Themes
Starvation and Hunger - Starvation comes up again and again in the book Never Fall Down. As shown in the picture above, Children are left starving in the fields. In the book, Arn says, "To live with nothing in your stomach and a gun in your face, is that living or is that dying a little bit every day” (63) This quote shows that although Arn survived from the Khmer Rouge, he did so starving and facing death everyday.
Death - The role of Death in this book is insurmountable. Early on in the book, Arn is forced to see death on a daily basis. As Arn said in the book, "In just one day you can get used to seeing dead bodies" (40). Arn learned not to show fear, for if you show fear, you die. More than two million people died during the Cambodian genocide, including Arn's family. Death plays a huge role in this book and during the Khmer Rouge regime.
Uniformity - The role of uniformity in this book is clear. The Khmer Rouge issues out black pajamas to everyone. This forces everyone to look the same and feel the same. An added taste of uniformity, is the Khmer Rouge's use of "Comrade." Everyone is addressed as Comrade by the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge tell the people of Cambodia, “now all of us live as equals, no rich, no poor.”
Death - The role of Death in this book is insurmountable. Early on in the book, Arn is forced to see death on a daily basis. As Arn said in the book, "In just one day you can get used to seeing dead bodies" (40). Arn learned not to show fear, for if you show fear, you die. More than two million people died during the Cambodian genocide, including Arn's family. Death plays a huge role in this book and during the Khmer Rouge regime.
Uniformity - The role of uniformity in this book is clear. The Khmer Rouge issues out black pajamas to everyone. This forces everyone to look the same and feel the same. An added taste of uniformity, is the Khmer Rouge's use of "Comrade." Everyone is addressed as Comrade by the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge tell the people of Cambodia, “now all of us live as equals, no rich, no poor.”
Notice all of the people wearing black pajamas
https://www.coloradanmagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/feature-cambodia-barbed-wire-foodline.jpg
https://www.coloradanmagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/feature-cambodia-barbed-wire-foodline.jpg
Other Literary Elements
Pathos - There are numerous emotional parts of the book Never Fall Down. One quote that shows clear pathos is when Arn says, “Long time I been on my own, but now really I'm alone. I survive the killing, the starving, all the hate of the Khmer Rouge, but I think maybe now I will die of this, of broken heart.” This quote shows that Arn might have survived the Khmer Rouge regime, but not completely unscathed. He has left with a broken heart from his family members dying.
Repetition - The matter of life and death is a huge repetition in the book Never Fall Down. An example of this being said in the book is in the following quote, “You show you care, you die. You show you fear, you die. You show nothing, maybe you live.” This quote shows a clear repetition.
Repetition - The matter of life and death is a huge repetition in the book Never Fall Down. An example of this being said in the book is in the following quote, “You show you care, you die. You show you fear, you die. You show nothing, maybe you live.” This quote shows a clear repetition.