In a well developed paragraph, explain what you think this quotation means. Then explain how
you think this relates to the novel. Use at least three pieces of textual evidence in your response. Be sure to talk about Najmah and Nusrat.
“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.”
Charles A. Beard
Under the Persimmon Tree has lots of meaning to stars in the characters names to a bond of two people. "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" means when something is going wrong, you still can have a little hope. On page 11 Najmah's name means star. This quote is a big meaning because her father, who was taken away, loved stars so he named his daughter Najmah. Najmah's brother name is Nur which means light. Both light and stars are bright. Najmah is proud of her name and frequently looks up in the stars thinking of her family. Najmah's dad quotes, " As long as you know the stars, you will never be lost." Najmah now knows that no matter where father or family are, when she looks up at the stars she can find a sense of peace that her family is with her. If she ever gets lost she can look up at the stars to show her the way because the stars are very bright. On pages 133-140 Nusrat is trying to find the right religion to become a follower of. She was a Christian but didn't really believe that God was really with her. When she met Faiz, she realized that she wanted to be Muslim. Faiz helped her understand the teachings and teaches her to read the Koran. Because of this bond, when Faiz leaves to help the needy people, Nusrat still has some hope for Faiz to come back to her. This connects to my topic sentence because when Nusrat has no letter from Faiz and she is worried about him not coming back, she still has faith in her husband to live. Also she had her prayers answered when she was praying to learn a new religion and Faiz popped up. The evidence in this book strongly describes the quote, "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars." by implying that no matter what happens, if you take a moment and look up then you can find your future.
ReplyDeleteThese are very strong uses of textual evidence
DeleteDid we need citations? I don't see any in this post.
DeleteYeah we did.
DeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars." relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree by showing that by darkening Najmah's life, she learned to see the positive things that matter. Like food and shelter.
ReplyDeleteWhen Najmah talks to Nusrat about staying with her, she is shocked about what Nusrat is giving her, she is giving her all these things at no cost what so ever. "it suits me very well, but I can barely believe my ears. She's giving me a safe, clean place to sleep, food, and an opportunity to go to school, surely she will ask for something in return!"(Staples 203). Najmah is not used to this kind of catering And is surprised by Nusrat's kindness.This connects with the main topic by showing that, when giving these basic necessities, she is overwhelmed with gratitude by the fact that it's all free. Stuff that we here are used to is to her like winning a million dollars. She didn't show her gratitude to that in the beginning, before things went dark. Because she was used to it.When Najmah was at the refugee camp,a truck came with foreign clothes that seemed strange to Najmah "Trucks arrive filled with clothing-some of it from foreign countries, mounds of strange shoes with pointed toes and very tall heels, and Western-style shirts and trousers and, best of all, warm sweaters... I am given a brand-new Punjabi dereshi made out of a lightweight woolen fabric. It's warm and clean and too large. I roll the trouser legs to keep them from trailing in the dirt..." (Staples 148). Even though Najmah finds some of the clothes obscure. She does not complain when she got her oversized clothing. She is more thankful about her clothes than she was before everything happened, She is Thankful for the clothing, even though at a glance someone in a brighter time might of been disgusted when given those.When Najmah first gets her food rations at the refugee camp, she was disgusted about the food being disgusting but strengthening. As she watches the two boys cry and sob over the horrible food items, but Najmah is ok with is and is happy to regain her strength. " My first bite has no taste. It is brittle and crumbles on my tongue like a piece of mountain shale. I manage to swallow the biscuit with water so i didn't have to taste very much of it. And after a few minutes my stomach doesn't feel so hollow and weak and the feeling begins to return in my arms and legs. I manage to eat another biscuit in the same way, and a little while afterward my body begins to regain feeling that i haven't realized I lost." (Staples 130).This connects to the topic sentence because before the Taliban came Najmah would refuse the biscuits, but in these bad times, Najmah was happy for the food and would of ate anything at this point. She just wanted to regain her strength. In conclusion, the phrase "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" connects to the book because Najmah now realizes what she should be grateful for. And she realized it in her darkest time.
I agree with your interpretation of the quote. Difficult times such as war can cause people to become desperate, yet it allows them to see the true beauty of life and be grateful for it.
Delete
DeleteI agree with your understanding of the quote and how Najmah and Nusrat really begin to appreciate the small things such as food and shelter and that they start to see the positive side of things. Your explanations really show how Najmah was both grateful and shocked when Nusrat offered her shelter, food, and education. Also when Najmah got her food and clothing she didn't complain and looked on the brighter side of things. I liked how you said that we sometimes take for granted things we should be thankful for and that simple things we have could be like "winning a million dollars" to someone else.
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ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it's dark enough, you can see the stars". Means similar things for najmah and nusrat. For nusrat it says " but at night she looks up into the stars and imagines faiz doing the same- perhaps now in medical camp". This shows that nusrat and faiz are communicating through looking at the stars and giving each other hope they will see each other again. When nusrat looks at the stars she is happy and has hope for faiz. She realizes that she needs to focus on the most important things in life.
ReplyDeleteThis quote applies for najmah when she looks at the stars she realizes that in life some things are more important then others. " i retreat into thoughts of my brother and farther, wondering where they are, weather they have food, and weather the Taliban have forced them to kill people". This shows that najmah has deep thoughts about her family and that is the number one thing she cares about. Najmah dad said " as long and you now the stars, you will never get lost". This shows that as long as najmah nows the stars there will always be hope in her life that good thing will happen. All this shows that stars show hope and hope is really good for the family of najmah.
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ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" means that in dark, the stars come out and gives hope to people. This relates to both Najmah and Nusrat. For Najmah, she looks up to the stars to give her hope that Baba-jan and Nur are still out there. She knows that they are looking at the same stars that she is. "I retreat into thoughts of my father and brother, wondering where they are, wether they have food, and whether the Taliban have forced them to kill people" (101). This shows that Najmah is worried about Baba-jan and Nur, and she hopes that they are okay. Najmah also has a thought that Baba-jan and Nur have "escaped from the Taliban and I will find them in Peshawar" (108). She thinks that they are on the move, looking up at the stars before they drift off to sleep.
ReplyDeleteFor Nusrat, she looks up at the stars to have hope that she will see Faiz again. Faiz had left her to help the people in Afghanistan. She hasn't heard from Faiz in a while. One day, after all of her students have left, a person who goes by 'Mullah Tariq Gailani', enters the schoolyard. When Nusrat hears where he is from, she gets very excited. She asks if he has heard of "an Afghan doctor at the clinic there? Dr. Faiz?" (172). This shows that Nusrat is very anxious to hear any news about Faiz, good or bad. Nusrat knows that Faiz looks up at the same stars at night that she does.
Nice
DeleteIn Under the Persimmon Tree, the quote "When it is dark enough you can see the stars." I think it means when things get bad, there is hope. Bad things happen to Najmah, but she has hope. On page 147, Najmah says, "But first I must find them and the place to look is Peshawar." This shows how now that her family is taken away, she finds hope that they are in Peshawar. She knows she has to go find them. Also on page 147, Najmah states "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return with them." She hopes to find her family even though her house blew up and half of her family is gone due to that.
ReplyDeleteBad things happen to Nusrat but she has hope. On page 134, Nusrat thinks "She could not accept that God of her childhood would take her little sister." Nusrat sister may have died, but switching religious beliefs gave Nusrat the sense of her sisters well-being. Nusrat has hope for her sister.
Therefore the quote "When it is dark enough you can see the stars," means even when things get bad you can always have hope. Both Nusrat and Najmah have hope when things go bad. Nusrat switched to Islam so she can have hope for her dead sister. Najmah goes to Peshawar to find the rest of her family.
I found this very smarely interesting
DeleteThe quote "when its dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book because when times are rough you can always see the good. "Although the house no longer stands, i know i must find my father and brother and return there with them" (Staples 147).this quote shows that Najmah still has hope to find her father and brother."My father asked my mother to stay and keep the property safe from Uncle and the Taliban, and i intend to do exactly that" (Staples 147).this quote shows that Najmah is determined to go back home and protect her land."But at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same" (Staples 111).This quote shows that Nusrat still believes that Faiz is still alive and well. and she hopes that he will return.Najmah and Nusrat should be happy with the stuff they have and forget about the troubles they have.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when is it dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree because when times are rough you can always see good. "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them" (Staples 147). This quote shows that Najmah has hope to find her father and brother and that she still has to keep going. "My father asked my mother to stay and keep the property safe from Uncle and the the Taliban, and I intend to do exactly that" (Staples 147). This quote shows that Najmah is determined to go back home and protect her land. "But at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same" (Staples 111). This quote shows that Nusrat still believes that Faiz is still alive and well and she hopes that he will return. In the phrase "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates with the book because Najmah and Nusrat still have hope for their love ones to be reunited with them.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "When it is dark enough you can see the stars" in Under the persimmon tree means that event though Najmah's life is getting dark because her mother and Habib died she has seen good things in that like the lots of food she stole.
ReplyDeleteOn page 11 it says "Baba-jan loves the stars so much that he named me Najmah, which means "Star". He also gave Nur his name, which means "light". This shows that baba-jan named her Najmah because it means "star" and it shows that Najmah is bright so even though she's going through hardships she can find hope. On page 147 Najmah says "But first I must find them and the place to look is Peshawar." This shows that even though baba-jan and Nur are kidnapped Najmah still thinks that there is hope to finding them in Peshawar. Najmah knows that she must find baba-jan and Nur before they might be killed by the Taliban. On page 111 it says "But at Night, she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same-perhaps now in a medical camp in Mazar-i-Shariff." This shows that Nusrat looks at the stars as a symbol that Faiz is still alive in the medical camp and that she hopes to see him soon.
ReplyDeleteThe quote “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" means that even when things are tough there is always light that you can follow. This quote relates to the book because even though Najmah has lost her house and half of her family, she is still going in hope of finding Baba-Jan and Nur. This is shown when Najmah says "although the house no longer stands I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them"(147). This is also shown when Najmah says "my father asked my mother to stay and keep the property safe from uncle and the Taliban, and I intend to do exactly that"(147). Another way that this is shown was in a earlier section of the book when Najmah says "my heart begins to hammer again perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban and I will find them in Peshawar"(108). What this quote really shows is Najmah's hope of finding Nur and Baba-Jan, and it's this hope that she has that really keeps her going in her struggles. This is how the quote “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the novel.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars", directly relates to Under the Persimmon Tree. I think that this means that hope will always be there even in the toughest times. Each of the main characters has their small ounce of hope that loved ones are still alive. Najmah hopes that her older brother and father are still alive, while Nusrat is hopeful that her husband is doing well.
The hope that keeps Najmah going is that her brother Nur, and father Baba-Jan are still out there and will meet up soon. "I retreat into thoughts of my father and brother, wondering where they are, whether they have food, and whether the Taliban have forced them to kill people"(Staples 101). The only thing that Najmah thinks about anymore is the well-being of her brother and father. Najmah uses the stars to guide her to her father, just like he did. "That night I lie on my back wrapped in my quilt, my arms behind my head, staring at the sky and thinking about where under these same stars... Baba-Jan and my brother might be" (Staples 63). This hope that Najmah's family might still well keeps her going. Najmah might not have the determination to survive through this tough time in her life if it wasn't for Baba-Jan and Nur.
Nusrat keeps fighting to survive because there is a possibility that her husband Faiz is still alive. "But at night she looks at the stars and images Faiz doing the same--perhaps now in a medical camp in Mazar-i-Sharof, to the north and west, about three hundred miles inside Afghanistan" (Staples 111). Nusrat uses Faiz as her reason to keep on going, even when it might get tough.
Nusrat and Najmah both have hope in their lives. These loved ones push Najmah and Nusrat to keep going and to survive this tough time.
What's up JP, I think that your blog was very interesting to read. Your quotes were very strong and showed a clear understanding of the quote we were assigned. Your descriptions were very nice and vivid as well. Keep up the good work!!!!!
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DeleteThis quote means that even in a time of complete darkness you can see light. This relates to the story since both characters use stars as guidance and use stars to comfort them in the book Under the Persimmon Tree. In the book there is an example of Nusrat and her students thinking of a star as a way of guidance. A quote from the book showing this is..."Mansoora stands to speak to the class. 'When I was a child in Helmand,' she begins, 'my father watched the Dog Star every night. It marched near the horizon in the spring, and its constancy meant all was well in our world." (Staples 174) This quote is just one example in the text that shows how people think of stars from where Nusrat and Najmah live. They use stars to show them that all is okay and if they think something may be wrong they glance at the star and are reassured when they see the star shining down on them. Stars also help Najmah in this story. Watching the stars comfort her and she looks up at them, hoping they can help her. A quote that shows this in the story is this quote here..."I am unwilling to set off again with no food. And so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for guidance." (Staples 131) This quote shows that Najmah looks up at the stars, searching for comfort. Relating back to the quote, Najmah is thinking of a struggle and looking up at the stars for comfort. The quote talks about the stars being able to be seen in dark, and that is exactly what Najmah is doing, looking toward the light at a dark time. The third quote in the book that relates back to the original quote is in the first set of chapters, it is shown here, "Everything depends on the stars. From them you can tell time and distance and you can find your way home." (Staples 10-11) This quote shows that stars can help people in multiple ways and lead people through the darkness. With stars, Nusrat and Najmah are never alone in the story and they use the stars to comfort them. Both characters look for the light while they are in the dark and that is the reason both characters are thriving in the story. The quote "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." (Charles A. Beard) means that light can always be found in darkness, and this quote connects to the characters and the story in many ways, which are shown in this paragraph above.
ReplyDelete"When it is dark enough you can see the stars" (Beard). I think this quote means even in the dark bad times there is still hope for the future. In the book Najmah says,
ReplyDelete"Although the house no longer stands, I know i must find my father and brother and return with them" (Staples). This quote shows how Najmah has hope for the future that even though there is nothing really left to go back to she wants to find her brother and father to go back to what they know. This is similar to the quote by Beard, because Najmah has hope for finding her brother and Nur and returning home. As stated in Under the Persimmon Tree, "My heart begins to hammer again. Perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban and I will find them in Peshawar" (Staples). This is showing how Najmah has hope that Nur and her father have escaped from the Taliban and are safe. Also is hoping to find them in Peshawar. So Najmah in a bad time is hoping for herself and her family. On page 111 it says, "During the days she keeps busy with the class that meets under the persimmon tree." (Staples). This quote is showing how Nusrat is helping these kids get food, and an education while this battle is going on. Also providing a safe place for the students. The quote, "When it is dark enough you can see the stars" (Beard). Relates to the book "Under the Persimmon Tree", because during this time in the area of Pakistan, if the Taliban took someone in your family you didn't know if they were alive or not. Also you didn't know if you yourself would be safe, or when your next meal would be. So Nusrat and Najmah needed to have hope even though it is a bad time for them and their community.
You're sick maggie
Delete“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars," is a quote by Charles A. Beard. I think that this quote is very meaningful. In the darkest times, there is always some light. Stars represent the light and the dark sky represent the hard times. This definitely relates with Najmah and Nusrat.
ReplyDeleteFor Najmah, the "darkness" is from the loss of her mother, and that she wants her father and brother. "For all of her kindness towards me, I have begun to resent Khalida. ... It's more that she has her family, every one of them, safe around her. And I have no one." (Staples 150). Najmah needs the strength to find her family. " A plan begins to grow within me to return to Kunduz and resume life on our farm. It will be very sad without my mother and Habib. But if I cannot find Baba-jan and Nur in Peshawar, I will wait for them in Kunduz, where I am prepared to fight for what belongs to my family." (Staples 151). Najmah even risked her own life for Baba-jan and Nur. She needs to find them. The "stars" for her was basically the fact that all refugees were in Peshawar and that there were trucks that came to her refugee camp from Peshawar, and returned there. "Perhaps he is really a smuggler, I think. But I cannot wait for another truck. This may be my only chance to find Baba-jan and Nur, so I stay inside, lying on top of the fruit." (Staples 156). Najmah is very determined to find the remainder of her family. Nusrat, on the other hand, has a similar conflict. Her "darkness" is the fact that Faiz hasn't responded to any of her letters, and the fact that he is at a place where the bombing happen frequently. Her "stars" is God. Her belief is that He is watching over them, doing what He thinks is right. Nusrat says her prayers daily, not only praying for herself, but also for the safety of Faiz and everyone else. "'I have tried to be angry with you,' she says, looking at the stars, as if he can hear her through them. 'I'd rather be angry than so terrified of what might happen to you. You would never allow us to worry about you if you could help it.'" (Staples 112). She thinks about him every day. Nusrat says her prayers daily. The mean a lot to her because "they connect her directly to Faiz, who is saying his prayers at the same moment somewhere, perhaps fifty mountains away." (Staples 133). Both, Nusrat and Najmah, find stars in their dark sky.
In under the persimmon tree, the quote "when is gets dark enough, you can see the stars" means that when you are feeling lost the stars can show you the way now matter how dark your life gets
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" means that in your darkest time, that is when you will realize everything will be okay. This quote relates to Najmah because she has nothing really and she still has hope. She keeps going and persevering. "My heart begins to hammer again. Perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban and I will find them in Peshawar." (page 108). Again on page 147 you see that Najmah has hope, "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother." The quote also relates to Nusrat because she worries a lot about her husband Faiz but she still stays positive and thinks that he will come home. "Faiz might even come sooner than she hoped!" (page 144). Najmah and Nusrat both have troubles but know that there is hope.
ReplyDeleteThis quote "when it's dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under The Persimmon Tree because all of the characters are trying to stay positive and the meaning of the quote is when things are bad always look on the bright side and have hope.
ReplyDeleteAt Nusrats school she has a mother Mansoora and her daughter Amina who came in very unhealthy and sad. When they started going to Nusrats school Nusrat treated them well and they eventually were happy. Mansoora said "after the Taliban took my husband, I had no hope," Mansoora replies. "I didn't know what would become or Amina and me until I came to Persimmon Tree School. Now I know what will become of me. I will become a teacher like you""(pages 174-175). This shows that Nusrat gave Mansoora hope. Nusrat gave Mansoora the star in the dark which not only makes Mansoora happy but it makes Nusrat happy as well.
Najmah has been through many tough times which required her to have hope in order to keep going. Najmah has been through times where she had to fight for her life. After Najmah just barely escapes getting caught she says "but I am alive, which I had begun to believe would be impossible. For the first time in weeks I feel as if I have reason to be hopeful"(pg 165). All it took for Najmah is for her to be safe one more time and she has a drive to find her brother and father and that drive is the star in the night. Najmah also looks to the stars for guidance and a reason to keep going. Najmah said "And so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for guidance." (Pg 131). Najmah looks to the stars to keep her calm and so that she can have the urge to keep going.
The quote "when it's dark enough, you can see stars" has a deeper meaning to the characters in the book Under The Persimmon Tree.
"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" (Charles A. Beard). This quote has a meaning. That meaning is that the stars will guide you to your future. This meaning is reflected in various points in the book Under the Persimmon Tree. At one point in the book, Najmah, a girl who lost her father and brother to terrorists, thinks about her plan to escape from the refugee camp to Peshawar in hopes of finding her father: "And so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for guidance" (Staples 131). Najmah prays to the stars for a guidance that will take her to her father and brother, and to a better future. Also in the book, Nusrat worries about her close friend Faiz, the man who ultimately made Nusrat convert to Islam, and hopes he is alright: "But at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same" (Staples 111). Nusrat looked at the stars, hoping Faiz will be guided to a better future. Later on, one of Nusrat's students talks about a story involving the stars: "'My father watched the Dog Star every night... But one summer night the Dog Star was not visible. The Helmand River flooded and wiped out our farm and the entire valley'" (Staples 174). The Dog Star (Sirius) had guided a village to disaster and calamity. To summarize, both Najmah and Nusrat had the stars help them guide them to a better future.
ReplyDeleteThis quote from the novel written by Suzanne Fisher Staples means that there is hope for Najmah when finding when she sees stars. At night you think it's scary and dreadful. However, Najmah clears he mind and focuses in on the good things that would keep her going.
ReplyDeleteNajmah, throughout the book often looks for shelter and even food that will keep her going. At the end chapter 17 in the novel, Najmah and Nusrat meet each other. Nusrat, being her kind self, took her to her home where there would be plenty of food and shelter for the three of them. On page 203 Najmah says, "but I can barely believe my ears. She's giving me a safe, clean place to sleep, food, and an opportunity to go to school(Staples 203)." As you can see in the quote from Najmah, she focused on food and shelter and Nusrat was kind enough to take Najmah to her home. Now Najmah will be happy where she is living until she must set out to find her father and brother. On the same page, Nusrat tells Najmah and Husna, "There is enough food for a wedding feast." You can clearly tell that Najmah will be happy living with Nusrat and Husna due to good living conditions.
Nusrat's name means "help" which means that she helps a lot of people. That is something a person can't teach. If Najmah never met Nusrat, she would not have the living conditions that she has now. Nusrat and Najmah were very lucky that they met each other. Najmah continuously doesn't care about anything else as long as her family is still alive. On page 101 Najmah tells us, "I retreat into my thoughts of my father and brother, wondering where they are, whether they have food, and wether the Taliban have forced them to kill them(Staples 101)." This quote from the story clearly shows me that Najmah is determined and focused on family and surviving. She can't wait for anything until she finds food and shelter.
Najmah's father says, "As long as you know the stars, you will never be lost." Najmah's name means "star". Her father named her that because he loves stars. She looks at the sky and knows that if she just follows the stars she will find her father and brother. Najmah knows when night comes it means hope.
As you can see, both Najmah and Nusrat, have hope and will be happy with each other.
I think that the quote, “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" means that even when you are going through dark bad things there is always something to good to look for in the future. In Under the Persimmon Tree Najmah states"Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them"(147). The quote directly relates to the Najmah because Najmah's house has been blown up which is bad and terrible but she has to look forward to her brother and father coming home to her. Also on page 165 it states "But I am alive, which I had begun to believe would be impossible. For the first time in weeks I feel as if I have reason to be hopeful"(165). Najmah has recently gone through so much in a short period of that that she feels unlucky. Now that Najmah is out of the truck filled with pear safely she feels luck that for the first time she is actually safe and that she mad it through something. Nasrat is also in a dark place right now because she is waiting for a letter back from Faiz and she has heard many stories that there have been explosions where Faiz is staying. The book states "During the day she keeps busy with the class under the persimmon tree. She doesn't have time to think while thoughts about her husband"(111). Nusrat is in a dark place right now and her hope to keep her going is that her husband is still alive. She also keeps sending letter even though she isn't getting any in return. Both Nusrat and Najmah have dark problems but they each also have there own thing to look forward to in the future even if they may not happen.
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ReplyDelete“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” This quote means that when your life is bad there is still hope. A quote that shows this is "All I can see is the dust that billows in round brownish clouds as the trucks lumber away, dodging the holes in the dirt track." (Page 19) This is the darkness in her life because she sees her dad and brother leaving. A quote that shows the hope is "my heart begins to hammer again. Perhaps my father and nur have escaped from the Taliban and I will find them in Peshawar." (Page 108)
" When its dark enough, you can see the stars" . This relates to under the persimmon tree because In Najmahs and Nusrat life they face many great challenges and conflicts throughout their lives, this shows that even in your darkest time there will always be something good. An example of this is when Najmah was thinking about Peshawar Pakistan and how that she will start to find baba-jan and Nur there, she described it like this "But first I must find them and the place to look is Peshawar."
ReplyDelete( Staples 147 ). This shows that even though her family is basically separated and gone since Habib and Mama-jan are dead and Baba-jan and Nur have bin taken by the Taliban she still has faith. But not only Najmah still has faith Nusrat has faith too because one of her students said "Mansoora stands to speak to the class. 'When I was a child in Helmand,' she begins, 'my father watched the Dog Star every night. It marched near the horizon in the spring, and its constancy meant all was well in our world." (Staples 174). This shows that many people feel that stars mean a good think because it said in my piece of evidence it said that the consistency meant that all was well. a Third thing is when Najmah thought about her Brother and Father "I retreat into thoughts of my father and brother, wondering where they are, wether they have food, and whether the Taliban have forced them to kill people" (101). This shows that Najmah is scared and worried about her father Baba-jan and her older brother Nur but she still has hope that they are ok and nothing bad has happened. When its dark enough, you can see the stars" This is basically just like both Najmah and Nusrat hole life between the bad things that had happened they still have hope and still see the stars.
Good job. I liked how you gives Najmahs drive to push forwards and find her remaining family.
Delete"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" (Beard), is a quote that means that no matter how hard it gets, there's always a little hope left. I think that it relates to the book "Under The Persimmon Tree" because through all of the things that Najmah and Nusrat are going through, they kind of feel like everything's gonna get better and that there's still some hope."Although the house no longer stands, i know i must find my father and brother and return there with them" (Staples 147). This quote states shows how Najmah feels like she's gonna find her father and brother and they're all gonna be together soon and everything will be okay. "She doesn't have time to think whole thoughts about her husband...he is infused in every thought she has about school or his family or her own or household matters" (Staples 111). Nusrat tries to get Faiz out of her head because the more she thinks about him, the more she gets upset. She tries to hold her head up high and stay brave because she tries to feel like he's okay and that everything us gonna be fine. This is how I think that the quote "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" (Beard) relates to the book "Under The Permisson Tree".
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DeleteIn the quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" by Charles A. Beard I think they are saying that even at the lowest point in your life and when things get really bad there is always hope. This relates to Najmah and Nusrat in many ways in the book. For example on page 147 it says "My father asked my mother to stay and keep the property safe from uncle and I intend to do that." This shows how she is at a very low point and is having a hard time in life right now and has hope and continues to follow exactly what her father told her to do. Also it says on page 147, "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them." Again in this quote she has hope, she does not think how her brother and father may be dead, she says that she needs to find them and get back to their land. She keeps the land they have and what her father told her to do with it and puts it above all the other things going on. On page 101 it says, "I retreat into thoughts of my father and brother, wondering where they are, whether they have food, and whether the taliban have forced them to kill people." This shows that she does not think about how hungry she is, but looks deeper and cares about her family. While this quote connects to Najmah, it also relates to Nusrat. On page 111, it says " But at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same - perhaps now in a medical camp in Mazar-i-Sharif, to the north and west, about three hundred miles inside Afghanistan." This quote shows that Nusrat thinks of Faiz and she has hope that he is still alive, even though she has heard many rumors about the bombings happening where Faiz is. She thinks about how he may be looking at the stars at the same time she is. As you can see by the quotes the characters can relate to this quote in different ways.
ReplyDelete"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the novel Under the Persimmon tree. This quote means that even if you are going through dark or difficult time, there is still some light and a bright side. To Najmah, this means that she has hope to find her father and brother Nur in Peshawar. On page 147 it says, "but first I must find the, and the place to look is Peshawar, across the border in Pakistan. Najmah is very determined to find her father and brother Nur and she takes on a long difficult journey in a truck full of pears to get to Peshawar. This shows Najmah is loyal to her family even through tough times since she lost her mother and baby brother Habib. Najmah is also worried about the safety of her family in Peshawar. On page 101, it says "I retreat into thoughts of my father and brother, wondering where they are, whether they have food, and whether the Taliban has forced them to kill people." Najmah is very worried about the safety and well being of her family. She can't imagine her brother and father killing people with weapons. She finds this situation very hard to take. On the other hand, Nusrat is also facing some darkness. She is worried about the well being of Faiz because she hasn't heard from him in a while. He is running a clinic in Afghanistan. On page 111, it says "during the days, she keeps busy with the class that meets under the persimmon tree." Nusrat loves working with children, and by doing this, she's trying to keep her mind off Faiz. Since Afghanistan got bombed by the Americans, Nusrat is worried about Faiz and how he is doing. This is how the quote " when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to both Najmah and Nusrat in the novel Under the Persimmon Tree.
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ReplyDeleteThe quote "when its dark enough you can see the stars". This relates to under the persimmon tree by saying their is alsways hope in dark times. Also, this quote is saying try to look on the brightside even when times are dark.
On page 131 Nusrat is happy after e taliban is gone because faiz might becoming home"Faiz could possibly be coming home sooner than i hoped."(131). This relates back to her having hope because she was hoping and praying that faiz would come home and now she is on the brighter side of things.
Najmah is also looking with hope in the book. ""I know i cant travel alone to Peshawar to find. brother and father."(131). This shows najmah is looking for hope because she is attempting to find her father and brother she istrying to look in the brighter side of things
Also, Najmah shows she has more hope by wanting to go back to his familys farm. This is showing how najamh has alot of hope that she will go back to her farm. She is determined to make it back to her familys home. Najmah through all of her chapters has lots of hope because her life is a big dark hole right now.
The phrase "when its dark you can see the stars" means to always look on the brighter side of life and to not dwell on negetivity and to stay positive in difficult circumstances. Even though it can be hard Najmah and Nusrat bith showed it could be acheived.
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ReplyDeleteEven through all of the tough times Najmah is going threw there is still hope that she could find a way to reunite her family. And Nusrat has to keep believing that Faiz is out there somewhere and not dead.""I don't know how I will get there I must""(staples 131).This quote shows that Najmah still has hope that she could get to Peshawar and reunite her family.““I'd rather be angry than so terrified of what may happen to you. But it never works. You are the kindest man I know. You would never allow us worry if you could help it.””(staples 112). This quote connects to my topic sentence because she is terrified about what could happen to Faiz. She still has hope that Faiz is alive. I retreat into thoughts of my Father and brother, wondering where they are, whether they have food, and wether the Taliban has forced them to kill people" (staples101). Najmah is wondering how her family is doing. She is concerned about the rest of her family but she still has hope that they are alive. In conclusion both characters have hope that they will see their family members again.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when its dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to Nusrat because when Nusrat was wondering if Faiz was looking at the same stars she was looking at. It relates to Najmah because when Najmah's mother and baby brother died, she was determined to find her father and brother in Peshawar. I think the quote "when its dark enough you can see the stars" means that when you are going through hard times, you can always find your way. On page 108 it says "my hart begins to hammer again. Perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban and i will find them in Peshawar". This evidence connects to my topic sentence because when Najmah's mother and baby brother died, Najmah wanted to go to Peshawar in Pakistan to find her brother Nur and her father and bring them back to Afghanistan. Najmah had hope she would find her brother Nur and her father in Peshawar. On page 111 It says "but at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same—perhaps now in a medical camp in Mazar-i-Sharif, to the north and west, about three hundred miles inside Afghanistan". This evidence connects to my topic sentence because when Nusrat looked at the stars and thought faiz was looking at the same stars. Nusrat also had hope that Faiz would come back to her soon. The quote relates to Najmah and Nusrat because they had hope that the would find there father and brother(Najmah) or Faiz(Nusrat).
ReplyDeleteYour paragraph is really well written but I think that it would have flowed better if you didn't write "this evidence connects to my topic sentence because..."
Delete“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” – Charles A Beard. My interpretation of the quote is even if you’re in a situation where you’re confused and have lost hope, eventually you’ll find your star, or will eventually come across something good and life changing. This relates to the book because both Najmah and Nusrat went through a number of hardships, to the point where they started to lose hope. However eventually, they were able to overcome that feeling after encountering someone or something, they regained their hope.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the book, Elaine (Nusrat) mentioned her sister’s, Margaret’s, death. After Elaine’s sister’s death, she fell into a period of depression. Elaine stated that it was difficult for her to get close with people, and that her sister was the only one that truly knew her. She began to feel disconnected from her childhood self; making everything seem foreign to her. Although, “until she met Faiz, she felt nobody but Margaret – including her mother – had ever gotten to know her” (P.54). Meeting Faiz completely changed her life by getting her out of depression, and filled in the role of Margaret. Although not only did Faiz become an important companion to her, but he also helped her find herself, and how she lives. Elaine was once in a state of confusion and was disconnected with her past self. Since meeting Faiz and entering upon his apartment, “...she felt a sense of having found something familiar and significant–a connection to a history and a way of life that she wanted to know more about and become more familiar with, as if it were a part of her own past that she’d almost forgotten” (P.122-123). Because of him, she was able to find herself, and eventually immerged herself entirely in Faiz’s culture, soon making her identify herself as Muslim. Meeting Faiz has helped Elaine find herself, as well as a partner–making him her star. During the beginning of her and Faiz’s relationship, she went through a time of confusion and had many questions regarding the creation of the universe, and most importantly: her sister’s death. “After her sister’s death, Elaine began a quest for meaning. She could not accept that the God of her childhood would take her little sister...She held out hope for finding her answers in church” (P.134). Elaine searched everywhere for answers, however never got a definite answer, leading her to lose faith in Christianity. After meeting Faiz and being introduced to Muslim, she was convinced that Islam was the religion best suited for her. Even though, “Elaine did not find the answers to her questions about why Margaret had died and where she had gone. It was enough to find a sense of order in the universe, and to believe that Margaret was somewhere still in it.” (P.139). Converting to Islam gave her a scientific and realistic answer as to how the universe was created. Although she didn’t find an answer as to why her sister had died, she had a feeling of relief because the Koran was able to explain that her sister was still with her–making Islam her ‘star’. On the other side of the spectrum, Najmah is going through the midst of war and is struggling to survive. She has gone days with barely enough food, and was even inches away from bandits. So after successfully smuggling into Peshawar, she was directed to Nusrat. Nusrat was Najmah’s savior and saved Najmah from starvation and provided her a place to stay. Nusrat gave Najmah, “...a safe, clean place to sleep, food, and an opportunity to go to school” (P.203). Nusrat gave was able to give and care for Najmah, and even allowed her to attend her persimmon tree school! Although Najmah currently can’t get herself to trust Nusrat entirely, surely, they’ll eventually grow a bond with each other, and will build a strong relationship while Nusrat cares for Najmah–making Nusrat, Najmah’s star.
The quote, “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars” (Charles A Beard) relates to the book because it shows that even if you’re in a rough situation, you’ll eventually find your ‘star’, which may change your life completely.
I think the quote "When it is dark enough, you will see the stars" means that even though it is dark and gloomy, there still is a way to see a way out of trouble. This is shown by both Nusrat and Najmah as they try ti fight through every day and hope to find their family members.
ReplyDeleteNajmah has survived the bombs and the Taliban but has seen her Mother and Habib die and her brother and father taken away yet still is hopeful to be united with her father and brother is Pakistan. "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them." (147) This shows that even though she has no family right now, she is hopeful that in Pakistan, she will find Nur and Baba-jan and go back to Golestan to live again like normal.
Nusrat is also having some sad days as Faiz has left her to set up medical camps to help the Mujahedin push out the Taliban out of Afghanistan but Nusrat hasn't heard from him in weeks. "With Faiz gone, she feels as if one of her main parts is missing causing her nerves to misfire and her intent to falter." (141) Despite this, she still remains hopeful that one day he will come back to her and they can go back to America.
ReplyDeleteCharles A. Beard once said, "When it I'd dark enough, you can see the stars." I think that this means that when you are at your weakest, you see who is really there for you and how life really is. It is the bittersweet truth about when you are powerless, you see what really matters and who it really there for you. This relates to the book Under The Persimmon Tree because the protagonists both face conflicts similar to this quote. For Najmah and Nusrat, it is about finding hope in the most inferior situations. Najmah is sad and depressed. She is alone and scared after her brother and mother die. Suddenly, Akhtar and Khalida help her get to a refugee camp. Later, when they experience the extremely harsh conditions of the refugee camp, a truck comes. Najmah notices that it is going to Peshawar, a place where Nur and Baba-jan could be. In an effort to find her family, Najmah stowaways on the truck only to have it taken over by bandits. This is in a way the bittersweetness because Najmah is getting what she has been hoping for: to go find her brother and father. However the bandits are driving the truck crazily and all she can do is hope that she gets to Peshawar safely. "Small rocks from the sliding hill of mud on the other side of the road patter onto the canvas over my head. I pray none of the overhanging boulders comes loose to squash us flat. I pray the truck is still headed for Peshawar. If the pears are being stolen to be sold, Peshawar is the most logical destination. I also pray that the bandits won't unload the fruit before I can get away." (Page 158). After that, Najmah sees the Stars even more when she meets Nusrat, her teacher who finds out that she is a girl. Nusrat is so nice and understanding that she even gets Najmah to start talking again. She is so overthrown about how good she is being treated that she is still finding it hard to trust Nusrat. "Her kindness is difficult to accept after learning not to trust anyone these last weeks. I nod slowly at her, but I am afraid to talk to her about Baba-jan and Nur. I may be safe with her for the moment, but I don't know if I'll ever feel comfortable."(Page 199). This shows how Najmah is protected but still isn't that sure what to make of Nusrats kindness. Nusrat is also going through the tough times with not knowing where her husband is. She is constantly having flash backs about them together. "She (Nusrat) makes her way to the queue of tongas at the end of her street and asks Basharat to take her to Asma and Sultan and Fatima, who she knows will restore her confidence."(Page 178). This quote shows how Nusrat sees the Stars when she is in darkness bay going to her friends. Both these characters have seen the stars when it was dark enough.
In the quote, the dark represents the lowest and hardest points in your life and the stars represent the hope, faith and opportunities that are still there. Both Najmah and Nusrat have been through very low and hard points in their lives so far, and have both still managed to find and use their "stars". For Najmah, even though Najmah lost her mother and baby brother (her only family since her father and other brother were taken to fight with the Taliban), she doesn't quit keeping hope. On page 108 it states, "Perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban and I will find them in Peshawar! With the border closed, it will be difficult to get there, but somehow I will manage." Even through the saddest and most horrible events happening to her, she doesn't give up hope. For Nusrat, she is very worried about her husband, Faiz, who is a doctor working to help the injured who also hasn't written to Nusrat in weeks. Instead of only using her stars the way Najmah did which was using them to give you courage, Nusrat also uses her stars for distraction. On page 111 it states, "During the days she keeps busy with the class that meets under the persimmon tree. She doesn't have time to think whole thoughts about her husband." Nusrat is too busy with her class than to worry about her husband and why he hasn't contacted her. Another time that Nusrat was able to "see the stars" was when her sister, Margaret, died. On pages 134 it states, "After her sister's death Elaine began a quest for meaning. She could not accept that the God of her childhood would take her little sister." When Nusrat's little sister died, not only was Nusrat upset over the loss of her sister, but she also started to lose faith in her religion, adding many questions that no one seemed to know the answer to. She decided to convert to Islam, where she was able to answer some questions that she had and is proud of her decision. On page 139 and 140 it states, "Elaine did did not find the answers to her questions about why Margaret had died and where she had gone. It was enough to find a sense of order in the universe, and to believe that Margaret was somehow still in it. Elaine no longer had to know precisely where her sister was....Her conversion had been simple, but it changed her life." When Nusrat's life seemed to be at a very low point, with her sister gone and no longer believing in her religion, Nusrat kept hope and took opportunities that she could find to feeling more secure. To conclude, I think that the dark represents the lowest and hardest points in your life and the stars represent the hope, faith and opportunities that can come of it.
ReplyDeleteEven when things seem bad or hopeless you can always find hope. Nusrat finds hope by, teaching her children or refugees, and thinking about Faiz. Najmah finds hope by trying to find her brother, and father. "My throat aches with wanting to tell him what has happened to my mothers and habib and how desperate I am to find my father and Nur. But I cannot make a sound." Page 182. This connects to my topic sentence and the quote because she wants to find her family and to have hope for them. "Nusrat's heart lurches wildly inside her chest. If kunduz is free from the Taliban, perhaps soon Mazar-I-Sharif will be, too. Faiz might even come home sooner than she had hoped!" Page 144. This relates to my topic sentence and the quote because, she had thought that things where terrible but now Faiz might come home sooner! And that is a very hopeful thought. "But I know I cannot travel alone to Peshwar to look for my father and brother." Page 131. This relates to the quote and my topic sentence because it shows Najmah trying to form a plan to find her missing family, that even in this awful situation she has hope she will find them. These different textual evidence's prove that the quote means that even when things are bad you can always find hope, for Nusrat it's Faiz, and for Najmah it's her father and brother.
DeleteIn the book under the persimmon tree this quote relates a lot " when it's dark enough, you will see the stars" means even when it's dark and it's not going your way just know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and there's a way out. Nusrat and Najmah both miss people in their life so they are both very sad, Nusrat is missing Faiz, and Najmah is missing her father and brother. And they both hope at one point they will find them and be happy again. Page 111 it Nusrat states " but at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same..." This shows that she thinks of the stars as a massager and this shows that she misses him very much. On page 63 it Najmah says " that night I lie on my back wrapped in my quilt, my arms behind my head, staring at the sky and thinking about where under these very same stars, this very same sky, Baba jan and my brother might be..." This shows that Najmah misses her family and wants to be back with her family on the farm. Since she has no mother she wants to be back with her father. On page 131 Najmah says " and so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for guidance.
ReplyDeleteI really like your quotes and agree with many of your claims that show how the quote relates to the book.
DeleteAccording to Charles A. Beard, “When it’s dark enough, you see the stars," this literally means you can only truly appreciate the stars in the sky when the sky is dark. Likewise, when your life is full of adversities, that’s when you start to appreciate the little things that you overlooked before. These little things create hope in the novel Under the Persimmon Tree, helping to break down the wall of despair in the lives of the main character.
ReplyDeleteIn this section of the novel, Najmah realizes the importance of her family. Originally, she took her family for granted. She would often have childish quarrels with her brother: “I am…angry with him for scaring me about the leopards and for saying I can’t carry water as far as he can (page 37)”. After the calamity of the Taliban’s arrival in Najmah’s village and the death of Habib and Mama-Jan, Najmah is in the darkness which helps her realize that a family is one of the greatest blessing from God (in her case Allah). For example, when she and Kalida’s family arrived at Torkkum, Najmah slowly started to resent Khalida. “It isn’t only that she tries to make me stay…It’s more that she has her family…and I have no one (Staples 150)”. Consequently, Najmah is jealous since Kalida has someone to lean on for support, while she must encounter tribulations without the help of her family. Once she realizes the importance of her family, hope of seeing Nur and Baba-Jan again keeps her going: “Reuniting with them is my one and only reason for existence, and if I must do it as Shaheed, then I will be a Shaheed for as long as necessary (Staples 150).” Clearly, Najmah is determined to meet with her father and brother, even if this means she must disguise herself as a boy. Quitting is no longer an option for her.
Nusrat similarly learns how to treasure what she has by encountering darkness. At first, she thought her life was appalling. She started to struggle to stay positive and starts to believe that Faiz may not come home: “My dearest husband…Greeting you this way makes you real again to me…I begin to doubt you ever existed (Staples 142).” This causes Nusrat to decide to distract herself by turning her attention towards her permission tree school, and as she learns more about her students' stories, she starts to realize what other have faced and what they face daily. Slowly, she regains positivity from being around her students. When Haroon comes and tells her that Kunduz has been liberated, more hope fills her. "Nusrat's heart lunched widely...Faiz might even come sooner than she hoped! (Staples 144)."
Through their sufferings, Najmah and Nusrat learned how to cope with the darkness that surrounds them. Because they now see the stars they once disregarded, hope has been restored to them, and their outlook towards life has changed immensely.
I like all of your quotes, they really explain what you are trying to say I really like it
DeleteThe quote, "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree because Najmah looks up at the stars to think of a plan and Nusrat, it gives re answers. "But at night she looks at the stars and images Faiz doing the same-perhaps now in a medical camp in Marzar-i-Sharif, to the north and the west about three hundred miles inside Afghanistan" (pg. 112). This quote connects with topic sentence because the topic sentence says that the stars gives Nusrat answers to her questions. The quote says that she is looking up at the stars, she is trying to be mad at Faiz but she can't, she thinks about other things that is happening in her life, and the stars gives her answers to all her question. "I am barley able to keep from jumping up and running off into the night. But I know I cannot travel alone to Peshawar to look for my father and brother. The border is closed, and I don't even know which way to go. I am unwilling to set off again with no food . And so I like awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for guidance" (pg. 131). This quote connects with the topic sentence because the topic sentence says that the stars helps Najmah to think of a plan on what to do when she gets to Peshawar, she prays to God to help her guide her to the place she needs to go. The quote "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." is related to the book Under the Persimmon Tree because Najmah thinks and prays when she looks up at the stars and Nusrat thinks what is happening in her life and she prays and hopes that Faiz is praying at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree because in my opinion, the quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" means that the bad things that people go through help them to notice and protect all of the good things in their life, and in both Najmah and Nusrat's lives horrible things have happened, but, because of those things, Najmah and Nusrat both see the good they have in their life, and know that they have to preserve it. An example of this is when Najmah climbs into the back of a pear truck just so she can get to her brother and father to be with them. In chapter 13 it says, "I must pretend to be Shaheed if I am to look for my father and brother in Peshawar. I do not care how I appear to others. Reuniting with them is my one and only reason for existence," (Staples 150). This quote supports my main point because it shows that because of all the bad things that have happened to Najmah, she now knows that the good in her life is what she has left of her family: her father and brother, and she will do anyhing she can to keep the three of them together. Another example of this is when Nusrat writes to her husband, Faiz, and expresses in words how she prays to Allah every day for his safe return so that they can be together. In chapter 12 it says, "as I said my prayers I asked Allah—as I do every morning—to return you safely to me," (Staples 142). This quote supports my main point because it shows that, due to the bad things that have happened to Nusrat (Faiz having to go to Northern Afghanistan), she now knows that she needs the good in her life (Faiz) to be with her. A third example is when two of Nusrat's students are forced to leave her class, and it makes Nusrat appreciate her other students, and being with them. In chapter 15 it says, "So much potential wasted. For days this is all she can think about. But the other students who stay claim her attention," (Staples 173). This quote supports my main point because it shows that the bad things that have happened to Nusrat, such as Farid and Farooq being taken from her class, have made her realize that she has some good things in her life, such as being able to teach and spend time with her other students. In conclusion, the quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree because both Najmah and Nusrat had bad things happen to them, making them realize that they need to take care of the good that they have in life, and keep it with them.
ReplyDeleteYou used really good textual evidence to show what the quote means
DeleteI like the meaning that you said the quote meant. I also liked the way your quotes fit in perfectly. Good Job!!
DeleteI think that the quote "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" (Charles A. Beard) means that there is always hope no matter how hopeless something seems. This quote relates to both Najmah and Nusratin the book in various ways. A quote to help show that Najmah has hope even though it seems hopeless is "I must find my father and brother and return with them." (Staples 147) This quote shows that Najmah still has hope that they are alive even though they might be dead. Another example is "My father asked my mother to stay and keep the property safe from uncle and the Taliban, and I intended to do exactly what he asked her to do." (Staples 147) This quote shows that Najmah has hope to help her mother stay and keep the place away from the Taliban. "She doesn't have time to think whole thoughts about her husband...he is infused in every thought she has about school or his family or her own or household matters" (Staples 111). This quote repersents how Nusrat has hope for Fiaz even though he might be dead, she stays strong even though the thoughts of Fiaz is troubbling her.
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ReplyDeleteIn the quote “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” Charles A. Beard. This means even with the bad comes good. The dark sky resembles sadness and hardships and the stars are the positivity and good things to come. In chapter 11 It says "She doesn't have time to think whole thoughts about her husband. It is more as if he is infused with every thought she has about school or his family or,her own household matters." This explains that even she is dealing with the pain of not being with her husband, she is occupied with other big events in her life so she isn't as upset than if she had nothing to do. Like I said before Nusrat has been sad dealing with her husband who hasn't written to her from Afghanistan, she is worried about him because The Taliban were in the area he was working. On page 145 it says "Haven't you heard?" Mansoora asks when they're seated. "The Taliban are gone!" This shows that Nusrat doesn't have to worry as much about her husband Faiz as much as she did before because The Taliban left. Also Najmah who is at the refugee camp is trying to find a way to Peshawar to find her father and brother. Najmah's little brother and mother died so she hasn't spoken in weeks but in the book it says. "As I gain strength and my resolve grows to leave for Peshawar, I begin to think I might get be able to talk again If I want to." This shows how even though Najmah has been through a lot she continues to be brave and find her family.
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ReplyDeleteI think the quote represents how even when its dark out, there is still light. Much like when there is bad there is always a little bit of good. When it is bad or "dark" it is much easier to notice the good or the "light". Sometimes for the good to happen it must be bad. In this case it represents how even though Najmah has had a tough past she must keep pushing forward and eventually good will happen. Nusrat may the good that comes from this bad situation. Because of this long hard struggle with Najmah, Nusrat is there to help and make a difference in her life when she finally reaches her destination. Also from Nusrat point of view based of everything she went through like the 9/11 attack there was bad, but then she goes and makes a difference teaching refugees, thats the good in the bad situation. "I am not inclined to call any place home except for the farm..." Pg 147. It says this because Najmah still has hope about all this. She is going to go home, the hope represents the stars. On page 171-172 it says "she assumes this is the uncle from Kunduz who claimed that her teaching about relationship of time and distance in space was 'un-Islamic' " this is showing that even though some may not agree and shes been through tough stuff (the dark) she is making a difference (starts).
ReplyDelete"When it is dark enough you can see the stars." Charles A. Beard I think this quote means that when there is all this bad and negativeness in your life, you need to find the light in your world, or something that motivates you to keep working and keep going until you complete your task or goal that your trying to accomplish. This quote relates to Najmah and Nusrat because right now they're both having a difficult time in there lives right now, but they keep on persevering and trying to find ways to convince them to keep on working and trying until they succeed there goals. This quote relates to Najmah because she has lost her mother and new baby brother when the U.S. dropped bombs that were intended to kill the Taliban. These bombs didn't only kill Najmah's mother and brother, but they also destroyed her home and many of her belongings inside of the house. Also Najmah's father and her brother, Nur, were taken by the Taliban too fight against America. The Taliban took most of there food and also took some animals that helped Najmah's family survive. As you can see Najmah has a lot of problems. So now her goal is to try and run away from Akhtar and his family that helped Najmah live and get to the refugee camp. Then she is going to escape the refugee camp and try to find her father and brother in Peshawar where many soldiers are if they're alive. One way she tries to motivate herself to try and find her brother and father is when she thinks about how they could be alive and if she went to Peshawar she could find them and see them in person. "My heart begins to hammer again. Perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban and I will find them in Peshawar." (Staples 108) This shows that she cares about her father and brother and hopes that they are alive, so that she can have a family again. A final way Najmah tries to convince herself to try and find her brother and father is when she thinks about how they might be struggling right now to survive, and how if she finds them she can lead them to safety, areas where there is food and maybe even shelter. "I retreat into thoughts of my father and brother, wondering where they are, whether they have food, and whether the Taliban have forced them to kill people." (Staples 101) This shows that Najmah cares about the health of her father and brother and is willing to help and save them from the Taliban before it's too late. This quote relates to Nusrat as well because her husband, Faiz, who literally saved her life and whom she loves with all of her heart has been out of town for months fighting, trying to save his people. There has been no sign of him at all and this really worries Nusrat because they moved here for a reason, and that reason was so that Faiz could help his people, not so that Nusrat could just watch him die. One way Nusrat stays positive throughout this situation is believing in God and her husband Faiz, and that Faiz and God would not let her suffer through the pain of losing him after they just married a year ago. "I have tried to be angry with you, she says, looking at the stars, as if he can hear her throughout them. I'd rather be angry then so terrified of what might happen to you. But it never works. You are the kindest man I know. You would never allow us to worry about you if you could help it." (Staples 112) This shows that Nusrat believes that she's talking to Faiz at that she's thinks he is alive. A final way Nusrat stays positive is to focus on what she is doing and not to over think about he husband. "During the days she keeps busy with the class that meets under the persimmon tree. She doesn't have time to think whole lots about her husband." (Staples 111) This shows that she's getting all of that darkness away from her by just not thinking about the darkness. This shows how the quote up top relates to Najmah and Nusrat in many different ways.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a very good job Ryan
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ReplyDelete"When it's dark enough you can see the stars." - Charles A Beard.
This quote shows that in hard times you can finally see and appreciate all the good beautiful things in life. It shows that even though it can get dark you should focus on the brighter positive things. This quote applies to Najmah and Nusrat because they are helping each other out and they are "learning to see the sky differently"(Staples, 227). Both Nusrat and Najmah have gone through hard times and this leads both of them to truly appreciate the simple things in life.
Najmah has gone through a lot of hard times and her whole world has been turned upside down. She used to help out on her peaceful farm with her happy family in the mountains. Now she has encountered and persevered through her father and brother being taken away by the Taliban, her mother and baby brother dying because of the U.S.A's bombs, climbing through mountains while starving for weeks, and running away to cross the border into Peshawar alone.
Now things like having shelter, clothes, food, and water are things Najmah sees as a blessing as she has experienced not having any of these things. She also now knows after persevering through the mountains how "short the distance is between life and death," (Staples,158). For example page 129 shows how Najmah ends up appreciating receiving the biscuits. Even though they don't taste good she looks at the brighter side and how she finally has food to eat and how the biscuits help her to gain her strength. She also appreciates receiving clothes at the refugee camp, " Mounds of strange shoes...shirts and trousers and best of all warm sweaters...it's warm and clean and too large...my feet have healed and the sandals offer some protection from the cold," (Staples, 148). Even though the shoes and clothes are too big she focused on how the shoes have helped her feet heal and that the clothes are not all dirty and torn.
Nusrat has also gone through many hard times such as losing Margret, leaving everything to move from New York to Afghanistan, and that Faiz has left to open a clinic in an area of heavy bombing and now she hasn't heard from Faiz in weeks. Nusrat was inspired to become a teacher at the persimmon tree school because she went through so many hard times and because of her willing to help others.
She now understands that not many people have access to shelter, food, water, and clothes. She became a teacher at the persimmon tree school to help refugee children, to give them the necessities needed to survive, and an education to help them succeed later in their life. For example when Najmah arrives at the permission tree school in Peshawar she is blown away by Nusrat's kindness, giving nature, and will to help others without asking for anything in return. "She is giving me a safe, clean place to sleep, food, and an opportunity to go to school," (Staples,203). Nusrat gives all of these simple things to Najmah to help her out. When Najmah sees the bath and the plate of food she is so thankful because now even these simple things are things she appreciates, "The tubful of warm water look complicated and unimaginably extravagant to her."
These quotes show how Najmah and Nusrat truly appreciate the simple things in life even when they are persevering through hard times.
The quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree by the quote means that once you understand or learn what happens, you can clear yourself a path and get through it. Both Najmah and Nusrat can relate to this quote by they are fighting for what happened to their family members.
ReplyDeleteFor Najmah, she just survived the bombings and experienced the kidnappings of her father and brother. But she hasn't given up yet and wants to be united with her father and brother. "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them."(Page 108) This quote shows that after the events in the past like the bombings and kidnapping, she can motivate and guide herself to save them. There is another quote that shows this. "Perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban I will find them in Peshawar."(Page 108) Najmah thinks deeper of what may have happened after they have been kidnapped, she thinks there is a chance and gains her confidence that they could be ok. These two quotes show that Najmah can be related to the quote.
For Nusrat on the other hand, she goes through the same type of situation. Faiz has been missing and Nusrat has been worried about what has happened to her husband. "But at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same--perhaps now in a medical camp in Mazar-I-Sharof, to the north and west, about 300 miles inside Afghanistan"(Page 111) She is thinking that everything will be alright and everything will return back to normal later on. She gets the rough thoughts out of her mind and think what Faiz has been doing at the camp, helping people. Nusrat is learning what has been happening and has been calming herself down.
Both Najmah and Nusrat can relate to the quote. They have been through a lot of hard situations but they are getting through. They cleared a path and chose what they are going to do.
I like your orginaztion and support for each quote.
DeleteThe quote "When it's dark enough you can see the stars"relates to Najmah in Under the Persimmon Tree by reminding her that in dark times it's the good things that matter. "it suits me very well, but I can barely believe my ears. She's giving me a safe, clean place to sleep, food, and an opportunity to go to school, surely she will ask for something in return!"(Staples 203) Although Najmah is struggling through a war, bombings and losing her family but she feels safe and welcomed when Nusrat takes her in. "My heart begins to hammer again. Perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban and I will find them in Peshawar."(Staples 108) When Najmah thinks this she's hopeful that she'll find baba-jan and Nur.
ReplyDeleteNusrat uses Faiz as her inspiration to keep going. "But at night she looks at the stars and images Faiz doing the same-perhaps now in a medical camp in Mazar-i-Sharof, to the north and west, about three hundred miles inside Afghanistan" (Staples 111) Nusrat uses the fact that she hasn't heard from Faiz as a way to get her through all that is happening and the chaos around her she uses Faiz as her way to stay positive.
ReplyDeleteIn the book "under the persimmon tree" by Suzanne Fisher Staples, there are several references to the stars in the sky, the author is using stars to symbolize many different things in the main characters Najmah and Nusrat's lives. This quote from hurled A. Beard very well suits this section of the book, “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars". This quote means when you are struggling the most, you see the true importance and beauty On page 203 there is a quote to show this, "it suits me very well, but I can barely believe my ears. She's giving me a safe, clean place to sleep, food, and an opportunity to go to school, surely she will ask for something in return!"(Staples 203). This quote shows how Nusrat has takin Najmah in and aided her, Najmah expects that's he will forever be in debt because she had to work for everything in her recent past, This was all given to her with nothing expected in return. Another connection between the quote and book are in page 148, "Trucks arrive filled with clothing-some of it from foreign countries, mounds of strange shoes with pointed toes and very tall heels, and Western-style shirts and trousers and, best of all, warm sweaters... I am given a brand-new Punjabi dereshi made out of a lightweight woolen fabric. It's warm and clean and too large. I roll the trouser legs to keep them from trailing in the dirt..." (Staples 148). This quote shows that even though the clothes may not fit and are not what she is used to wearing, she doesn't complain because she knows that without the supplies from the tricks, she will die. One more quote to explain the connection is on page 111, "During the days she keeps busy with the class that meets under the persimmon tree." (Staples 111). This shows how Najmah is using spare time in her day to try and educate herself to create her own brighter future and not wait for the world to just change on its own, this shows how she sees an opportunity or a star in the darkest times in her life. In conclusion, the quote “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" and the book under the persimmon tree, aren't that different.
In the quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" (Charles A. Beard). This quote means when it is bad enough you can see the good no matter what in the situation. In the book the quote is sometimes used like in man vs. man situations in the book. For example, "At that moment the voices are louder, and I peer back over my shoulder to see that one of the bandits has opened the canvas at the back of the truck to show the others the cargo" (162). This quote shows an example of the quote for Charles A. Beard to see good things when Najmah was in a life threatening situation. " YES! Call 911! Elaine shouted and ran down the stairs as the thief grappled with the locked front door"(116). This quote shows how Nusrat (Elaine in the past) was in a bad situation but the good thing from it turned to be someone helped her which was Faiz. Both characters both face very "darkness" but the stars are there when it is dark enough.
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ReplyDeleteThis quote: "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" means to me that after a dark time, there is always hope and light. For example, Nusrat feels hopeless without her husband Faiz, this is a very dark time for her. However Nusrat doesn't stop believing and eventually something good happens. This quote: "I have made special cakes to break your fast. Kunduz is liberated! It's a special day." (145) shows how the Taliban have been defeated in the north and Faiz may now return quickly. There is finally hope for Nusrat again. This quote "But at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same.." (111) shows that Nusrat believes Faiz Is believing and not giving up, hoping for the light eventually to come, looking at the same stars as Faiz. Najmah also can not give up on finding her father and brother. She has to keep looking for them, and looking for reasons to not give up. On page 147, Najmah says: "I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them". Najmah isn't giving up on finding her father and brother because she needs them to live. Hopefully Najmah and Nusrat will continue praying for hope and the light will eventually come.
In both Najmah and Nusrat's life, they are faced with scenarios that make their existence and effort to survive seem futile, but as their lives spiral into darkness, a sliver of hope drives them to go forwards out of despair. Although Nusrat had her valuables had been stolen, she had an opportunity to form a friendship, "'Are you crazy?' Yelled the middle eastern man, holding on to her arm. 'Let him go! What are you going to do if you catch him?' Elaine blinked. It was true. The thieves could have a knife or a gun. 'What did he take?' Asked the middle eastern man. Suddenly Elaine was completely out of breath, and she slumped back against the wall, feeling faint" (Staples 117). Nusrat's apartment was just robbed, and the thief had escaped with her valuables, but she was able to connect with her new neighbor who had possibly just saved her life. While on her journey, Najmah must make difficult decisions on the fly that are vital for her survival, "The bandits have left the flap of the canvas untied. I wait several minutes and then move toward the opening at the rear of the truck. When I am almost there, the men approach again and I don't dare look out for the fear they will see me. 'Before we unload the fruit, we will eat,' one of them said, and the other voices agree" (Staples 163). After the truck Najmah had been hiding in was hijacked by bandits, they drove to her sought after destination, Peshawar. While contemplating her demise, the hijackers outside of the truck left to eat, leaving Najmah with a perfect opportunity to escape. While Najmah struggles to continue on her search, she comes across an opportunity that will provide food and shelter, "'No matter,' says the malek. 'Many of the students in this school have never been to classes before. The teacher is an American, she feeds the students every day. Perhaps you could do work for her and she would let you sleep there'" (Staples 184). As Najmah barely scrapes by in a foreign city with no friends or family and no money, she stumbles upon a refugee camp. Najmah speaks to the malek, who directs her to a place with possible food and shelter which will keep her safe from the cruel world. Life threatening decisions and conflict have sent Najmah and Nusrat's life into dismay, but amongst the turmoil around them, a fortunate event comes across into their lives in a time of great danger and grief.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars." Shows me that when things are going for the worst in Najmah and Nusrat's life, they try and look at their stars, or they look at what is good in life or what is important, rather than thinking about the bad things. The quote from chapter 10, page 111 "she doesn't have time to think whole thoughts about her husband. It's more as if he is infused in every thought she has about school or his family or her own or household matters." Shows us that Nusrat is begginning to stop thinking about the thing that worries her and start thinking about the more important things. There is a quote said by Lao tzu “If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” Which I think is pretty neat. Also for Najmah there is a quote from page 150 chapter 13 "I am no longer the girl Najmah of Golestan, that child who was afraid of leopards. I am afraid of nothing after what I've seen." The quote means that Najmah is no longer the girl who was scared and worried of something unessesary such as a leopard. She is not afraid of anything which shows she can start to do things without worrying. She is more mature.in this case, her star is her fear of nothing. Also in page 160 chapter 14 the quote "if this is a sign from Allah, perhaps it also is a sign that He is looking after me." Means that her star is Allah looking after her. Also, even though she is in the back of a truck, unarmed, filled with dangerous men with guns she is hopeful that Allah is looking after her. The book has many examples of how Najmah and nusrat have their own stars while things are going bad in life.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars", from Charles A. Beard connects to the book Under The Persimmon Tree in many ways. This quote means that even during bad times, you should still be hopeful for a good outcome, and both Najmah and Nusrat's stories portray this answer. Both characters have been fighting in life or death situations to save themselves, and their families, while still being hopeful and determined to be reunited with their loved ones who have been kidnapped by the Taliban, whom they have not seen in so long. In Nusrat's story, the following quote is said when Nusrat is missing Faiz, and is worrying about him, so she tries to keep herself busy to make the time pass a little bit faster. "During the days she kept busy with the class that meets under the persimmon tree" (Staples 111). This quote shows that to keep busy, Nusrat stays with her class, under the persimmon tree (which symbolizes knowledge and life), so she is able to keep her mind off of Faiz for a little while. She keeps living on with her life, and she is almost positive that she will be able to see Faiz again because even though many people are saying he is gone, and not receiving any of her letters that she writes to him very often, she does not listen to anyone until it is official, so she keeps writing letters to him daily. This shows that Nusrat is hopeful to see Faiz again, and determined to believe that he is still alive, he is still well, and he is receiving the notes that she has been writing him for the longest time now. The following quote is about Najmah's side of the story, when Najmah is a refugee, fighting for her life, trying to make it back to safety at the Torkhum. "With the border closed, it will be difficult to get there, but somehow I will manage" (Staples 108). This quote shows how even though Najmah has "hit a low" in her life, and has been now left all alone to survive for herself, she is managing to keep hope and try to still find her father and brother after all the rough things that have happened in her life so far. Now that the borders have been closed, she is still very hopeful that she will be able to reach safety, even though the paths to safety are very dangerous. Even though the plan has changed and the paths are dangerous, no matter how difficult the journey, Najmah believes that she will make it, and be able to see her family again, and have life to be back to normal as it once had been before. Another quote showing how strong that Najmah is is "although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them" (Staples 147). This shows that Najmah is still greatful that she has her father and brother left, and is very hopeful that she will find them, and is very determined to do so. This also shows that being able to see her brother and father again after everything that has happened, is really motivating her to keep moving towards, and to stay as strong as possible until she has achieved her goal, and make it home safety lei her missed loved ones. These are only a few of the quotes in the book that portray how both Najmah and Nusrat are motivated to stay strong even through their worst times, and be hopeful for a good outcome in the end. This is how the quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" by Charles A. Beard, connect to the book Under The Persimmon Tree.
ReplyDeleteThe quote “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars,” by Charles A. Beard has a deeper meaning that connects to the book "Under the Persimmon Tree," by Suzanne Fisher Staples. It means that in difficult times, there will always be someone or something to guide your way. When it says "dark" in the quote, it refers not only to the sky being literally dark at night, but also to hard times being "dark". The stars represent a light of hope guiding your way through the blackness of night. However, it can be interpreted differently too. Rather than the stars acting as "guides," they can represent the beauty of life, a thing you can only appreciate and be grateful for when in dark times (stars can only be seen at night, when the sky is at its blackest).
ReplyDeleteBoth interpretations of the quote are clearly demonstrated in the novel "Under the Persimmon Tree". In the novel, the main characters are constantly searching the stars for guidance, whether it's to make sense of their own troubles or to connect to their loved ones and the chaotic world around them. It explicitly mentions how main character Najmah (whose own name means "star") looks for counsel in the stars on page 131 when it says: "And so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for guidance." Nusrat observes the stars too. She uses the stars to communicate with her husband Faiz. On page 112 it states: "...looking at the stars, as if he can hear her through them." Nusrat is becoming more worried about Faiz as more time passes without news from him. As she is slowly losing faith, she looks towards the stars to relieve her worry and to somehow find Faiz amongst them. Similarly, Najmah gazes at the stars when she thinks about her father and brother. "I wonder if my father and brother are still alive under these same stars..." (Staples 107). She has a special bond with the stars because of her father, who told her this: "'As long as you know the stars, you will never be lost,' he said" (Staples 10). This is more evidence of the stars being used as a sort of guide.
The alternative meaning of the quote (in bad times you cherish the little things of everyday life more) is found in the book when Najmah thinks: "She's giving me a safe, clean place to sleep, food, and an opportunity to go to school. Surely she will ask for something in return!" (Staples 203). These simple privileges — the right to live in peace and comfort— were torn away from Najmah after the Taliban came and now they seem so much more precious. As for Nusrat, the darkness of being apart from Faiz has made her value people more. On page 173 it states: "They will return to their home, where they're shepherds, Nusrat thinks, a difficult life...It pains her to think of the boys having too little to eat, no medical care, no education." Nusrat is surrounded by refugees who don't have families, food, shelter, or an education. This fact has made her more appreciative that she does possess these things and is what inspired her to share these luxuries with them by starting a school.
In conclusion, there are two concepts behind the quote by Charles A. Beard — that stars can act as guides in troublesome times, and that only when you are at your lowest point, can you see how wonderful even the simplest things can be. These are shown in the book "Under the Persimmon Tree" by Suzanne Fisher Staples.
Your quotes are extremely supportive. Even for Nusrat's, which was a bit more difficult to select the best quotes from!
Delete"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." -Charles A. Beard
ReplyDeleteThis inspirational quote is very meaningful and seems to relate to the book perfectly. Nusrat's darkness stems from the absence of her husband, Faiz. But even in that darkness, the bright light of hope shines through. "'I have tried to be angry with you,' as though he can hear her through them." (112) The way she sits under the stars every night symbolizes the hope she has that he will come back. Najmah's darkness is the death of her mother and newborn brother, along with the endless worry about her father and brother. "Najmah's face crumples like the paper that sits so delicate and insubstantial an the table beside them." (195) The stars are again hope of finding her father and brother. She is always looking for news of them, wherever she goes. "I long to go with him because I think perhaps I'll see Baba-jan and my brother, or hear something about them." (89) Najmah and Nusrat both have great darkness in their lives, but the darkness shows them the stars.
I like the way you made everything flow. Your quotes go perfectly with the explanations, too!
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ReplyDeleteCharles A. Beard said this quotation, "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." I think this quote means that when times get rough, you have to persevere through the difficult moments in life. This is similar to how stars always find a way to shine brightly throughout the night sky. This quote shows that you should never give up, and that you have to give it the best shot you can to accomplish and pursue your dreams. This quote greatly relates to the lives of Najmah and Nusrat in the novel, "Under The Persimmon Tree".
In the book, Najmah's father and older brother are taken away from their home to fight with the Taliban. Later in the story, Najmah's mother and baby brother die. Najmah's neighbor's brother was willing to take Najmah with his family on a trip to Torkhum, a town on the Pakistani border, to escape from the danger near their homes. From the beginning of the trip, Najmah had a plan forming inside her head, to try and find her father and older brother in Peshawar. Najmah could only hope that her father and brother would have escaped from the Taliban and fled to Peshawar. "I know I must find my father and brother... Peshawar has been the city of Afghan people running from war for as long as I can remember. I don't know how I will get there, but get there I must" (Staples 147). Further into the plot of the story, Najmah risked her own life by hiding on a dangerous fruit truck, because it would take her to Peshawar. "It seems far more likely that I will be killed than arrive safely in Peshawar" (Staples 159).These quotes and the different series of events in the novel, show the motivation and determination Najmah has toward making it to her destination. Najmah was not satisfied enough to only make it to Torkhum. She was anxious to make it to Peshawar, and would not give up on trying until she reached her goal. Najmah knew that there was only a slight chance that she would ever meet her father and brother again, but she would do whatever she could, even if it wasn't safe, to achieve what she wanted to do.
Nusrat's life has also related to the quote in my first paragraph. During the book, Faiz, Nusrat's husband, has gone to Afghanistan to work at his clinic. Nusrat has sent Faiz several letters, but she has not heard a reply from him. Although Nusrat is worried about Faiz, because he is not responding back to her, she does not give up on trying to send letters to him. She still hopes that every time she sends a letter, a reply will come back from him. "A week earlier Nusrat sent a note with a group of mujahideen who were traveling to Baglan, to the south of Kunduz. She had even sent a note with a grape seller to Faizabad, far to the east of Mazar-i-Sharif, in the hope it would find its way to her husband" (Staples 141). This quote shows that Nusrat is relentless and that she is unforgiving to the fact that her husband is not doing well.
In conclusion, Najmah and Nusrat have difficult conflicts throughout the novel. However, they do their best to fight and persist through the harsh moments in life. They do not let the dark moments in life attack them, and they do their best to proceed and to keep on going in life.
The quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" means that maybe if you wait long enough, then you can find what you want. Such as, if you dig deeper in the meaning, you will find out what it truly says. It also means don't give up, you will find out, and don't give up. "...If I cannot find baba-jan and nur in Peshawar, I will wait for them in kunduz, where I am prepared to fight for what belongs to my family." And "I know I will leave them soon" page 151. She knows that she has to find her family, and she is determined to leave and set out somewhere safe to find them. She doesn't want to live the rest of her life in the refugee camp. "But there is no letter from faiz. He's to busy running a clinic in mazar-I-shariff, she tells herself." Page 44. This quote shows that she is always waiting for faiz's letters. She doesn't lose hope that faiz is still out there. She keeps telling herself that faiz is ok. And she waits. "She reminds herself that many of the refugees have been at shahnawaz since the soviet invasion in 1979, without jobs or money and with only what government or the aid workers give them to eat. They no longer dream of returning home. Their children have been born here—a place without future, a dull limbo where time doesn't matter. These people have nothing to return to in Afghanistan." Pages 175-176. This quote means that she now sort of realizes how these people in the camps feel. These people have been here for a long time. And they have many limits. Nusrat realizes this, and she feels lots of pity for her refugee students. So that is what the quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" means.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree by symbolizing the characters' suffering. It shows how hope can shine through hardship like stars in the darkness. This is depicted on pages 142, 143, and 144 as Nusrat is brought out of her sadness about Faiz's situation when she learns that a village near where he is has been freed from the Taliban. "[Nusrat] knows many of her notes have not reached [Faiz] for a variety of reasons. Her couriers couldn't find [him] in one place and so handed the note to someone traveling to another city where he might be... Not long afterward that same morning [that she wrote to him] there is word from the North of Afghanistan... Kunduz is free from the Taliban." Nusrat is anxious and worried that Faiz hasn't returned any of her letters and has been hurt or killed. However, when she hears news of the Taliban leaving Kunduz, hope arises from the darkness of her fears; because Kunduz is near Faiz's medical clinic, he might be freed from the Taliban, too! This means he might be safe. Another example of the characters finding hope in the midst of hardship is when Najmah escapes from the refugee camp and enters dangerous territory in the pear truck she hopped on to on page 160. The driver is killed by bandits and the truck is stolen. "I think of the murder of the driver, and I cannot make myself decide what to do. As I lie on the pears, I think that this rain is a sign that Allah is returning the earth to us. With the Taliban defeated in the north, we have a chance to rebuild our house and live in peace again." Although Najmah is surrounded by suffering like her narrow escape from the refugee camp and the fine line she balances on between life and death in the pear truck, she finds hope in the thought that Allah is protecting her and she might have a peaceful future living on her family's farm with her father and brother. Najmah finds another strong source of hope on page 165. She is in the bazaar in Peshawar after making a quick getaway from the hijacked truck. As she rests in an alleyway, she thinks, "Everything is uncertain and danger seems to be everywhere. But I am alive, which I had begun to believe would be impossible. For the first time in weeks I feel as if I have reason to be hopeful." Najmah barely made it alive from the refugee camp to Peshawar to look for her father and brother. She is grateful to be alive and is suddenly finding hope in her situation. The quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" evidently relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree by symbolizing the characters' suffering and showing that hope can shine through hardship like stars in the darkness.
ReplyDeleteThis quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" means in my own opinion that even in bad times their will always be light that shines and makes
ReplyDeletesomething great happen in life and everything will be alright An example to support this opinion for Najmah would be that Najmah's mom and brother Habib have died because of a bomb in there village where they lived and her dad and brother have been taken by the Taliban so she is truly scared and shocked. But I believe things will get a lot better. An example for Nusrats issue would be about her husband Faiz who has gone to help people who are injured because of war but however she isn't all that positive that he Is safe and everything will be alright since she hasn't heard back from him for months. Over all I hope Najmah and Nusrat do see light soon because they both are in very rough and difficult times in their lives I'm hoping that hopefully both Najmah and Nusrat don't give up and keep hoping for the very best because it has to come sometimes even if it isn't that soon.
The quote "when it's dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book "Under the Persimmon Tree" by Suzanne Fishe Staples by showing that there is always some optimistic confidence that can guide the characters through conflict.
ReplyDeleteFor example, Nusrat was deep in depression after her sister, Margaret, died. In the text, it says, "Until she met Faiz, she felt nobody but Margaret . . . had ever gotten to know her" (Staples 54). This shows how Faiz pulled her out of the darkness that Margaret's death left her in, and how he helped her live again. Also, Nusrat was losing hope while she was awaiting word from Faiz, but she gained confidence again when the malek gave her good news. The author narrates, "Kunduz is free from the Taliban . . . Faiz might even come sooner than she had hoped" (Staples 144)! Nusrat regains faith that Faiz may return when she learns that the Taliban is no longer in as much control as before, since this may mean that Faiz no longer has to treat injured refugees because there are no bombs occurring in the area, allowing him to return home.
Similarly, Najmah misses her family. Najmah entered the dark when Nur and Babajan were taken away, and when her mother and Habib died in a bombing. Najmah believes that her father and brother are still alive somewhere. She declares to herself, "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them" (Staples 108). Although Najmah is facing the hardships of being alone, she has perseverance, allowing her to not give up on finding those who remain of her family. Another light in Najmah's darkness is Nusrat's kindness. After Najmah meets Nusrat, Najmah has a shelter, and she begins to speak again. Najmah thinks, "She is giving me a safe, clean place to sleep, food, and an oppurtunity to go to school" (Staples 203). Nusrat's kindness allows Najmah to have an oppurtunity for a better life in the future, in which she could have full meals everyday, and an education to guide her way.
In conclusion, the quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book because it gives an understanding of how light is always there to guide those in trouble, in relation to both Najmah and Nusrat.
I think this quote can represent many things but in the context of the book, I think that it represents being able to find hope in a world filled with darkness. The black sky represents the darkness in the world like all the wars being fought in Afghanistan and the stars represent all the places that offer hope. One of these places is Nusrat's school. When Najmah was struggling and fighting her hardest to survive, she met Nusrat and is going to study at her school. This is shown on page 203, "She is giving me a safe, clean place to sleep, food, and an opportunity to go to school, surely she will ask for something in return"(page 203). This quote shows how Nusrat brought Najmah into her school, and gives her food and shelter all for free. This shows how all the struggling Najmah went through to get there was worth it because on top of all that, Nusrat also said that she would help Najmah find her family. This is a glimmer of hope in a world of evil that is referred to in the quote. "During the days she keeps busy with the class that meets under the persimmon tree. She doesn't have time to think whole lots about her husband"(page 111). This shows how all the evil in the world has effected Nusrat's life because she doesn't know here her husband Faiz is and her one little spot of happiness is the school of children that she teaches. This is like a star in the middle of a universe of darkness that is referred to in the quote. "But at night she looks at the stars and images Faiz doing the same--perhaps now in a medical camp in Mazar-i-Sharof, to the north and west, about three hundred miles inside Afghanistan"(page 111). This quote relates to "when it is dark enough you can see the stars" because it shows that now after things have gotten so bad in the world, she still loves Faiz and will do anything to see him. The quote means that you really only appreciate things when everything around it seems a lot worse. This is how the quote "when it is dark enough you can see the stars relates to the book, "Under The Persimmon Tree" in both Najmah's and Nusrat's lives.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars," means that even in your lowest point in life, there is still hope for you in the future. Quotes that show this is "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them"(147). This shows how even though Najmah doesn't have a home, she can't give up on finding the rest of her family. Another quote is "My heart begins to hammer again. Perhaps my father and a Nur have escaped from the Taliban and I will find them is Peshawar"(108). This quote shows how Najmah, even at her lowest point, she still has hope for finding her father. This quote directly related to Nusrat too because in the book it says "during the days she keeps busy with the class that meets under the persimmon tree"(11). This quote shows how Nusrat is keeping busy with herself during the day so she doesn't have to worry about Faiz as much. It also shows how she has hope for her to not worry because she's trying to find distractions. These quotes show how Najmah and Nusrat keep hope during their bad points in life.
ReplyDelete"When its dark enough you can see the stars" is a quote that can be used to represent nusrat and najmahs mentality. The quote means that even in the darkest of times there is always light or hope. This quote represents the book because najmah has hope to return to her normal life. I know this because she says "my heart begins to hammer again. Perhaps my father and nur Have escaped from the taliban and i will find them in peshwar". This quote shows that najmah see the stars or in other words the hope that her father and brother will return. Another quote that shows hope is on page 144 when Nusrat gets filled with hope when she finds out that kunduz has been liberated from the Taliban. It says "nustrats heart lurches wildly inside her chest. If kunduz is free from the Taliban, perhaps soon mazar i shariff will be, too. Faiz might even come sooner than she hoped!". This shows that despite Faizs unresponsiveness she still has hope that he will be alive and back soon. Najmah shows more hopefulness in returning to her normal life on page 147 when it says "i know i must find my father and brother and return there with them. My father asked my mother to stay and keep the property safe from uncle and the taliban...............but first i must find them and the place to look is peshawar.........i dont know how i will get there but get there i must. This quote shows that she is not ready to let go of going back to her families farm with her brother and father, she belives that it she goes to Peshawar than she may be able to find the rest of her family. Becuase of these reasonings i think the quote relates to the story because it represents Najmah and Nusrats stuggle for hope
ReplyDeleteSometimes only the bad in life can show you the greatness of the good. In the quote, "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.", the stars are representing the pleasantness in ones life and the hope they have for the future. The darkness represents the the suffering and tragedy that one will face. The dismal times, make people appreciate the goodness of everyday life and cause them to remember what they have to be thankful for. In the book Under the Persimmon Tree, Najmah's mother and baby brother die when their small village is bombed. Her father and oldest brother are forced to go fight for the Taliban. These events make her truly appreciate how good her life was before, and she has hope that she will be able to find her father and brother. Although these events were tragic, they taught her to have hope and to take action. She wants to find her father and brother, so she goes out and looks for them.On page 147 Najmah says, "But first I must find them, and the place to look is Peshawar" and "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them." She knows that in doing this the light in her life will grow and some of the positive parts of her old life will start to come back. Nusrat has a less direct connection to the torment of the war, but she has been able to experience it through the refugees. She looks at all the suffering around her, which humbles her and makes her realize how wonderful her stable life is. The hardships she observes, inspires her to want to help and make a difference. On page 76 Nusrat says, "She's determined to turn their time of greatest need into a time of opportunity." This shows how she wants to spread the light in her life to others. This book shows us that sometimes loss is the only way to learn to truly appreciate the life you lead.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under The Persimmon Tree by showing that even in times of tragedy, death, and war, there is always a small glimpse of hope. At the end of chapter eleven, Najmah says that "the border is closed, and I don't even know which way to go. I am unwilling to set off again with no food. And so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for advice" (Staples, 131). Najmah is almost certain that there is nothing she can do, but she still finds some hope. She prays for guidance, and thinks of plans to escape across the Peshawar Border. Nusrat and Faiz both look to the stars to find hope. Nusrat talks about how she feels like she can talk to Faiz through the stars. She speaks her feelings to them, saying that "'I have tried to be angry with you'...looking at the stars, as if he could hear her through them" (Staples, 112). Even though Faiz is many miles away, and possibly dead, the stars give Nusrat hope. Another major relation is found in the way Nusrat and Najmah view Islam. Najmah is constantly praying to Allah, and it definitely seems to help her stay strong. Nusrat especially finds hope in Islam, as she was desperately looking for answers in her life until she found answers in the Koran. It was explained that, "Nusrat's conversion had been simple, but it had changed her life" (Staple, 140). She loves how peaceful, accepting, and scientific the religion is, and it helps both her and Najmah to stay hopeful in these tough times. So in conclusion, the quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars", relates to UTPT by showing that no matter how grim things are looking, there is always hope.
ReplyDeleteI like your quotes.
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ReplyDeleteThe quote,"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars", means that when times are at their worst, you'll always see the good. For Najmah, the stars relate to her finding a path to her family and her name means "star". This has been really emphasized throughout the whole book. In Nusrat's case the stars symbolize her missing Faiz who has been in Afghanistan. Although the word star is completely different to both characters, it is special to both. To Najmah, "star" is her name and her path to finding her family. If you look on page 11, it states, " Baba-jan loved the stars so much that he named me Najmah, which means star" (Staples 11). Additionally, if you look on page 108 the text says, "My heart begins to hammer again, perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban and I will find them in Peshawar!" (Staples 108). The 1st quote has a very big meaning because Najmah relates to Baba-jan's love of stars. Nurs name means light, and stars and light are bright. The 2nd quote also has a big meaning about how Najmah has lots of hope that Baba-jan and Nur are free from the Taliban and about how she could reunite with her long lost dad and brother. The quote "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars", also relates to Nusrat, but a bit differently. For Nusrat, the stars remind her of Faiz. The quote "But at night she looks at the stars imagining Faiz doing the same." (Staples 111). This quote shows how Nusrat still believes that her husband is still alive and how she hopes that he comes home. By looking up at the same star, it's like they are together for that moment. Lastly, the quote "She could not accept that the God of her childhood could take her sister" (Staples 134). This quote shows how Nusrat has lots of hope for her sister's survival, just like how Najmah has hope of finding her dad and brother alive. To summarize, the quote "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under The Persimmon Tree because both Najmah and Nusrat hope to be reunited with their families after war and violence have separated their families from them.
I think the quote “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” means that there is always a small form of hope even if it is very faint. And that if you believe of the better it might happen. For instance, when Najmah's house got attacked and her mother and brother died, and all she had left were her brother and father(who were with the Taliban) she was very hopeful that they were alive. "My heart begins to hammer again. Perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban and I will find them in Peshawar! With the border closed, it will be difficult to go there, but somehow I will manage" (Staples 108). Also, on the other hand, Nusrat has to worry about her husband, Faiz, a doctor who is stationed in a medical clinic ( for refugees). He is far away from her and she is worried but, she prays and hopes he comes back safe. " She doesn't have time to think whole thoughts about her husband. It's more as if he is infused in every thought she has about school or his family or her own or household matters. But at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same...'I have tried to be angry with you," she says looking at the stars, as if he can hear her through them. ' I'd rather be angry than so terrified of what might happen to you'" ( Staples 111-112). And even though the chances are slim, Najmah is still planning to and trying to find her last couple family members. "... A plan has been forming in my head. I am barely able to keep from jumping up and running off into the night. But I know I cannot travel alone to Peshawar to look for my father and brother. Najmah is just hoping they are still alive and is restless to find them. That is what I think “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” means; there is always hope. :)
ReplyDeleteMy last quote ends at: "But, I know I cannot travel alone to Peshwar to look for my father and brother" ( Staples 131).
DeleteI like your first piece of evidence, it really outlines what the quote means.
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ReplyDeleteI think this quotation, "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." by Charles A. Beard means that everyone has days that are dark, but there is always a bright side to it. This quote reveals the characters persistence and hope for the better. I think this quote relates to Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples by giving hope and the strength to continue even in this dark time. An example of this is, "But at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same...'I'd rather be angry than so terrified of what might happen to you. But it never works. You are the kindest man I know.' " (111-112). This quote shows that Nusrat is very worried about her husband. This is a dark time for her because Faiz has been gone for so long and she was all alone. Nusrat continues without Faiz but she finds a way to stay connected with him. "And they connect her directly to Faiz, who is saying his prayers at the same moment somewhere, perhaps fifty mountain away." (133). Najmah shows persistence when she, "backed away from where the malek and the truck driver argue, and move toward an opening in the canvas tied over the fruit...overhanging the road are the branches of a huge neem tree. One branch sits tightly over a frame to form the roof a sides of a cover for the cargo...I keep climbing...I lower myself from the branch onto the canvas. There is barely room between the pears and the cover..." (154-155). This shows that Najmah continues to go through extreme challenges that show her persistence. The quote, "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." brings out the character traits of hope and persistence in the book Under the Persimmon Tree.
ReplyDeleteThe quote, "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" written by Charles A. Beard, means that even in the dark, negative times in your life you can see the light and the hope. Even if you are dealing with hardships and struggles, you can always get through it and find the hope. This relates to Najmah and Nusrat from Under The Persimmon Tree, by Suzanne Fisher Staples in a great deal of ways. This quote relates to Najmah, because she is dealing with a number of hardships. At first, her father and brother were taken away from her family by the Taliban to go fight with them. She was left with her pregnant mother to take on all of the responsibilities to keep her family's land. Her baby brother and mother were then killed by bombs and her home was destroyed. She was all alone. She traveled to a refugee camp with her neighbors. Even though she was in a tough time, she managed to 'see the stars' (Beard) in the darkness. 'Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them' (Staples 147), this quote shows that even though Najmah is in a dark spot, she found the light and 'saw the stars'. I'm the text, Najmah says 'With the border closed, it will be difficult to get there, but somehow I will manage' (Staples 108). She is all alone but she knows she needs to find her brother and father in Peshawar and return home with them and she won't give up. Nusrat relates to Beard's quote as well. Nusrat beings to write a letter to Faiz stating, 'This morning as I said my prayers I asked Allah--as I do every morning--to return you safely to me. Today I feel that He will. I have a feeling today is a day of good luck!' (Staples 142). Nusrat is without her husband, and has no idea if he is alive or dead. But yet she still stays positive and thinks of the hope. She has hope that he will return. Najmah and Nusrat both relate to Charles A. Beards quote from above.
ReplyDeleteThis quote is very meaningful to the story Under The Persimmon Tree.This quote means that even when the times are hard their can still be a brighter side of it.This relates to the story because Najmah and Nusrat because even when Najmah had to go to the refugee camps that were in bad living conditions she eventually got to live with Nusrat in good living conditions.This quote also could mean that the most character can come out of someone a bad situation.This relates to the story because Najmah's brave, responsible and determined character traits came out after Baba-Jan told her to take care of Mada-Jan.Another meaning of this quote could mean that you don't really appreciate something until it has changed or is gone. This relates because Najmah would love to have her father and mother and probably didn't appreciate her family as she does now that they're gone and she had to live by herself.These meanings can relate to the story and have very similar things in them that are in the story.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough,you can see stars."( Charles A beard)show that in your life it will be just like a roller coaster there are many ups and downs but during the dark moments in life you will always a light through the doors and spot the stars. Just like Najmah and Nursat throughout book they both had dark moments and they both had those moments where they see stars."I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them" (Staples 147), at this moment Najmah is having a dark moment for days she been worrying about her father and brother wondering if they are even alive or if they are safe."With the border closed, it will be difficult to get there, but somehow I will manage" (Staples 108), even though she is alone at this moment she will find her way to see the stars to have that moment where the darkness is gone away. As therefore Nusrat is trying to keep a positive wondering if hee husband is alive or dead, wondering if he will come back to her ever again." This morning as I said my prayers I asked Allah--as I do every morning--to return you safely to me. Today I feel that He will. I have a feeling today is a day of good luck!" (Staples 142) throughout the whole time she prays and prays the darkness in life will disappear and that once her husband comes back you finally can see the stars shinnying down.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the Book Under the Persimmon Tree because stars symbolize that even through the darkest times, you can still find gleaming bright stars- hope. For Najmah, this meaning that she takes chances and even has to risk death, as for Nusrat, to never give up.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the book, it states: "Baba-jan loves the stars so much that he named me Najmah, which means "star", and he also gave Nur his name, which means "light" (Staples 11). Looking at this, the reader understands that when she sees the stars shining brightly over her, she finds a sense of connection amongst her brother; it brings them closer together. The conduct of Najmah, in terms of the way that she acts, portrays that she is an optimist; one beaming with confidence. In the middle of the book, Najmah realizes that she has to find a way to meet with her father and brother: "I am unwilling to set off again with no food. And so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars and praying for guidance". From this, the reader can understand that to Najmah, stars are like a map, in terms of helping her to decide which road to take next, which symbolizes guidance. It also shows that Najmah is confident and mature, because she has to depend on and believe in herself to make the right decisions and take the right path in life. In a way, this situation is testing how strong of a person she is. Later on in the book, the conduct of Najmah, in terms of the way that she acts, portrays that she is an optimist; one beaming with confidence. "I retreat into the thoughts of my father and brother, wondering where they are, whether they have food, and whether the Taliban have forced them to kill people" (101). When the war ended, food trucks came pouring in to the refugee camps. There, Najmah overhears something: when truck driver asks a refugee to help unload pears and the malek refuse, the truck driver decides to go back to Peshawar. Even though Najmah is hesitant that he will go all the way back after all this way that he has come, she still takes a chance. "I am no longer the girl of Golestan, that child who was afraid of leopards. (Reuniting with the remains of my family)... is my one and only reason for existence, and if I must do it as Shaheed, then I will be Shaeed for as long as necessary" (Staples 150). In the middle of the book, the author tries to fabricate a way in which the reader can comprehend what Nusrat is going through in the inside: "With Faiz gone, she feels as if one her main parts is missing, causing her nerves to misfire and her intent to falter". Nusrat still has high hopes, and ponders. Nusrat refuses to decipher the fact that Faiz might actually be gone. She tries to come up with solutions for possible reasons that her notes couldn't have reached him: "until she heard something credible to the contrary she would not believe any of them"(141). When Haroon out-of-spite bursts into Nusrat's house and exclaims that Kunduz is liberated, she can barely contain her emotions to herself. "Nusrat's heart lurches wildly into her chest". When one of Nusrat's students leaves, she realizes an important moral: that not everybody around her has what she does. She learns how to be thankful (that her husband might still be alive) and have acceptance through her school (Staples 144).
Clearly, the quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the Book Under the Persimmon Tree for both Najmah and Nusrat in various ways. Najmah goes on an expeditious journey in a rattling truck in hopes to find her cherished family, that is, even if they might be dead. As for Nusrat, she has continuously heard rumors about bombings near the area that Faiz was in, but throughout the whole way, she never gave up.
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ReplyDeleteThis is what the quote, "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." from Charles A. Beard means and how it relates to Under the Persimmon Tree. This quote is saying that only when times are bad and dark, we are able to see the bright and beautiful things in life that we take for granted when everything is okay. In Under the Persimmon Tree, the main characters, Najmah and Nusrat find out that sometimes they have to be troubled to see the things that are actually really good. This is shown in this quote, "With Faiz gone, she feels as if one of her main parts is missing, causing her nerves to misfire and falter" (Staples 141). Nusrat is going through a hard time that is dark because her husband is gone and she is worried about him, but he is the star in the dark sky because, the longer he is gone, the more she worries about him which makes her think about him and love him more. Him being gone makes seeing him even better. Like how a dark sky makes the stars shine brighter. Najmah also goes through this with her family. When she is away from them, it makes her miss them even more. That is what this quote shows, "I have begun to resent Khalida... It's more that she has her family, every one of them, safe around her. And I have no one" (Staples 150). The reason this quote is showing how the quote by Charles A. Beard relates to Under the Persimmon Tree is that Najmah is jealous of people who actually do have families. Normally she would like Khalida because she is taking care of her but since the sky is dark, Najmah is thinking about her family more and missing them more. Just like Nusrat and Faiz. That was what the quote, "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." from Charles A. Beard means and how it relates to Under the Persimmon Tree.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it gets dark enough, you can see the stars" in the book Under The Persimmon Tree, I think, shows that when the going gets bad, there is still hope. For example, Najmah is in a tight, saddening, difficult situation, after loosing her mom, baby brother Habib, and not having her father and brother Nur with her, but she Still has hope. On page 147, Najmah says, "But first I must find them and the place to look is Peshawar." This clearly states that Najmah is looking for the rest of her family, and she still has hope of finding them. She also states on page 147, "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return with them." this also clearly states Najmah's struggle of having her house not standing, but she still has hope that she will find her brother and father.
ReplyDeleteAs for Nusrat, she has her own struggles, but she also has hope. On page 134 Nusrat thinks to herself, "She could not accept that God of her childhood would take her little sister." This shows that after switching religions, Nusrat believes in having her sister still being alive. The stars in this situation, is her hope of her sister being alive.
Therefore, for both Najmah and Nusrat, the quote, "when it gets dark enough, you can see the stars" really means that when the going gets tough, there always will, and you should have hope.
Najmah and Nusrat both go through hard times, but there's always light at the end of the tunnel, and the both use hope to keep going. The first piece of evidence is from page 131. "And so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for guidance." This connects to the topic sentence because Najmah is literally using the stars for hope. She prays and has hope that everything will eventually be okay and that she will kind her family. The second piece of evidence is from page 165. "Everything is uncertain and danger seems to be everywhere, but I am alive, which I had begun to believe would be impossible. For the first time in weeks I feel as if I have a reason to be hopeful." This evidence connects to the topic because Najmah was beginning to give up, and she thought she was going to die, but she was given hope. The third piece of evidence is from page 175. "After the taliban took my husband, I had no hope, I didn't know what would become of Amina and me until I came to the persimmon tree school." This evidence connects to the topic because Najmah was beginning to give up, and she thought she was going to die, but she was given hope. In conclusion, Nusrat and Najmah both use hope to get through hard times.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it's dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree because when it's night time, the stars come out to give light so you can see. This quote means that even in dark times you'll always have something/someone to help guide the way. This quote is related to Najmah and Nusrats story's because they're both going through difficult times and even though they might now see it, they're is always something guiding them through their journey to "give them light through the darkness". "The Taliban are gone. The border has reopened and me are coming to Peshawar from all over North of Afghanistan to collect their families. Soon they will return to their farms and grazing lands and life will be as it was. Allah be praised!" (144). The quote connects to my topic sentence because it shows how after Nusrats journey, the Taliban have eventually left and now the border has reopened for people to get their families. "Its difficult to believe I have made it safely to Peshawar !" (165). When Najmah said this quote, she felt happy. Even though she dosen't have family she believed that she could eventually reach Peshawar and she did. "You're safe here," she says. "But it is very dangerous for you to pretend you're a boy. You must stop or you will become martyr! Now tell me your real name" (194). This quote connects to the topic sentence because it shows how Nusrat is telling Najmah that she's finally safe and dosen't have to run anymore. These quotes relates to the topic sentence because they all show how Najmah reaches a goals of hers, and how Nusrat is happy because the Taliban left.
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DeleteGreat job! This really allowed me to see a different perspective on the meaning of the quote.
DeleteWhen both Najmah and Nusrat look at the stars they feel guidance,hope, and the stars give them a connection to the ones they love. Nusrat Page 111 "But at night she looks at the stars and imagines (Faiz husband) doing the same thing perhaps now in a medical camp....." She believes that Faiz was looking up at the star like she is doing right now and she has hopes that he is doing the same so. That gives her a connection with Faiz. Najmah Page 131 "I know I can't travel alone to Peshawar to look for my father and brother and so I lie awake, the rest of night thinking about my plan starring at the stars and praying for guidance." She doesn't know what to do because she wants to go save her brother and father. She can't go alone because she needs food and she doesn't know how to get to Peshawar. The stars guide her to develop a plan to find her loved ones. "My father gave me my name" says Najmah. "He loves the stars and he thought me and my brother, Nur, to love them too." She has a deep connection to the stars because her father loved them and she is remembered of her father and brother when she sees them. The star provide both Najmah and Nusrat with guidance, hope and a connection to their loved ones.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under the Persimmonc Tree because for Najmah and Nusrat it means hope and I will be discussing how they find hope. "But at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same- perhaps now In a medical camp in Mazar-I-Sharif, to the north and west, about three hundred miles in side Afghanistan" (Staples 112). Nusrat still has hope that Faiz is alive and well in a medical camp. She still believes and has motivation that she can find Faiz. "I would like to leave my family here where they will be safe, and return to fight against the Taliban" (Staples 128). Najmah gives hope that they will fight and defeat the Taliban. Najmah also gets sad when they leave and she starts to cry. "I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them" (Staples 147). Najmah will not give up on trying to find her father and brother and will keep trying to find them and return home with them. She still has hope and will do anything to get to them. All this textual evidence shows that the quote means that Najmah and Nusrat has hope and will solve there problems no matter what.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree by showing that the dark represents being scared, but the stars shine through the darkness which shows that there will always be hope in times of being scared and alone. For hope Nusrat looks at the stars sometimes "But at night she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same"(Staples 111). This shows that Nusrat is always thinking about Faiz and when she is looking at the stars she sees that Faiz is doing the same giving her hope that nothing bad has happened to her. Najmah has hope by saying "But I know I cannot travel alone to Peshawar to look for my father and brother...And so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for guidance"(Staple 131). This shows that Najmah hopes her father and brother are Alive and is using the stars in hope that the stars will show her the way to her father and brother. Najmah is no longer scared shown in this sentence "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them...I don't know how I will get there, but get there I must"(Staples 147). This shows that Najmah is hoping to find her father and brother in Peshawar, she does not know how she will get there, but she is determining to try and reach the place. Both characters are using the stars hoping to know that both their family members are out there and hoping to be reunited with them again. Najmah is hoping to find her father and brother who were taken away by the Taliban in Peshawar and uses the stars knowing their find and well. Nusrat uses the same stars in the same way imaging that Faiz is looking at the same stars and hoping that she will be reunited with him.
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ReplyDeleteIn the novel, "Under the Persimmon Tree", by Suzanne Fisher Staples, symbolism using stars is common because it is in their religion. Najmah means Star, her father always was interested in stars because they always guided him on the farm so he named his children star and light, Najmah and Nur. The quote," When it is dark enough you can see the stars" relates to the book because in times of darkness there will always be guidance and hope.
In Najmahs family farm, it represents guidance because they always follow the stars to find certain places. Najmahs dad told her to,"depend on the stars. From them you can tell time and distance and you can find your way home.". Najmahs dad teaches her that the star al Qutb always stays in the same place to lead them in the right direction in the dark.
In Nusrat chapter, Nusrat teaches her Persimmon Tree school about the stars named Sirius, which many call the dog star. Nusrat explains that,"The star Sirius produces over 20 times more than the sun".Mansoora tells the class,"One night the Dog tar was not visible. The Helmand river flooded and wiped out our farm and the entire Valley". This dog star shines which lots of light. People depend on it to live good lives because many have suffered nature calamities from it.
The quote,"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" directly relates to the story in terms of Symbolism of people's beliefs.
The quote "when it is dark enough,you can see stars."( Charles A beard)show that in your life when you get to the roughest times you will find a little light to help you out. Just like Najmah and Nursat throughout book they both had dark moments and they both had those moments where they see stars."I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them" (Page 147), at this moment Najmah is having a dark moment she had been worrying about her father and brother and worried if they are safe."With the border closed, it will be difficult to get there, but somehow I will manage" (Pahe 108), even though she is alone at this moment she will find her way to see the stars to have that moment where the darkness is gone away. Nusrat is trying to keep a positive wondering if her husband is alive or dead, wondering if he will come back to her ever again." This morning as I said my prayers I asked Allah--as I do every morning--to return you safely to me. Today I feel that He will. I have a feeling today is a day of good luck!" (Page 142) throughout the whole time she prays and prays the darkness in life will disappear and that once her husband comes back you finally can see the stars shining and Nusrat begins to see life much more clearly. In both characters point of views on the story the stars represent a connection with their loved ones and a light to help them!
ReplyDeleteThis quote explains that najma and nusrat look at the stars for hope and support my first example comes from nusrat looking at the stars for help to see fuiz they like to know that they are looking at the stars together and seeing the same stars. Najma looks to the stars for hope and support when she looks to see the farm and that gives her hope because then she knows that she is okay and the stars give her advice for certain things that happen in this time of war for her
ReplyDeleteIn under the persimmon tree, the quote "when it gets dark , you can see the stars" I think it means hope. On page 111 Nusrat thinks of Faiz looking at the stars at the same time she is as if something good is going to happen.(Such as in chapter 12 when the Afghans are free from the Taliban.) "But at Night, she looks at the stars and imagines Faiz doing the same-perhaps now in a medical camp in Mazar-i-Shariff." Najmah thinks of the stars differently. She thinks of the stars as a guide. On page 131 it says"And so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for guidance." This means hope for Najmah to find her family. This is what Najmah and Nusrat think about the stars
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ReplyDeleteI think this means that you have to pay attention to the little things in life or you will miss out the fun things. ."As long as you know the stars, you will never be lost." Najmah now knows that no matter where father or family are, when she looks up at the stars she can find a sense of peace that her family is with her. I think this means that you have to pay attention to the little things in life or you will miss out the fun things. ."As long as you know the stars, you will never be lost." Najmah now knows that no matter where father or family are, when she looks up at the stars she can find a sense of peace that her family is with her. Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my father and brother and return there with them...I don't know how I will get there, but get there I must"(Staples 147). This shows that Najmah is hoping to find her father and brother in Peshawar, she does not know how she will get there, but she is determining to try and reach the place. Both characters are using the stars hoping to know that both their family members are out there and hoping to be reunited with them again. Najmah is hoping to find her father and brother who were taken away by the Taliban. "And so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for guidance." This connects to the topic sentence because Najmah is literally using the stars for hope. She prays and has hope that everything will eventually be okay and that she will kind her family. The second piece of evidence is from page 165. "Everything is uncertain and danger seems to be everywhere, but I am alive, which I had begun to believe would be impossible.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement because in times of war and violence Nusrat and Najmah both find a way to appreciate things they don't have, such as food, water, shelter, and money. On page 131 it says"And so I lie awake the rest of the night thinking about my plan, staring at the stars, and praying for guidance." This shows that the light guides her as she prays for things to get better. Another quote is on page 147, Najmah says, "But first I must find them and the place to look is Peshawar." This shows Najmah needs to find a drive to find hope of ever seeing them again. Also she has hope because on page 147 it states "Although the house no longer stands, i know i must find my father and brother and return there with them". Next another quote that she has hope is on page 151 it states "But if I cannot find Baba-jan and Nur in Peshawar, I will wait for them in Kunduz, where I am prepared to fight for what belongs to my family." This shows that in times of war family always comes first. So you should never give up all your hope or you can strive to do something, don't give up.
This quote means.. Sometimes in life there will be an obstacle ahead of yourself that you need to overcome, but you just need to find the good in the bad and be happy.
ReplyDeleteThis relates to Najmah because she is going through a very hard time. Her family is gone and she is all alone, speechless. Her mother and little brother are dead. Her father and brother got taken away by the Taliban to fight. Through these hard times she has found motivation to keep going. "My father asked my mother to stay and keep the property safe from Uncle and the Taliban, and I intend to do exactly that" (Staples 147). Her motivation is to find her brother and father and go back to their house that she was told to keep safe. "Although the house no longer stands, I know I must find my brother and father and return there with them" (Staples 147). That is her home, the place she grew up in, the place where her mother and little brother once lived. Her home is where she feels most comfortable and happy. "I do not care how I appear to others. Reuniting with them is my one and only reason for existence, and if I must do it as Shaheed, then I will be Shaheed for as long as necessary" (Staples 150). This shows that she will do whatever possible to get back to her remaining family, even if she has to impersonate a boy.
The quote relates to Nusrat because she is also going through tough times. Her husband is no where to be found. Nusrat has tried reaching out to him by writing letters but she hasn't got any response. But she finds hope in the bad situation. "If Kunduz is free from the Taliban, perhaps soon Mazar-i-Shariff will be, too. Faiz might even come sooner than she had hoped" (Staples 144)! Nusrat gets news that the Taliban are gone and finally she has reason to believe that Faiz will be home soon!
Under the persimmon tree uses the quote " when it is dark enough you can see the stars",It means even at the lowest points in life theres always still hope, like stars in the darkness . This is especially shown in pages 142,143,144 when nusrat shows her emotions after she encounters her situation with Faiz she worries too much about him because she has no sight of him not knowing where he id or how hes doing. She writes him a note with much sympathy describing how much pain it is " she stops writing faiz and his family regard pessimism as weakness ( staples 142) ". It clearly isnt easy for her to write a simple note to faiz because of how much thought she has to do of him.Najmah's side of the story, when Najmah is a refugee, fighting for her life, trying to make it back to safety at the Torkhum. "With the border closed, it will be difficult to get there, but somehow I will manage" (Staples 108). The quote describes how hard it just turned for najmah, still with courage trying to find her father and brother after all the terrible things that have happened to her. "I retreat into thoughts of my father and brother, wondering where they are, whether they have food, and whether the Taliban have forced them to kill people." This quote is an example showing the amount of care najmah has for her brother and father willing to go help rescue them from the Taliban before it is too late.
ReplyDeleteThis is really good nice job
Delete^^^ good job Ashley very proud
DeleteGreat job Ashley! I think that you explained what you thought the quote meant really well and I think that you picked strong textual evidence to support your thoughts.
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ReplyDeleteThe quote “when it's dark enough, you can see stars” relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples because in a time of hardships the characters knew there is always a light to look for as a guidance to find hope and to overcome the obstacles. On page 139, it states, “Elaine did not find the answers to her questions about why Margaret had died"..."It was enough to find a sense of order in the universe" (Staples 139). When Elaine's sister had died, it was Nusrat's/Elaine's time of darkness and confusion, she managed to see the stars which in her world was converting to the Islam religion and studying the Koran and became happy again because of it. Another example of the quote relating to the book is on page 124, “I am so tired and weak I can barely move"...““If you can walk only two hours more, we'll be there”...“Just over the next hill””(Staples 124). The quote relates here because the obstacle is the long walk over the mountains with little food to spare, but it is all in hope that they will find their way and be welcomed into the refugee camp in Torkhum. On page 165 the book states, “Everything is uncertain and danger seems to be everywhere. But I am alive, which I had begun to believe would be impossible” (Staples 165). Even when Najmah didn't think she would make it to Peshawar and her chances were pretty low, she made it through in hope she would see her family again and she is still getting through the darkness by finding her way by “seeing the stars”. The quote “when it's dark enough, you can see stars" relates to the book because it highlights the fact that even in the times of hardship, the characters have hope and belief that things will get better
This quote is very meaningful to the story Under The Persimmon Tree.This quote means that even when the times are hard their can still be a brighter side of it.This relates to the story because Najmah and Nusrat because even when Najmah had to go to the refugee camps that were in bad living conditions she eventually got to live with Nusrat in good living conditions.This quote also could mean that the most character can come out of someone a bad situation.This relates to the story because Najmah's brave, responsible and determined character traits came out after Baba-Jan told her to take care of Mada-Jan.Another meaning of this quote could mean that you don't really appreciate something until it has changed or is gone. This relates because Najmah would love to have her father and mother and probably didn't appreciate her family as she does now that they're gone and she had to live by herself.These meanings can relate to the story and have very similar things in them that are in the story.
ReplyDeleteThis is Anju's:
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You are taking a walk at night, it's scary, dark, & there's no one there. You feel as if all the fears in your life has cornered you, & all but whispers come out to encouraging you to open your eyes & be brave. Then you open your eyes, you see the stars, you have moved past your troubles & your night ends with you enjoying your lovely gaze under the stars, where you wanted to be all along. "When it's dark enough, you can see the stars"- Charles A. Beard, is quote which has a variety of meanings. But forgetting the direct meaning, the quote relates more to the conflicts of life, how you have to step away from problems, in order to come up with a solution. Sometimes, solutions are more clear when everything's turned off, & all distractions are away. In relation to the book, Nusrat thinks almost alike, for every time she misses Faiz, all she does is gaze at the stars for a long time, asking them questions, & wondering if he's also looking at them & wondering the same. It is clearly stated,"That night Nusrat lies on a wood & string cot in her garden. She is wrapped in a soft woolen shawl against the chill of the autumn night. She stares at the stars...But at night she looks at the stars & imagines Faiz doing the same" (staples 111). It seems like Nusrat think of it as sometimes somethings seem scary at first, but, when you realize it, it's probably what you wanted all along. When Nusrat first learned that Faiz was Islamic, she thought about Islam as practices of warlike events. But when Nusrat gets to know more of Faiz, his religion, & his background, she begins to feel as if this is where she has to be & she has this strong urge to turn into an Islamic. For example, "She could not accept that the God of her childhood would take her little sister (staples 134)...Then, opening the Koran on Faiz's table that Saturday morning, she felt the surge of energy leap to her fingertips like an electric shock"(staples 135).
This is Anju's:
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Thinking alike, Najmah feels some what the same way. Except Najmah feels as if the stars are there as a guidance & they are only there when you seek them. Sometimes, at night when you are distracted, you never notice the light, or what gives you the light. For all you know is that there is light, & it's there when you need it. Najmah also thinks of it as the solution, is only there, when you let go of the struggles in your life. For example it states, "I nod my head. She's giving me a safe, clean place to sleep, food, & an opportunity to go to school...the servant puts on the table & serves chicken & naan & pillau & steaming spiced vegetables. There is enough food for a wedding feast-far more than the three of us could
eat." (Staples 203). At this point, Najmah is in a living heaven, where is awed by the wonders this teacher is presenting to her. The food, the children, the clothes, all seem like a luxury for poor Najmah who was traveling to Peshawar from Kunduz on foot, & along the way she had troubles like having to ride in a truck filled with pears a few days before she met Nusrat. Another example would be that this quote also means that you can never run out of hope. Najmah never hit rock bottom, when Najmah was almost out of hope, she met the malek who was kind enough to bring her to Nusrat. In relation on page 184 it states, "Many of the students in this school have never been to classes before. The teacher is an American, & she feeds the students everyday. Perhaps you could do work for her & she would let you sleep there" (Staples 184). This quote was the malek said who had helped Najmah & had given her some hope that she might live to the day where she will meet her father & brother, for Najmah has been alone & hopeless since the day mother & Habib died. So the quote can mean something from finding your hope, to finding the solution. In conclusion, the characters in the book are starting to see their stars twinkling in their deep, dark sky.
The quote " when it is dark enough, you can see the star " relates to the books main characters problem. On page 108 Najmah finnaly reached her destination after walking all those hours " With the border closed, it will be difficult to get there, but somehow I will manage ", she is now faced with the complications and the hardship that she has to do to reach the place that Najmah and Kalidiahand her family has to reach. After the loss of her mother and little brother she has now been walking through the mountains to get to a safer place, " My father asked my mother to stay and keep the property safe from uncle and the Taliban, and I intend to do exactly that " pg. 147. Even though she has been traveling with kalidiah' s family she does not feel welcomed maybe is because she does not have a family of her own so she plans to leave them at the refugee camp and head for Peshawar were she can begin her journey home. "" I have tried to be angry with you, she says, looking at the star as if he can hear her through them. " I'd rather be terrified what might happen to you ". Nustrat is finding a way to go through all the problems looking at the the bright side of things. The quote " When its dark enough, you can see the star " means no matter what you will always see the brighter sides of every bad thing and it might take time to get through.
ReplyDeleteIt means even thought the it's dark and nothing is going your way you can see stars, it giving you hope that light is there and it all becomes better, thinking positive in times of need. For Najmah this effects her greatly by her mother being dead, her brother and father gone, and house destroyed, and losing everything to her. Now she has to have hope and think positive, sadly it's hard. When you walk for many days to find her brother and father,"I cannot feel my feet, although they are bloody with broken blisters, torn nails, and cracked calluses... Just over the next hill... We can make it"(Staples 124&125). This means even though she is in very much pain ( the dark time) she is so close to Trokhum were she will get a chance to find her father and brother. This is also showing how you can pt honk positive. During the dark time of the wars Najmah and Nusrat meet, Najmah ask Nusrat to stay with Nusrat. "I can barely believe my ears. She's giving me a safe, clean place to sleep, food, and an opportunity to go to school"(Staples 203). Najmah has lost almost everything important to her, that is the dark time or the night. But Nusrat comes and becomes her stars to her night, she is giving her hope. This is what the quote means for Najmah, gives her hope and something to look forward in in the dark times.
ReplyDeleteThe quote also means something for Nusrat, new opportunities, and a way to make people feel better. Although the dark times are not for her but she is helping the people in the dark times. She is the hope, for the people in need. "Nusrat means 'help' or 'someone who helps'"(Staples 140). Even when she got her Muslim name for the start she was descend to help out people. But Nusrat also had some dark times her self. Her younger sister passed at a young age, " after her sister's death Elaine began a quest for the meaning"(staples 134). She has always wanted answers, of why did God take her younger sister away. Well think about it if Nasrat's sister never passed would she come to Pakistan? Maybe not, this shows that gods plan for Nusrat was to help people in need. Although Nusrat did not really have a dark time in her life that the book got into she is the light and the hope for the people in need.
The quote "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." By Charles A. Beard relates to the book Under The Persimmon Tree. I believe that this quote means that even in the darkest times something brighter and better will help lead the way. "We've been three days without supplies and this truck arrived just two hours ago." (Staples 126). When arriving at the refugee camp, after a long time walking, Najmah's family gets handed a yellow packet. Although it is filled with bad tasting food, it's food. After all she has been through it was fortunate that resources came right before they did. The yellow packets contained food that was packed with protein, causing Najmah's family to feel oddly better. "After her sisters death Elaine began a quest for meaning. She could not accept that the God of her childhood would take her little sister." (Staples 134). After her sister died, Nusrat lost faith. She didn't understand why her God would do this. She never could find her answer in church, causing her to lose more hope. But, when she learned about Islam, she felt at home. She was so happy to gain faith again. "I run too fast for any of the merchants to catch me, but they seem not to care about whether I've stolen something or whether I'm caught, which seems strange." (Staples 164). When Najmah stole bread because she was starving, she could have been caught and hurt. But somehow she got to keep the bread without getting hurt. If she hadn't stolen the bread she would have been under nourished. This may have triggered a domino effect. If she didn't steal the bread, she may have not been able to work or move for much longer since she is just a kid. In the book, Najmah and Nusrat always seem to find their way.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree by showing us that if you have faith in what you're doing, then you'll meet your goals. Throughout the book, it is shown that Najmah is not a girl who will easily give up. She will climb mountains, even jump into risky endeavors just to find her father and brother. We can see this in the following quote, "My heart begins to hammer again. Perhaps my father and Nur have escaped from the Taliban and I will find them in Peshawar"(Staples 108). Najmah doesn't give up hope for her family at all. Every day, she thinks about how she must get to Peshawar, that she must find her family, even if they are dead. We see this again in the following quote, But I am on my own now, and I decide to take my chances instead of waiting until it might be too late"(Staples 154). In this quote, we can clearly see how Najmah has faith in what she is doing. She knows that this is her one and only chance to reach Peshawar, and she's not about to miss it. Finally, we can see her motivation clearly in the following quote, "'We're very close to Torkhum'...It seems to take forever to get my feet under me and rise to a standing position..."(Staples 124). Being very close to Torkhum, Najmah forces herself to move, never giving up on her goal to reach Peshawar and find her family. We also see Nusrat, who thinks of Faiz every day, and doesn't want to believe that he is not coming back. We see this here, "She watches the stars rise, and once again wonders whether Faiz watches them too, whether he's safe and warm"(Staples 220). Nusrat longs for Faiz to come back, and has faith that he will. In the end, we can see how Najmah reaches her goals by believing in what she does, that it will work, that she has no choice. The quote symbolizes stars as goals, and that if you believe enough and have faith in what you're doing, then you'll reach those goals.
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ReplyDeleteThe quote "when it's dark enough, you can see the stars" relates to the book Under the Persimmon Tree because when it's night time, the stars come out to give light so you can see. This quote means that even in dark times you'll always have something/someone to help guide the way. This quote is related to Najmah and Nusrats story's because they're both going through difficult times and even though they might now see it, they're is always something guiding them through their journey to "give them light through the darkness". "The Taliban are gone. The border has reopened and me are coming to Peshawar from all over North of Afghanistan to collect their families. Soon they will return to their farms and grazing lands and life will be as it was. Allah be praised!" (144). The quote connects to my topic sentence because it shows how after Nusrats journey, the Taliban have eventually left and now the border has reopened for people to get their families. "Its difficult to believe I have made it safely to Peshawar !" (165). When Najmah said this quote, she felt happy. Even though she dosen't have family she believed that she could eventually reach Peshawar and she did. "You're safe here," she says. "But it is very dangerous for you to pretend you're a boy. You must stop or you will become martyr! Now tell me your real name" (194). This quote connects to the topic sentence because it shows how Nusrat is telling Najmah that she's finally safe and dosen't have to run anymore. These quotes relates to the topic sentence because they all show how Najmah reaches a goals of hers, and how Nusrat is happy because the Taliban left. In conclusion this is what this quote means to me.