah and her mother have lost many of their live stock and almost all their food in the heat of a drought. They will have a much more difficult time farming crops and sustaining themselves without their livestock and their family. Nusrat has had to build resilience to violence erupting in her home town, " Over the bobbing red pompon plumes attached to the horses' bridles she sees other men running, several of them wearing dark turbans. These men carry guns. She has barely had time to wonder what the commotion is about when a terrible explosion thunders down the lane from the center of the bazar" (Stalles 80). Nusrat and the child she was with could have easily been killed by the explosion in the bazar. She and other people living in Afghanistan are under the constant threat of getting killed in an explosion or by someone with a gun. People are living their lives with fear and worry for themselves and others. Nusrat has to think on the fly and build resilience in order to stay safe from the terrible events happening around her. As Najmah's life begins to crumble, even more destruction arrives on her front door step, "I stumble towards the broken upright timbers of the doorframe amid the chunks of mud plaster and dust scattered over the footprints that was once my home. My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her. She reaches her hand towards me, and opens her eyes to speak. Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth. By the time I reach her she stares with glassy, dead eyes" (Staples 67). Najmah has now lost everyone in her family, her home, her animals, and her crops. Her struggle for survival and safety will be much more taxing on her physically and emotionally. Her only living family has been taken by the Taliban, and they may be dead by now. Najmah must endure these hardships to survive and hopefully find her brother Nur and her father. Najmah and Nusrat must overcome the obstacles of war for their survival. They have had to struggle through bombs, gunfire, fighting, death, and loss of family. These struggles have been physically and emotionally taxing on each of them and have greatly affected their futures
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ReplyDeleteThe book, Under the Persimmon Tree, Najmah is afraid of the leopards in the first chapter. Najmah's brother, Nur, tries to scare her by talking about leopards and how they are scary. "'I saw a leopard's pug marks in the dust here last night', Nur says, just as we reach the woodpile and Nur to the Baba Darya. I hesitate where the two paths split. 'Nur!' Mada-jan says, her voice low with warning. Knowing Nur very well, she has stepped outside the door to listen. 'Stop trying to scare her! Najmah, you know there are no leopards here. Now hurry, you two!' Still I hesitate"(pg 5). In chapter 3, Najmah's father and brother both gets taken away by the leader of the Taliban because Najmah's father gave the enemy food. And Najmah's father's punishment is to fight during the war. And the leader wanted Najmah's brother to join. Once they left, Najmah was forced to overcome her fear of leopards in order for Najmah to take care of her mother who is going to give birth soon. "' to repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban.' 'No!' Mada-jan cries. She shoves aside the curtain and stands to run to Baba-jan, who turns toward and her and holds up his hand, as of to say, 'stop!' He looks at her for a long moment. 'It will be all right,' he says to her. This time it's my turn to hold on to Mada-jan with all my strength as she struggles to run to him. 'I will go,' Baba-man says, turning back to face the Pashtun Taliban without raising his voice. 'Your son, too,' says the man. 'He wants to fight, and we wouldn't want to disappoint him.' He's just a boy,' Baba-jan says again, and the man raises the butt of his rifle as if to strike Baba-jan in the face" (Pg 16-17).
ReplyDeleteNusrat is an adult, she has a husband, she really wants to get pregnant and she gets flashbacks of her past. Nusrat has a husband who left her to go fight in Afghanistan, Nusrat wants to get a baby but she can't right now because her husband isn't there and Nusrat's flashbacks are about her old family like how she loved her mother and that she has the same eyes as her, and about her sister and that they were really close when they were little. "'What she really wants to know is whether you're pregnant,' Asma whispers, and Nusrat smiles" (pg 26). "Nusrat feels more relaxed about her mother, and her mind's eye remembers the bland surroundings in which she grew up almost with affection" (Pg 44).
Najmah and Nusrat are 2 completely different people. Nusrat has a house with bricks and windows, Najmah has a house with no bricks or windows. Nusrat has friends, Najmah doesn't have friends, the only fiends that she has is her family. Nusrat has friends, she has a nephew, a husband, she has everything. But, the only thing that they do have in common is that they both have a family. But, Nusrat's family is with her, they are safe in a house. Najmah's family is getting ripped away from her. Baba-jan (father) and Nur (brother) are both fighting the war, and Najmah's mother doesn't want to eat, drink, or talk.
Najmah and Nustrat the main character in the novel UNDER THE PERSIMMON TREE life have been majorly impacted and thing that impacts it is the Taliban. Nustrat husband has been sent to run a clinic for the refugees. It says in the novel that she is very worried about her husband " He's too busy running a clinic in Mazar-i-Sharf, she tells herself. The fighting is heavy there in American jets have began to drop " pg. 44. It is obvious that Nustrat is worried about her husband after knowing in one of her flashback she tells us the in America her sister who was very found with fell ill and she fell like none of her family knew her and that hows got to know Faiz who made her fell good and he gave her name Nustrat that means " help ". For Najmah she has the worst first the Taliban has taken over her village then the Taliban came for her father Dada- jan and her older brother Nur because they had betrayed them serving their enemy so their punishment have been to go with the Taliban. " The Pistan Talib something, and the men shove and drag Baba- jan and my brother toward the Dalsyn pickup trucks. " pg. 18. Before Baba- jan took of he told Najmah and Mada- jan to stay their and he will come back for them. The Taliban took their food and the men in her family and left, now Najmah is now left with depressed mother that is pregnant with her unborn brother with limited food. Days have gone by and Dada- jan and Nur has not came back and Habib has been born. Shortly after Habib was born in the day a bomb went of while Najmah was out side after Najmah got up she saw her brother and her mother dead on the floor " My mother lies on the ground nearby with her she reaches her hand toward me, opens her lips to speak. Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth. " pg. 67. Now Najmah is now left on her own. Both the main characters have now are now on feeling by their self and another thing is that the Taliban is included in both these characters life.
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ReplyDeleteThe on-going conflicts in the book Under The Persimmon Tree affects both characters ( Nusrat & Najmah ) in many ways, which grows the mystery and the engages the readers attention towards the way of life in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Although many miles apart, Nusrat & Najmah has been facing, yet, the same conflicts such as shootings, bombings, family loss, and many more.
On page 65, Staples clearly shows the reader some important parts of the situation in Golestan Village, where Najmah lives. On the last paragraph the text states, "By then the explosion are closer and louder. They feel as if they are happening inside my own chest. The wind has picked up, so that it's difficult to see for the dust. I know I cannot make it to the house, and I run to hide among the boulders alongside the path.......... When I am able to sit-I can't say how much later-I am behind the boulders , just where I fell........My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her. She reaches her hand toward me, and opens her lips to speak. Instead blood pours from her mouth." (Staples 65,66,67). Just from these quote the reader gets a clear image of how dangerous and miserable life is like in the area Najmah lives in. The conflict that happened to Najmah also happened to Nusrat. Nusrat's husband, Faiz, is believed to be a doctor treating patients in Mazaar-I-Sharif, instead according to the text, the reader can easily predict that Faiz may be dead because of the same conflict; bombings. " Nusrat cannot explain why Faiz has not written in so many weeks. Many stories come from the north, and she is determined to disregard them all until she hears something specific. But the explosion in the bazaar has turned something in Nusrat's heart." (Staples 99). This quote shows of how Nusrat is living with only hope. Hope that her husband is still alive. But, stated clearly in the text, it says that the bombings in the bazaar might be what Nusrat sees as a small situation, but she doesn't know anything else. Nusrat can't underestimate the limit to this conflict.
Another conflict is described in chapter one, the moment when Najmah's father and brother is taken is also considered a conflicts because it is a trigger to the first problem which is Najmah and Mada-Jan alone at home trying to survive. "My mother cries for most of the two days after the Taliban took Baba-Jan and my brother away. She lies on her side, curled up on the cot and stares at the insides of her wrists as if they hold some secret map that will tell her where she might find them.........I never leave my mother's side over the the next day, except to carry water from the Baba-Darya to the animals, who graze on the hillside above the house where there is little water." This quote is very important because it shows how Najmah and her broken family has scarce food and water and how Najmah is the one responsible to do the work. At this point Najmah has no one except her mom who is pregnant with a baby due soon. Najmah has to help prepare for that and do all the chores in the house too. This conflict carries on the rest of the story and how the other conflicts are set into place. All the conflicts stated here are only the begging of the conflicts. Under the Persimmon Tree has a diverse collection of conflicts which vary from theme to theme
ReplyDeleteIn the book under the persimmon tree, the conflict caused by the Taliban in Afghanistan affects both Najmah and Nusrat. In chapter one on page 18 it says "the men shove and drag Baba-Jan and my brother towards the Datsun pickup trucks". This quote represents a huge way in which the conflict affects Najmah because both her brother and father were taken from her by the Taliban. Another way the conflict affects Najmah is when in chapter 5 on page 66 it says "a few timbers stand where our house was just moments before". At this point in the book Najmah's house has now been destroyed by a bombing raid and her baby brother Habib and Mada-Jan who were in the house are now dead. This affects Najamah because now she has lost her home and her family and this is all because of an American bombing raid against the Taliban due to the conflict in Afghanistan. In addition to affecting Najmah the conflict in the Middle East is also affecting Nusrat. In chapter 8 on page 95 Faiz says "I feel helpless and I know that at the same time I know that I could help" When Faiz says this he is telling Nusrat that he wants to help out in Afghanistan and because he is going Nusrat also decides to go and this is all because of the conflict with the Taliban taking place in Afghanistan. These are the ways in which the conflict caused by the Taliban affects both Najmah and Nusrat.
There are conflicts that are for both Najmah and Nusrat. Najmah was just taking the animals to graze, she sees trucks drive by that seem like they are headed to their house. She ran home and tried to warn her family but the Taliban are already near thier house. The leader looked at Baba-jan and says. "To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban." (Page 17). The Taliban took Nur with to fight because he looked like he wanted to fight. Najmah and Mada-jan were left with nothing but each other, some food, live stock, a house and clothes. Mada-jan was also going to have a baby, but Baba-jan and Nur would be at war so they wouldn't see the baby be born. Near the end , Najmah was climbing down from Koh-i-Dil when there is a loud explosion sound and the ground started to shake hard. There was alot of dust that started to blind Najmah by it, she hid behind a huge rock. When the dust started calming down, she ran to her house, her house was a pile of rubble and Mada-jan and Habib were dead. Nusrat's husband went to help in a clinic in Afghanistan. Nusrat taught refugee children in a school in her yard. "Nusrat stands before children, who are refugees from Afghanistan" (Page 68).
ReplyDeleteThe characters in Under the Persimmon Tree, Najmah and Nusrat, face the same conflict, but it affects them in their own way. As for Najmah, living in Afghanistan, with her teasing brother Nur, pregnant mother, or Mada Jan, and her hard working father, Baba Jan. Early in the book, Nur and Baba Jan are taken away by the Taliban, but Baba Jan tells Najmah and Mada Jan to stay put, because he said that they would be back (Staples 18). Later on in the book, the bombing hits the area of Najmah and Baba Jan from the United States. My in text citation is "Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, face down in the dirt" (Staples 67). I know that this is important to the conflict because it now means Najmah must survive on her own, and travel on her own.
ReplyDeleteNusrat's conflict with the bombings however, has a difference. In the early stages of the book, it explains who's living with Nusrat, and who her family members are, such as Asma, and Faiz. There are many flashbacks in the first couple of Nusrats chapters, like her flashback to when she lived in New York on her grandfathers farm, with her sister, who is no longer here, and what they would do together. Later on in the chapters, Nusrat begins taking in refugees from Afghanistan, but then she learns about the bombings in Northern Afghanistan, and starts to worry because that's where Faiz had been working at a clinic, and she hadn't heard from him in a while. This conflict takes a lot out of both characters, but they both will change.
For the flashbacks I meant to say (Staples 45)
DeleteHere is how conflict impacts the characters Nusrat and Najmah so far in the book, Under the Persimmon Tree. Najmah starts to go be affected most by conflict in chapter 1 when Baba-jan and Nur get taken away by the Taliban. This mostly impacts her because her mom isn't able to get over it as well as Najmah is but her mother is the only one who can protect Najmah now. This is what this quite shows, "I hear the pickup trucks leave, but I am struggling with Mada-jan and cannot see them. I lead her to the cot in the corner of the room and pull her down onto it. She continues to wail but her body goes limp," (Staples 19). Najmah starts to be more impacted in chapter 3 when she is worried about her pregnant mother who won't eat anything. This is impacting her character because she is now starting to become more and more responsible for herself because she doesn't really have anyone to care for her at the moment. The conflict that impacted Najmah the most was when after the bomb Mada-jan and Habib are killed. This is really hard for Najmah because since her Baba-jan and Nur are gone she is all alone. Here is how it is explained in the book, "My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed out at odd angles to the rest of her"..."Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt, his little arms flung out to his sides..." (Staples 67). We are introduced to how conflict impacts Nusrat in chapter 2 when Staples explains how her husband, Faiz hasn't sent her a note in a long time and how Nusrat is getting very worried about him and hoping that he is ok. This is man vs. society conflict because she doesn't know if he was killed in the war or not. This is shown in this quote, "But Faiz left four months before, not knowing when he'd return, and they have not heard from him at all in the last three weeks" (Staples 25). This conflict is impacting Nusrat because she is becoming more stressed and worried about her husband. She gets a lot of news about bombings which makes her become very anxious. That was how Najmah and Nusrat have been affected by conflict so far in the book Under the Persimmon Tree.
ReplyDeleteI think you had very good points and chose really good quotes to match your statements
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ReplyDeleteIn Under The Persimmon Tree, written by Suzanne Fisher Staples, conflict in this book has impacted both Nusrat and Najmah greatly so far in the book, which had mostly been caused from the Taliban. From the great tension between the Americans and the Taliban shooting and bombing each other, from Najmah and Nusrat being separated from their loved ones, and now having to lose everything they have because of this. The Taliban is a major effect on both of them. "Whatever happens stay here...we cannot stop them" (Staples 18). This relates to when the Taliban forced their way into Najmah's home and changed their normal environment by taking all of their food, and Najmah's father and brother. This shows how not only their loved ones are being taken away from them, but how the Taliban now has total control over all of them. "But just a month earlier the Twin Towers fell in New York, and Nusrat knew the world had changed, that no one was safe. She began to worry about Faiz with everyday that passed with no word from him...Nusrat felt her heart begin to break into fragments. And now she lives everyday with dread" (Staples 25). This quote shows how at any moment in time, a tragic event can occur and ruin the rest of your life whether it's due to damage, loss of a loved one, or the reputation that has now been put on you. The following quote also shows how tragedy can instantly happen. This following quote shows how Najmah looses almost the only thing that has very really been important to her. "My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her. Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth" (Staples 67). Soon after, she finds that her brother is face down in the mud too. All of this had only happened because of all of the shootings and the bombings against the Americans and the Taliban. One explosion had changed Najmah, Najmah's life, her perspective on the world, and her future...forever. All of these quotes connect to the conflict of the book, and how it effects the characters so far, because it is changing the characters Nusrat and Najmah's lives forever. The bombings, being separated from each others loved ones, and having a totally new environment to live off of, are only a few of the main conflicts that are making a big impact on the lives of Nusrat and Najmah.
ReplyDeleteConflict impacts Najmah and Nusrat's characters by disrupting and pulling apart their family lives. An example of this is on page 17. It says, " 'I will go,' Bada-man says, Turing back to face the Pushtun talib without raising his voice. 'Your son too,' " this is a clear example that the Taliban is creating a conflict and that because of it Najmah's family life is disturbed. As a result of this Najmah and her mother are left alone. On page 66 and 67, the Taliban countinue to cause a conflict. Their bombing of the USA has left Afghanistan in an awkward position. These bombings cause Najmah to have her family life disturbed again. "The ground jumps crazily beneath me, and I lose my footing...My mother lies on the ground nearby...opens her lips...blood pours out...Habib lies motionless..." The conflict is also effecting Nusrat's life. On page 25 it shows how Nusrat's family life is being disturbed. It says, "She began to worry about Faiz with every day that passed with no word from him.When the American President announced the United States would bomb Afghanistan, Nusrat felt her heart begin to break into fragments." Nusrat's family life is being disturbed because her husband, Faiz, who is running a clinic and does not know when he will return. This means that until Faiz returns, Nusrat is all alone. The conflict of this book disrupts Najmah's and Nusrat's family life.
ReplyDeleteIn Under the Persimmon Tree, conflict has changed the lives of Nusrat and Najmah in numerous ways.
ReplyDeleteThe Taliban's arrival to her village is a conflict that caused Najmah to become more mature. After her dad and brother were taken away by the Taliban, Najmah must look after her mother. Here, we see signs of Najmah becoming more independent and accommodating towards her mother. Najmah is no longer scared of leopards jumping out of nowhere when doing her chores and helps her mother make food when her mom was pregnant.
Bombings are also a major conflict that impacted Najmah's emotions and changed her decisions. Habib and Mama-Jan die while trying to escape a bombing in their village. Originally, Najmah was not planning to leave the village since she needed to stay to take care of her mother, who during that time was expecting a baby. After the bombings, Najmah acquiesces when her neighbor’s brother takes Najmah with his family to Peshawar, Pakistan. Along the arduous journey, Najmah encounters another bombing. “She pulls me with her under her pattu, and we huddle in the ditch beside the road. We do our best to imitate a boulder” (Staples 105). After the bombings, Najmah starts to interact less with people. This is mainly because she is still shocked by the death of her mother and brother and is trying to take in the hard-to-accept events. Despite the fact that Najmah barely talks, Najmah has become more determined to get to Peshawar and doesn’t complain when she must trek through snow and not sleep or eat for days. This is because Najmah believes she can reunite with Baba-Jan and Nur at Peshawar.
The final conflict is being away from loved ones. When Najmah’s mother and brother die, Najmah is helpless, speechless, aghast, and heartbroken. We can deduce that when Najmah's brother and mother died, her hope in life, at first, slowly started to drain out. “I sit in the dirt beside them quietly, not crying, not thinking, not even aware that I am breathing, and it occurs to me that I might be dead, too…I do not run or try to hide. I don’t care whether the Taliban will find me and kill me” (Staples 83). Najmah isn’t the only one suffering from being away from her loved ones. Nusrat is also suffering. Nusrat continually chastises herself for allowing Faiz to open a free clinic in Kandahar as she waits for letters from Faiz every day, only to receive none. “She asked her servant, Husna, to check the mailbox every afternoon when she hears its lid close, and scolds herself for being too quick to hear” (Staples 43). This shows that the separation has caused Nusrat to become frantically worried about her husband's safety. Additionally, Nusrat takes on a new task in hopes to making herself useful to the community instead of worrying about Faiz everyday. Nusrat opens a school for Afghan refugees and through the refugees' stories, Nusrat discovers that there are other people who are also suffering from being away from loved ones.
In summation, the Taliban's arrival to Najmah's village, bombing, and separation from loved ones impacted each character's fate and destiny.
I made mine 4 paragraphs and Ms. Lewis said it has to be 1 or 2 only so...
DeleteConflict impacts Najmah and Nusrat by making life more difficult for them. On Pg 67 it says, "On stead of words, blood pours from her mouth. By the time I reach her she stares at me with glassy, dead eyes. Habib lies motionless behind her, facedown in the dirt." This evidence connects to the topic sentence because it shows how this is a very hard time in Najmah's life. On Pg 25 it says, "She began to worry about Faiz with everyday that passed with no word from him." This shows that Nusrat is anxious about her husbands safety. On Pg 30 is says, "My mother cries for most of the two days after the taliban took baba-Jan and my brother away." This shows that the taliban is ruining their lives.In conclusion, conflict affects many people's lives, just like Najmah's and Nusrat's.
ReplyDeleteIn Under The Persimmon Tree, conflict has impacted Najmah and Nusrat in different wasys.
ReplyDeleteMy mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odds angles to the rest of her. She reaches her hand toward me, and opens her lips to speak. Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth. By the time I reach her she stares with glassy dead eyes. In pg 66,67, and 68. This shows that one of the conflicts that Najmah has to go through is seeing her own mother die right in front of her, and on top of that her dad and brother are not there too help her. "But faiz left four months ago, not knowing when he'd return and they have not heard from him at all since the past 3 weeks". This effects Nusrat because there are going yo be bombings around his area and obviously she doesn't want him to die because he is her husband. In Under The Persimmon Tree a lot bad things have happen but we know Najmah and Nusrat can pull through it and find the light on the other side of the tunnel
ReplyDeleteIn the book Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples, conflict has drastically impacted Najmah as well as Nusrat, the book's main characters. The main conflict in the book is the war between the Taliban and the U.S.A, a conflict which impacts many people and their families in Afghanistan. Najmah wakes up to another normal day on her family's farm in Afghanistan but, her day takes a horrible twist when the Taliban shows up wanting food and soldiers to fight with them. "We want wheat and chickens and sugar... You had enough to give our enemies, you will give more than you gave them... To repay us for having helped our enemies you must come and fight with the Taliban," (Staples, 15-17). The Taliban had taken most of the farm's food as well as Najmah's father and brother. Njamah's mother is also expecting a baby to come very soon which leaves Najmah to take the responsibilities of her mother, father, and brother. It had been a couple weeks after the encounter with the Taliban and the baby Habib had been born. The American jets had been dropping bombs on Afghanistan villages wherever the Taliban may be hiding. A bomb is dropped near Najmah's village which causes destruction to her village and leaves very few survivors. "By then the explosions are closer and louder. They feel like they're happening in my own chest...When I reach the path and look down I recognize nothing. A few timbers stand where our house was just moments before,"(Staples, 65-66). Mada-jan and Habib do not make it though the bombings and Najmah is now completely on her own. Najmah must now travel along with her neighbor's family to Peshwar, Pakistan in hope for safety, food, and shelter. "American jets are destroying villages where they think the Taliban are hiding, and bombing the areas where they travel. These are the same roads and pathways we've been traveling on. The small bombs are from the Taliban grenade launchers,"(Staples, 108). It will be a long and treacherous journey in the mountains along with continuous American and Taliban bombs and gunfire through which Najmah must survive and push through. This is how the war between the Taliban and the U.S.A drastically impacts Najmah's life.
Nusrat lives in Peshawar, Pakistan where she is a teacher for children refugees. Nusrat moved to Afghanistan from New York with her husband Faiz so she could help children with education and so Faiz could open up doctor clinics in places that need medical service due to the fighting between America and the Taliban. "Faiz left four months ago, not knowing when he'd return, and they have not heard from him at all in that three weeks...When the American president announced they would bomb Afghanistan, Nusrat felt her heart begin to break into fragments. And now she lives every day with dread," (Staples, 25). Nusrat is constantly worried about Faiz because he left four months ago to Mazar-i-Sharif in an area north of Kandahar in Afghanistan and she has not heard from him in three weeks. Also Afghanistan is the main location of fighting between The Taliban and the U.S.A. There have been more frequent Taliban attacks taking place and there was even bombing and gunfire in the Peshawar bazaar. "A terrifying explosion thunders down the lane from the center of the bazaar pushing dust,smoke, and scrape of paper along the ally...Bombs are not unusual in the bazaar, but she is afraid that gunfire will follow as it often does. Nusrat thinks how easily violence happens here, how quickly it passes, with everyone acting as if everything is normal soon afterwards," (Staples, 80). This shows that violence is becoming more common so Nusrat must be more prepared and alert to keep herself and her students safe from the bombing and gunfire of the Taliban attacks. This conflict between the Taliban and America clearly causes many changes in both Najmah and Nusrat's lives.
ReplyDeleteIn the book "Under the Persimmon Tree", Najmah and Nusrat both face conflict. In chapters 1-9 in the book, I believe Najmah faces the most conflict. The Pushton Taliban takes a lot of their food and animals, along with her dad and brother. "The Pushton talib mutters something and the men shove and drag Baba-jan and my brother toward the Datsun pickup trucks." (Staples 18) This leaves Najmah alone with her very pregnant mother. The rest of the women in the village were gonna move away for safety, but Najmah, her mother, and new baby brother stayed. She didn't no she'd be the only one left when bombs went off. "By the time I reach her she stares with glassy, dead eyes. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her" (Staples 67) This event leaves Najmah confused, alone, and scared. When Nusrat was driving to the clinic, some people noticed men with bombs and guns. He hid everyone while gunfire was shot around. "The shooting ends as quickly as it had begun" (Staples 81) This event leaves Nusrat confused and a bit worried as to how every thing was back to the way it was after. Nusrat and Najmah both face conflict in the book "Under the Persimmon Tree".
Conflict has impacted Najmah and Nusrat's character in Under the Persimmon Tree. Theses girls are trying to live through harsh times in Afghanistan. In the beginning of the book it starts off in Najmas point of view and shows how they are living until the Taliban invade her village. At first she is just like any young girl. During the invasion the Taliban take her brother and father and force them to fight in the war with them, “To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban” on (p.17). This causes her to sort of become a father figure now that hers is gone. Later in the book Najmah, now that Najmah has only her mother and newborn brother en explosion happens, killing her mom and brother, "Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth. By the time I reach her she stares with glassy, dead eyes. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt, his little arms flung out to the side in the way he throws them wide when he lies naked on the cot swimming for joy in the fresh air." This leaves her without family. Meanwhile in Nusrats life she has many flashback thanks provide the reader with plenty of information on her past life and what it is now. She is an American but moved with Faiz because she loves him. "But the explosion in the bazaar has turned something in Nusrat's heart," after the explosion she becomes anxious and paranoid and realizes how serious the war is, and she finally sees it as a war rather than a conflict.
ReplyDeleteIn the story Under the Persimmon Tree conflict has impacted the lives of Najmah and Nusrat in name ways. The war between the Taliban and America has forced Najmah's family in many ways. "To repay us for helping our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban" (Staples 17). As shown in chapter one the war and conflict has already changed the way Najmah lives, now with only her mother. In chapter 5 the war started and was sending down bombs. " a few timbers stand were our house was just moments before" (Staples 66). This conflict impacted them by blowing up their house and way of life, a,so killing her mother and new born brother. This has impacted Najmah's family very much.
ReplyDeleteNastras husband feels the need to help out in the war. "He had gone to an area north of Kandahar on the road to Kalat to establish a free clinic" (Staples 25). This means he wants to help people and this also means leaving Nastars and traveling to put his self in harms way. By doing this Nastars wants to go help the refugees. "She's determined to turn their time of greatest need into a time of opportunity" (Staples 76). She shares food water and stories to the people in need to make them life and feel better. They are giving up their way of life normally to help theses people in need. This is how the conflict has impacted both Nastras and Najmah.
In the book under the persimmon tree najmah and nusrat both face similar conflicts. On page 67 " she reaches towards me, instead of words blood pours out of her mouth." This is bad for najmah because she is very scared. On page 25 it says that " she began to worry about faiz everyday that passed with no word from him". This makes her scared because she doesn't know if her husband is alive or dead. Page 30 says that " my mother cries of most two days because the Taliban took my brother baba- jon". This is bad because they have no clue what they are going to do to them.
ReplyDeleteConflict impacts Najmah and Nusrat by changing their daily lives forever. This is presented perfectly on page 17 when the Taliban come and take everything from Najmah's family's home. "When the men have gathered the food we have stored in baskets, sacks, and earthen jars in the lean-to, the leader turns and says to Baba-jan, 'To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban.'" This passage mainly shows the impact of the Taliban's reign on average farming families every day. The men took Najmah's family's food and some animals, and then they took Najmah's father and brother to fight for them. This will cause huge change in her household. With her mother very pregnant and her being a thirteen-year-old girl with no food left in the house, it will be hard to survive and move on, considering that her father and brother did most of the work involving food and supplies. However, Najmah is not the only individual in the book that is affected by conflict; Nusrat, a woman of American origin that moved to Pakistan, also has to deal with the hardship inflicted by global violence. This is reflected in a passage on page 25. "But just a month earlier the Twin Towers fell in New York, and Nusrat knew the world had changed, that no one was safe... When the American president announced the United States would bomb Afghanistan, Nusrat felt her heart begin to break into fragments. And now she lives every day in dread." Even world events affect how individual people like Nusrat live each day. Because the Twin Towers fell and the American president announced that the U.S. would be bombing Afghanistan, Nusrat feels unsafe; instead of living peacefully, she lives with the constant looming possibility of a bombing. Also, because of the war, her husband, Faiz, was taken to help at a medical clinic where the fighting was heavy; the thought of his unknown safety also makes her uneasy. Maybe this passage on page 44 says it the best. "But there is no letter from Faiz. He's too busy running a clinic in Mazar-i-Sharif, [Nusrat] tells herself. The fighting is heavy there and American jets have begun to drop bombs. She must remember the people in Mazar-i-Sharif and how he helps them. She must do something to keep from worrying." The war is keeping her husband from her, which causes her to spend many days worrying about his safety. She never hears from him and has to tell herself that he is okay, and it bothers her so much that she finally has to think of something to do to distract her from her anxious thoughts. There is no doubt that Najmah and Nusrat's daily lives are changed forever by conflict.
ReplyDeleteConflict impacts Najmah and Nursat throughout chapters 1-9 by changing outcomes and it could affect the end of the book also. For example in chapter 5 when Najmahs mother died she described the sene like this " My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her. She reaches her hand towards me, and opens her lips to speak. Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth. ". This connects to my topic sentience because it shows Mama-jan
ReplyDelete( Najmah mom ) when she died know Najmah is staying with friends from the village. This is about the jeans that Nursat got from her parents in New York then Nursat started talking about her sister Margaret who died she described it when she was telling the person like this " Margaret, who died when i was ten " This quotes connects to my topic sentence because this is about nusrat and how her sister died when she was only ten because this could impact her and her family and could of caused her to make certain choices. This is in chapter 5 when the Habib najmahs little brother died she described his death like this " Habib lies motionless behind her facedown in the dirt his little arms flung out to his sides" This connects to my topic sentence because it telling what Najmahs little brother looked like after he died. this impacts the character because its her youngest brother and he is only 1 month old and it could make najmah depressed. This is how conflict effects characters not only Najmah and Nusrat but it could affect others two.
ReplyDeleteIn the book "Under the Persimmon Tree", Najmah and Nusrat both face conflict. In chapters 1-9 in the book, I believe Najmah faces the most conflict.In the beginning of the book it starts off in Najmas point of view and shows how they are living until the Taliban invade her village. In chapter 5 the war started and was sending down bombs. " a few timbers stand were our house was just moments before" (Staples 66). This conflict impacted them by blowing up their house and way of life, a,so killing her mother and new born brother. This has impacted Najmah's family very much.
Nusrat lives in Peshawar, Pakistan where she is a teacher for children refugees. Nusrat moved to Afghanistan from New York with her husband Faiz so she could help children with education and so Faiz could open up doctor clinics in places that need medical service due to the fighting between America and the Taliban. This concludes my blog post.
In Under the Persimmon Tree, conflict has changed the lives of Nusrat and Najmah in many ways. The war going on between America and the Taliban has broken Najmah's family apart in many ways. "To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban." (Staples 17). This quote is showing there father going away to fight for the Taliban and he also tells her to stay and that he will come back. Them taking away baba-Jan and nur left this family torn apart and this is one of the numerous things that has conflict on this family. At the same time this same type of thing is causing conflict to Nusrat too. "But Faiz left four months before, not knowing when he'd return, and they have not heard of him at all in the last three weeks." (Staples 25). This quote is clearly showing one of there family members leaving them and them not hearing back from them in a while just like Najmah. Also Nusrat has conflict with losing her sister. "All Elaine wanted was for Margaret to get better...."(staples 53). Nusrat is going threw a very tough time during this war. This is the conflict that is effecting both Najmah and Nusrat durning this war of America and the Taliban.
ReplyDeleteIn the book Under the prrsimmon tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples, it has number of ways now impacted Najmah is the Tabliban. Is when that time when men in black outfits and had guns and were saying "must vomr and fight with the taliban" (staples 17). Najmah's father and brother got taken away by those people and ghey made them fight in the war. This cause a big change in their house, while mother is due to have a baby and while there is no food in the house how would they survive. Not just Najmah is having a hard time so is Nusrat too, ever since the twin towers fell in New York in by the Afghanistain she is now realizing thay no one is safe now. The part that hurts her the most is how her husband had to go to a heavy war zone and work there to help people with injuries.
ReplyDeleteThey both have different conflict right now in there life but if you really look at them they are going through the same thing and each of them is changing
In the book Under The Persimmon Tree Nusrat and Najmah both went through tough times such as on page 65 it states " she reaches towards me instead of words blood pours out of her mouth" this was a tough time for her because she lost someone she loved and watched her die like that. Also it is difficult because when the book starts it shows Najmahs point of view and a attack from the Taliban. Also when mama Jon and Najmahs brother die Najmah is heartless and speechless so she interacted with people less. Also she wanted to get to Peshawar so she can reunite with Nur and Baba Jon.
ReplyDeletethe war was also affecting Nusrat because on page 25 is states " she began to worry about Faiz with every day that passed with no word from him. When the American president announced that the United States would bomb Afghanistan, Nusrat felt like her heart would break into fragments." There life was also bothered by the thought that were Faiz was staying there would be bombings and they don't know if he will return once again. Another reason that Nusrats life was bothered by Faiz leaving is on page 25 it says again " Faiz left four months ago" this shows that they are very bothered about not knowing when he will return.
While reading the book, Under The Persimmon Tree Nusrat and Najama had been going through a lot. For instance, on page 80 it states, "Turn around," Nusrat shouts at him. "Take us back! Zut! Zut! (staples80)." This quote explains Nusrats panic as the bombs hit, she is worried and scared. This impacts Nusrat because it could traumatize her after seeing wounded or dead bodies. Page 16 states, "You had enough to give our enemies, (staples16)." On page 16 is when the Taliban's accuse Najama and her family of helping the enemies and supplying them food. This effects Najama because the Taliban's are taking away her bukri (baby goat) who she loved and cared for as well as her own family. Losing someone or something that is precious to someone is a tragic event in their life that is hard to get over. Another example is on page 82, "I turn Habib over. He is lifeless, his small body heavy and still, (staples82)." This quote was placed after the bombing when Habib dies. This event effects everyone in the family, but mostly Najama because she experienced it first handed. This quote explained how Najama was feeling as she slowly came to surface of her brothers death, "My heart hammers as if it wants to escape my chest, and it is the only sound I hear apart from the ringing in my ears, (staples82)."
ReplyDeleteIn the book Under the persimon tree The Taliban effected Najmah because they took her father and brother away to work for the Taliban. Because of the Taliban the U.S bombed Pakistan and because of the bombing Najmahs mother and baby brother died. So now Najmah has no home and is traveling with a different family on a journey to a refugee camp. On page 110 the author says that Najmah has t spoken in over two weeks because she is upset and shocked when witnessing her mother and baby brother dying and confined on why Baba-jam (father) and older brother were taken away. Najmah didn't feel the need to talk because she had nothing to say and was to depressed to talk to anyone. Also on page 105, the author shows Najmahs hopelessness when she was hiding on the ground with her new family when the talibans bombings were happening near them. Najmah was scared and praying for her life. This effected Najmah in many ways becaise she feels unwanted in Pakistan and very unsafe. Nusrat is dealing with her husband going to afganistan. He is a doctor and is helping the victims of the bombing this is effecting her because she left america to live with him and now he is leaving her and that makes her unhappy.
ReplyDeleteShortened version (Original was posted earlier)
ReplyDeleteIn the novel "Under the Persimmon Tree" by Suzanne Fisher Staples, the lives of the characters in the book are greatly impacted by many kinds of conflict in many different ways. Najmah starts off as a young girl living in Taliban-secured Afghanistan. All she knows is that she must follow the rules and help out with the daily chores. When the Taliban comes to take away Babajan and Nur, Najmah's life begins to change. Not long after Babajan and Nur were taken away, Najmah's neighbor, Bibi Usmani, told Najmah, " 'The Taliban have taken all of the food, and it isn't safe to stay. We will wait for our men in Peshawar' " (Staples 31). This is when Najmah realizes what trouble she is in, and that it is up to her to keep Madajan and Habib safe. She is no longer afraid of leapords, nor does she get scared when doing the chores. She is stronger for her mother and baby brother. But when more conflict comes, Najmah finds herself in a deeper pit. The day starts off as any other, with all the farmwork and animal care to be done. Then, a bomb drops on the village, taking the lives of beloved Madajan and sweet Habib. When Najmah comes to the realization that her mother and newborn brother have died, she narrates, "I sit in the dirt beside them quietly, not crying, not thinking, not even aware that I am breathing, and it occurs to me that I might be dead, too" (Staples 83). She was clearly shocked and confused when she found out that Madajan and Habib had died. Najmah is still alive, but now she has greater challenges to face.
Nusrat lives with her sister-in-law in Pakistan. When she became a Muslim she changed her name from Elaine to Nusrat. She grows produce in her own gardens, and she is especially fond of persimmons. Nusrat is anxious for her husband, Faiz. He is at a refugee hospital, helping out those who are injured and in need of medical care. He has not sent a letter to Nusrat at all. This worries Nusrat. The novel shows reason for Nusrat's worry. It says, "Faiz had left four months before, not knowing when he'd return, and they have not heard from him at all in the last three weeks . . . She began to worry about Faiz with everyday that passed with no word from him" (Staples 25). Although she had hope that her god, Allah, would keep her husband safe, she slowly began to have doubt. When America announced that the United States would bomb Afghanistan because of the attack on the Twin Towers in New York, Nusrat knew that the world had changed. As she yearns for her husband to be safe, she wishes that she were pregnant so she had a reminder of Faiz. Faiz is not the only one who worries Nusrat. Nusrat remembers her family back in the United States. She remembers her sister, Margaret. Nusrat is constantly having flashbacks back to when Margaret was alive, not dead. In the book, it says, "She thinks of the first summer after Margaret got sick . . . All Elaine wanted was for Margaret to get better, and when that didn't happen, she decided she'd rather keep to herself" (Staples 53). Clearly, Margaret was, and still is, very special to Nusrat. Margaret's death greatly impacted Nusrat. This event changed her life forever. She no longer had her sister to care for her, to enjoy with, and to love. She misses her family even to this day, and with Faiz's location unknown, Nusrat's heart is aching. In conclusion, the conflict in the novel "Under the Persimmon Tree" impacts the characters in this book in many different ways.
ReplyDeleteIn the book Under the Persimmon Tree conflict has impacted Najmah and Nusrat in many important ways. The war going on between the Taliban and America has seperated najmah's family. "To repay us for helping our enemy, you must come and fight for the Taliban" (Page 17). Baba-Jan and Nur have left to go fight for the Taliban.Now Najmah has more responsibilities that she has take care of in order to stay alive and survive and take care of her pregnant mother. She needs to walk to gather food, water,and other resources. As the war now begins, life becomes more dangerous for Najmah and Mada-Jan. "My mother cannot travel... We must stay here for the next few days, until the baby comes" (Page 36). Habib has not been born yet , so theres a godd chance that Mada-Jan will not survive if she must walk a long distance, thejr putting her life in danger as well as Najmah and the baby. Many bombings have taken place including the one that tkilled Mada-Jan and Habib. Nusrat's husband Faiz has left her because he thinks that he has to help. "He had gone to an area north of Kandahar on the road to Kalat to establish a free clinic" (Page 25). Nusrat sees the war as a chance to have a new life."She's determined to turn their time of greatest need into a time of opportunity" (page 76). These previous statements prove that a conflict can impact people around the globe in life altering ways.
All conflicts in the story tend to be related to the war, which is also the same conflict that changes and draws out the character of Nusrat and Najmah. One way that Nusrat shows her character is by having a school for refugee children. At this school she feeds them, teaches them, and cares for them. She does this because she wants to use her life to make a difference in the world and the lives of others. On page 96, Nusrat tells her husband, "I would work with you if that would be a help...". This shows her willingness to help, even in dangerous situations and her devotion to the preservation of others. Najmah is more dynamic than Nusrat because she has been directly exposed to a lot more conflict. An example of one of these changes is that in the book Najmah thinks, "I do not even think of leopards as I go to the woodpile and return carrying several day's worth of wood." Earlier in the story, Najmah had been asked to go get wood and was very afraid. Since she lost her family, she has been forced to mature a great deal in a very small amount of time. Things like leopards don't scare her anymore, because she knows that she must focus on surviving. Really tragic events can often put people into shock, such as the bombing that killed her mother and baby brother was to Najmah. Her inability to talk is describe on page 110, "It's been more than two weeks since I've last spoken and I'm not certain I will ever be able to speak again." This powerful sentence really stood out to me because of the fact that she has things to say, but she is physically unable because of the mental trauma she has endured. The way the characters in the story change because of the effects of the war, shows us that you can not always choose what happens in your life, but you can choose how you react to it.
ReplyDeleteIn the book Under the Perssimmon tree, conflict has affected both Nusrat and Najmah in different ways. Najmah is affected in the beginning of the book when the Taliban come to them and takes away Nur, Baba-Jan, and all of their food. The first sentence in chapter 3 states, "My mother cries for most of the two days after the Taliban took
ReplyDeleteBaba-jan and my brother away"(Staples 30). Since Mada-jan was pregnant with Habib, Najmah had to do most the work with the assistance of her brother or father. Najmah was essentially taking care of the whole family by herself. Having this conflict put more responsibility on Najmah. A second conflict that affected Najmah was at the end of chapter 5 when the bomb exploded. On page 67 it states,"By the time I reach her she stares with glassy, dead eyes. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, face down in the dirt"(Staples 67). Now that Najmah doesn't have her mother, farther,Habib or Nur with her, she is all alone wondering if her father and brother are even alive. Najmah also has to now travel with Akhtar and Khalida. One of Nusrat's conflict is on the first page of chapter 4, it states, "She asks her servant,Husana, to check the mailbox every afternoon when she hears its lid close"(Staples 43). Nusrat has been waiting to her from her husband Faiz for many weeks know. She is getting worried the he might be dead because she heard that there was a bombing close by where the refugee camp is. I think that conflict plays a major part in both Nusrat's and Najmah's life. If certain things didn't happen their life could of been extremely different.
Malala Yousafzai was only fifteen when she started speaking up for girls rights in her home country, Pakistan. From a young age, she had wanted to fight against the gender inequalities of her religion. She fought for a girls right to have education, something that most Islamic girls were not privileged to have. The Taliban, an Islamic extremist organization, were against western ideas like female education, and wanted to silence Malala. They did that in the only way the Taliban know how: they approached her school bus on the 9th of October, 2012 and fired three shots. One went through her head, and the two others hit the girls next to her. She was flown immediately to a hospital in England. Despite the determined Taliban, Malala Yousafzai could not be silenced.
ReplyDeleteIn the book, under the persimmon tree the conflict impacts Nujmah and Nusrats characters any so many ways. The war going on has basically brought Najmahs family apart they took they took them away, ""To repay us for helping our enemy, you must come and fight for the Taliban" (Staples 17). Bab-jan and Nur had to go fight in the war. Nujmah has to stay home with her mother until the baby arrives, "'We must stay for at least until the next few days, until the baby comes. Then perhaps'" (Staples 36). Nusrats husband, Faiz has left her and he might die because he is living close to where the Americans are bombing and Nusrat is very worried because she hasn't seen him in long "He has gone to an area north of Kandahar to establish a free clinic" this is impacting Nusrat because she may lose her own husband. These are some of the many impacts that these characters are going through because of the conflict.
ReplyDeleteIn the book "Under the Persimmon Tree", both main characters Najmah and Nusrat are impacted from the conflict. Because of the fighting between the Taliban and America, many innocent people that just happen to be in the area of the bombing are getting hurt. Take Najmah for example. On page 17 it reads "the leader turns and says to Baba-jan, "To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come to fight with the Taliban."..."I will go"..."Your son too"(Staples 17). As you can see, Najmah has lost her father and her son. It is unknown if they are alive or dead but she hasn't see them in a while since they were forced to fight against America in the Taliban. Najmah is also impacted because something happens to her mother and Habib "My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed out at odd angles to the rest of her"..."Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth"..."Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt, his little arms flung out" (Staples 67). They are dead from the bomb which came down into the village. Najmah has to leave her home that she promised she stay in to her father, but now that all of her family is either dead or gone she has to leave with Bibi Usmani's brother Akhtar and his wife Khalida with their two sons. For Nusrat, the war has affected her because it made her husband want to help. In pages 95 and 96 it states ""then why don't you go help? You don't have to stay here.""..."Faiz had worked to set up rural hospitals in Afghanistan"(Staples 95,96). Since her husband wanted to help, he moved to Afghanistan to help the people. Nusrat followed and stayed with her sister in law, her husband and their kid, but Faiz left for very long periods of time. He usually sent letters but this time, they didn't know if he was alive or dead and they are very worried. Najmah and Nusrat are very much impacted by this war because they've lost a lot to it. They are still getting through even though they are worried and sad.
ReplyDeleteIn the book " Under The Persimmon Tree" there are multiple ways that najmah and nusrat are affected by conflict. In the beginning of the story Najmahs father, Baba-jan and her brother get taken by the Taliban. "the leader turns and says to baba-jan, To repay us for having helped our enemy you must come and fight with the Taliban." ( staples 16) This quote shows how the conflict affects Najmah because now her and her mother have to take care of all the animals and her mother who is pregnant. This affects Najmah because now her and her mother must fend for themselves while her mother is pregnant. The conflict also affects Nusrat because her husband is working at a clinic and she does not know if he is alive or not. "But Faiz had left four months before, not knowing when he would return and they have nit heard from him at all in the last three weeks" (Staples 25) This shows how nobody has heard from Faiz causing anxiety to his wife. Nusrat continues to tell herself he is ok but begins to doubt herself. Another way the conflict affected Najmah is because the Taliban started bombing their village and Mada-jan and Habib were killed. This affects Najmah because now she is alone and has to survive by herself. Most of the conflict in the story causes the characters have to live on their own. As you can see conflict affects najmah and and Nusrat.
ReplyDeleteConflict impacts Najmah and Nusrat's characters by changing how they think, how they live, and what there view on things are. "What is there to celebrate when Faiz is in danger and she hasn't heard any thing from him in more than a month" (Staples 45). This connects to the topic sentence because Nusrat's; husband is in danger and this will change there way of life living because Nusrat will live more cautiously and Nusrat's view on the war will change because she is worried. "I am not sure what to do, and fill the time while I think, I climb the hill and bring the herd back down, and look the animals in their pens" (Staples 39). Clearly Najmah's life changes because she has to do all the jobs and Najmah had to overcome her fears, like the stories Nur tells her. "My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her" (Staples 67). This effects Najmah's life because now she is alone and she just lost her mother and baby sibling. Now she needs to take care of herself because everyone in her village is basically dead. Nusrat and Najmah are getting effected a it by this war. I talked about there view of the war, also how they live, and how they think.
ReplyDeleteUnder the persimmon tree chapters 1-9
ReplyDeleteThe conflict in Afghanistan has affected the lives of Najmah and Nusrat.
Before the conflict had started Najmah and her family were normal goat herders with many hardships already but one day it all changed for her and her family. The Taliban had came to their house "To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban." (Staples 17). The conflict now puts even more hard ships on her she now has to take care of her self completely but also her mother who is in labor. Najmah has to now take a responsibility that has even more pressure on her "I never leave my mother's side over the next day" (Staples 34). Now Najmah is going to have to step up her role in her family.
Nusrat is an american but she moved to Pakistan with her husband is in northern Afghanistan Nusrat is worried for her husband and also opened a school for refugee children called under the persimmon tree. She is now worried for her husband "But Faiz left four months before, not knowing when he'd return, and they have not heard from him in the last threesome weeks" (Staples 25). She now thinks that something has happened and she teaches a school which is for refugee children because she can kind of one too separated from her husband and in Pakistan. those are the challenges the two people now face in the story.
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ReplyDeleteConflict impacts Najmah and Nusrat's characters by making them have lots of fear and instability. Nusrat has the fear that her husband was blown up by bombs since he is not responding and Najmuh had her brother and father taken and mother and new brother blown up by the bombings. "'You can't go. Please! What will become of us?' 'Whatever happens, stay here,' Baba-jan says to her as they grab him and Nur roughly by the arms"(Staples 18). The evidence shows that Najmah's dad and brother are being taken away from her and her father says to stay here and wait for him. "When the American President announced the United States would bomb Afghanistan, Nusrat felt her heart begin to break into fragments"(Staples 25). The evidence shows that Nusrat knows America is bombing Afghanistan and she is worried about being killed, but Nusrat's mostly is worried about her husband being killed by the bombings. "Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth... Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt..."(Staples 67). The evidence shows that the last bit of Najmah's family has been taken from her. She has no family making her feel like hope is lost and can not believe the bomb was dropped near her house killing her mother and new brother. Both characters are sacred and have hope something good will happened to them since war has broken their family's apart. Narmah's brother and father were taken by the Taliban and her mother and new brother were blown up by bombs and Nisrat is scared that she will lose her husband.
ReplyDeleteThere home, and Their day to day lives and makes them move in to a uncomfortable environment. Najmah father and brother were taken by the Taliban right in front of there eyes."You had to enough to give our enemies, says the Taliban leader, waving his gun around menacing ways". Page 16.They killed her family and she has to move the in to the bad area. Nusrat Husband is away running a medical clinic, separate. She misses her husband and wants to be with him. Page 67 Najmah's mother died with her new baby brother. Because America was bombing the area looking for oasma bin laden and the Taliban . She has to become independent from everyone. You don't know how much you love something or someone till its gone .
ReplyDeleteNusrat haven't heard anything from her husband that works at a clinic. Najmah's brother and dad is kidnapped and know Najmah has to help her mom. For Nusrat I found this sentence that showed how nusrat is in the book. " I am well just missing my husband." That shows that all that's mostly wrong with her is that she misses her husband. I also for Najma I found " I will come back.... Don't leave no matter what!" That's shows that her dad and brother will come back after the war. Another quote that shows how Najma is feeling in the story is " My mother lies on the ground her legs,spread in an oddly shape." That shows that will have a lot of reasponsilblety.
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ReplyDeleteIn the novel Under the Persimmon Tree, by Suzanne Fisher Staples, the main characters Najmah and Nusrat face many conflicts that change their lives, break apart their families and leave them alone.
In the first chapter, the Taliban pays an unexpected visit and takes away Nur and Baba Jan, her brother and father. Najmah recalls, "When the men have gathered the food we have stored in the baskets, sacks and earthen jars in the lean to, the leader turns and says to Baba Jan, 'To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban'... 'I will go,' Baba Jan says, turning back to face the pashtun talib without raising his voice. 'Your son, too, ' says the man. 'He wants to fight, and we wouldn't want to disappoint him" (Staples 17). As seen in the text, her father and brother are taken away leaving Najmah with her pregnant mother and basically on her own. She has no one she can depend on to help her or take care of her, and instead is forced to care for her mother in this time of need and urgency. Her mother is eventually killed an American bombing. As Najmah is returning from the Koh-i-Dil, she hears a strange whistling noise that is getting louder quickly. She realizes through all the explosions, that it is an American plane and it is close to bombarding her area. When she arrives at her house, her mother,
"lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her... By the time I reach her she stares with glassy, dead eyes. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt, his little arms flung out to his sides in the way he throws them wide when he lies naked on the cot swimming for joy in the fresh air" (Staples 67). Now that her mother is dead, Najmah is completely alone and must become independent, for she has no one to rely on. She must now figure out how to take care of herself on the farm with no crops or animals.
Nusrat is also alone similar to Najmah but she lives a wealthy life and has access to an abundance of resources unlike Najmah. Although she is still alone, she still has the ability to contact her husband Faiz. However, she has not been able to reach him through letters or telephone for the past three weeks and is worried a has arisen. Nusrat is anxious and wishes, "she could say 'Next week,' or 'In a month.' But Faiz left four months before, not knowing when he'd return, and they have not heard from him at all in the last three weeks. At first Nusrat felt certain that Allah would protect Faiz. He had gone to an area north of Kandahar on the road to Kalat to establish a free clinic" (Staples 25). Nusrat is unsure of Faiz's location or condition but wants to think that he is safe and will return soon.
The war has turned Nusrat's and Najmah's lives around by leaving them alone, but they are slowly learning to cope with their losses and struggles by interacting with the people around them. Conflicts heavily affects the lives of people and their families.
In the book, Under The Persimmon Tree, written by Suzanne Fisher Staples, the main characters, Najmah and Nusrat, are affected by conflict in their lives. In the story, Najmah's brother and father are taken away by the Taliban. Najmah is impacted by conflict when her dad tells her to take care of her mother(Staples 14). Her father also tells her not to leave no matter what(Staples 18). These show that Najmah is forced to grow up and take on adult responsibilities. In the story, Nusrat is an American in a foreign country in grips of war with her husband, Faiz. "She hadn't intended for the intensity of her fear to show through. Nusrat is fearful because she doesn't know if Faiz will return or not. Both Najmah and Nusrat are struggling with big changes in their lives.
ReplyDeleteIn the book Under the Persimmon Tree, the two main characters Najmah and Nusrat face many challenges throughout these first few chapters. When the Taliban come for the Golestan Village (Najmahs village), one of the main Taliban leaders forces Baba-Jan (Najmahs father) and Nur (Najmahs brother) to go fight with the Taliban. On page 17 it says,"To repay us for having helped our enemy, you must come and fight with the Taliban." When Najmah comes back towards her village after herding the animals, she is traumatized by what she saw. The Taliban had come back to the Golestan Village and had bombed it. After the Taliban bombed the village, Mother and Habib (Najmahs younger brother) die because of the explosion. On page 67 it says, "My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed as odd angles to the rest of her. Habib lies motionless a few feet behind her, facedown in the dirt, his little arms flung out to his sides in the way he throws them wide when he lies naked on the cot swimming for joy in the fresh air." After mother and Habib are dead, and Baba-Jan and Nur haven't returned back from the Taliban, Khlida forces Najmah to follow her, Bib Usmani, Akhtar and others to another safe village. Page 85 states, "As the stars disappear one by one, Akhtar leads us away from the path and down into a valley formed by a small stream that flows into a large river," Najmah has a very difficult life to live, but she manages to do the best she can. Nusrat faces many challenges throughout these few chapters. When Nusrat and her husband (Faiz) traveled to Peshawar from Colimbia University, Nusrat opened a garden with its huge persimmon tree to the poor refugee children while Faiz went to Mazari-I-Sharif. When Faiz dosen't contact Nusrat in weeks she becomes very worried. On page 44 it says, "But there is no letter from Faiz. He's too busy running a clinic in Mazar-I-Sharif, she tells herself." Nusrat is very worried for Faiz and wants to make sure he's ok.
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