Essay Questions

How does Sara Novic successfully use the literary device symbol?

Novic has used several literary devices to make her work appealing and attractive to the reader. For instance, she has used food portioning as an emblem to represent thorny moments for the people of Zagreb. When the war breaks out, people are no longer able to go to the farm and produce their food. Similarly, several food chains are interrupted and this causes the people of Zagreb to only rely on government the food rationing.

Should people come together at times of war to support each other?

Under normal circumstances, the reader expects the people of Zagreb to come together during the war so that they can offer each other the much-needed support. Ironically, the people of Zagreb are doing the opposite. During the war, the level of hatred among neighbors elevates. For instance, before the war, the children were playing together but things have changed during the war. Ana can no longer play with her friends because neighbors hate each other. Sara Novic is trying to let the reader know that it is good for neighbors to come together during difficult moments so that they can support each other.

What is the impact of the civil war on Ana and her family?

Ana is privileged to be born in a rich and well-off family that provides her with everything that she needs. Things take a drastic change when she turns ten years. The civil war breaks out and her family is completely destabilized. Since they are living in the capital Zagreb, they are among the first people to be adversely affected by the war. They cannot access the necessities and they are now forced to rely on the government for help in every aspect of life. Sara is using Ana's family to educate the reader on the negative impact of war on families.