What+is+the+What

WHAT IS THE  WHAT

by Dave Eggers

 Discussion Time: 4W, Friday January 14, 10:55-12:25

 Group Members:  Maddy Wood  Chris Knaub (Facilitator)  Mo McNaboe  Karen W*  Sharon B*  Achak's point of view
 * Writing Style **

 Valentino Achak Deng - Protagonist of the Novel. Dinka boy from the village Marial Bai  Deng Arou - Achak's father. Dinka man. Rich well accomplished merchant. Samuel, Peter, and Philip- Achak's brothers (birthed from other wives of his father) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> William K. - Dinka boy from Marial Bai. Achak's childhood friend. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Tabitha - Achak's Girlfriend. Dinka Women. Killed by her ex-boyfriend In the United States. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Moses - Another one of Achak's childhood friends. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Amath - Girl in Marial Bai that Achak has emotions for. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Bol Dut - Parliament Member thats Achak's Fathers friend. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Father Dominic Matong- The village priest. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Sadiq Aziz- Achak's fathers Arab business partner. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Dut Majok - Teacher, Leader of the Walking boys. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Kur Garang Kur- the second eldest walking boy behind Dut <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Deng - Achak's first walking friend. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Achor Achor - Achak's current Room mate and one of Achak's walking friends. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Royal Girls - Four rich girls at the Ethiopian camp that Achak has relations with. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> The Eleven - Achak's group at the Ethiopian camp. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Maria - Achak's walking friend who saves his life. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Gop Chol Kolong - Achak's "Father" in Kakuma. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Ayen- Gop's wife <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Miss Gladys - Achak's drama teacher and later history teacher. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Noriyaki Takamura - Volunteer worker, Achak's boss and dear friend. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Wakana- Noriyaki's fiancée <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> John Garang - Founder of the SPLA. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Tonya and Powder - People who Attack and rob Achak. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Lino - Achak's friend one of the lost boys. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Mary Williams - Founder of the Lost boys. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Phil Mays - Achak's sponsor in America. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Gerald and Anne Newton - Achak's friends in Atlanta <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Michael - Boy who watches Achak. One of the people Achak tells his story to. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Julian - Hospital worker. Second person Achak tells his story to. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Michael Luol- handless man in the village <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Ajulo- elderly Anyuak lady who provides Valentino with food <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Bobby Newmyer- Valentino's friend who produces movies
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Characters **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- Late 1980's into 2000's <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- Marial Bai <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - Atlanta <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - Aweil <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- Pinyudo <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - Gilo River <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - Golkur <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - Lokichoggio <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- Kakuma
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Setting **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Suffering/Relationships forming out of shared suffering <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Adversity when coming to America <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> The importance of friendship <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The 'What' <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Cultural Differences (The Sudanese tribes, African Americans and Africans) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Struggle to Survive (esp. for adolescents, mentally, physically and emotionally) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Violence (Tonya and Powder, the War) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Family
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Themes and Motifs **


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Quotes **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> "But everyone disappears, no matter who loves them."

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> "Humans are divided between those who can still look through the eyes of youth and those who cannot."

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> "When there is pleasure, there is often abandon, and mistakes are made."

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> "His lies were so exquisite I almost wept."


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Questions **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Why do you think that the author chooses to name the novel What is the What? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> After reading this novel has it opened your eyes and changed your opinion about what happened in Sudan? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> What do you think drives these boys to keep on walking? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Why do you think Dut Majok keeps disappearing throughout the long walks? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Do you think that the village along the way to Kakuma should have offered more help to the walking boys? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> What do you think the "What" is? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> How does the writing style help depict Achak's experiences? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Do you think there could be a better writing style for this book? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Why do you think that Achak chooses to retell his story when he is experiencing these awful occurrences? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> If you were Achak would you be able to retell your story or would you want to forget it entirely? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Can you picture yourself as a child walking through the desert like Achak and the other boys did? <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">In what ways is life harder for Achak in Atlanta than in Sudan?

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Historical Facts about the Sudanese Civil War**

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">• The war began in 1983 and lasted until 2005 <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">• The SPLA, the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, was formed in 1983 with John Garang as its leader <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">• The war was between the Arabs in the North and the Africans (the rebels) in the South <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">• The UNHCR, a camp in Kakuma for the Sudanese refugees, was formed in 1992


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Interesting Links **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Southern Sudan voting on independence:

<span style="color: #3200ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12144675

<span style="color: #3200ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704515904576075923760434628.html

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation:

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.valentinoachakdeng.org/

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Dave Eggers and Valentino in Marial Bai at the building <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">site of the school that Valentino's foundation funded.