BLOCK+A+HOMEWORK+QUESTIONS

Jane Woo QUESTIONS FOR TOLL OF INNOCENCE 1) Why did Lee decide to leave her home? 2) Did she expect to come back? How do we know? 3) What happened to agi during the arduous journey? 4) Lee says “War forces people to close their hearts…” How true is this statement? Would you “close you heart” in times of war as well? 5) How can one justify or criticize Lee’s decision to abandon agi? What seems the “best” thing to do in a time such as the Korean War? What would you have done?

QUESTIONS FOR SHATTERED FAITH 1) Taking into consideration of all the hardships Lee has been through and the distance she has traveled from home, as well as the lack of contact with her son, do you think that there is any chance of them ever meeting again? 2) Where do you think Younghoon is? Why? What made you lead to your conclusion? 3) Reflecting on the past three chapters we have read of this book, do you think the author believes Korea should unify and how do you know? What do you think? Why? 4) "If there were no American barbarian, there would be a chance for blood brothers to meet." In what ways are this statement true and in what way is this statement false or biased? Think from the perspectives of the global community, of the civilians in both Koreas, and the Americans. 5) If you were Hongyoung, how would you handle the loss of Yongwoon? Would you have reacted the same way? Would you rather live in uncertainty (not knowing whether he's dead or alive), or would you rather know for sure that your son is dead? Why?

Ann Yi QUESTIONS FOR TOLL OF INNOCENCE 1. What was the main reason that Hongyong and her children started to head to the South? 2. What are some things that Hongyong considers while packing for her journey to the South? What is necessary and what is unnecessary? 3. Why did Kunil become deathly ill all of a sudden? 4. Can the bombing of innocent civilians due to the suspicion of the Reds among them be justified? 5. In war, is it necessary to get rid of all human sympathy towards our surroundings?

Clair Kang QUESTIONS FOR TOLL OF INNOCENCE 1) Describe the hardships did Hongyong and her children have to face. What do you think is the hardest decision that Hongyong had to make in her journey and why? 2) Why did Hongyong decide to leave the Grandfather and one of her daughters behind? 3) Hypothesize why the U.N. and U.S. troops bombarded the defenseless civilians. Is their action justifiable? 4) Why do you think South Korea let the refugees come into its territory after rejecting them the first time? 5) What was the outcome in the chapter? Did all of the family survive?

**Daniel Lee**
1. What was the main cause of Hongyong's decision to leave her hometown?
 * Toll of innocence**

2. Why did Meenah decide to stay at home? Do you think she really believed that the whole family will come back home from the South? Or do you think she just sacrificed herself just to help her grandfather?

3. How did Hongyong and her children cross the river? What happened to 'AGI'?

4. Why do you think the civilians were bombed? Was this action reasonable and legitimate?

5. If you were Hongyong, would you abandon your baby just because the baby had less possibility of surviving than the other children?


 * Shattered Faith**

D

2. What does "conspicuous as pregnant women" meant?

3. How is "children of war" different from children of normal time? What should they do? How might this affect the children?

4. How did the family got in touch with Younghoon? How old was Younghoon when they got in touch?

5. Why is knowing he still lives and not being able to touch him is worse than knowing nothing? Do you agree?

Leah Park Toll of Innocence 1. Was leaving the eldest daughter and the grandfather the best choice? Why? 2. Why was the bridge forbidden for children to cross it? 3. Why did the UN air forces bomb the people? 4. According to Hongyong, what did the war force people to do? 5. What were Dukwah's reaction when Hongyong said that she is going to abandon agi for Dukwah and other children's survival? What would you have done if you were Hongyong?

Chris Nam

1. What factor was Hongyong's main source of motivation to move to the South? 2. What possible military or political reasons may have motivated the UN or the US to bombard blameless civilians? 3. What was the better choice in your opinion – staying up North, or going down South? Why or why not? 4. Do you think that indifference towards emotions and morals is valuable in the face of war? Why or why not? 5. Why did Hongyong abandon certain family members? Do you think such a rationale is valid?
 * "Toll of Innocence"**

1. How does Hongyong view the future of Korea, and why? 2. What does the passage mean by "children of war?" What significance do you think this designation has, especially on Hongyong's children? 3. Describe the conditions at the camp. What compelled Hongyong to remain at the camp? 4. Do you think the family was lucky to see Yongwoon again? Why or why not? 5. Is there any indication throughout the passage of Korean opinion towards foreigners, especially Americans? What are examples of such opinions?
 * "Shattered Faith"**

Jonathan Kim Questions for "Toll of Innocence" 1) What were the reasons for the village being empty except for dogs? 2) Why is the author believing in the idea of Christianity as a source of help? 3) What are the incentives for mentioning "walk" in page 233 multiple times? 4) Why does Kunil want to go to Sinnak when his brother is located at Haejuk? 5) How was the author's family able to maneuver around all the soldiers when it is possible of getting caught?

Questions for "Shattered Faith" 1) Why would the family just wait for Yongwoon if they could just look for him? 2) Does the Koreans perceive the potato chips as a birthday cake in the past or is it due to hunger of illusions? 3) Why did the letter from Yongwoon arrive so late, making the mother to worry? 4) Why would the author include the letter inside the chapter? What is the significance of it? 5) Does the author believe that reunification of the two Koreans should happen or not?


 * Rachel Choi**
 * 1) Why did Hongyong decided to leave her house and family?
 * 2) Why was the author furious when she heard the voice "Retreat!"?
 * 3) What effect did the war have on the civilians? (such as lack of food)
 * 4) Why did Hongyong leave her baby and what do you think about this choice?
 * 5) Why did the UN and ROK forces did "Ilsa hut'oe" or 1-4 retreat?


 * 1) Why does Yongwoon's father want to abandon him?
 * 2) Why was the author being "indecent" and because the focus of gossip?
 * 3) What were some of the costs of the war?
 * 4) What does it mean by "war children?" How are they different from today's children?
 * 5) What challenges did the author face in the beginning of the chapter?

Mady Flores 1. What was the sacrifice Hongyong's eldest daughter did to help her family leave the North with a better fighting chance? How does Hongyong respond to her decision? 2. What happened to the property deeds Hongyong took with her? What is the significance of what she did to them? 3. Whenever the family was under attack from bombs and gunfire, what did Hongyong tell her children to do instead of calling out to her? How do you think this helped them moved on? 4. Before heading to Haeju, what happened with Kunil and what was strange with his behavior? What did they end up doing instead because of his actions? 5. Even though Hongyong was tired, suffering, and almost hopeless of reaching the South, what motivated her to keep going? How does her thinking differ from the first chapter, before she left her home?


 * Jin Kwon**

1. Why did Hongyong feel obligated to move further South? 2. For what reason was the Taedong River given its name? 3. Certain factors slow you down especially when you're in a position like Hongyongs. Do you believe that leaving behind family members is necessary for the safety of everyone else? 4. What role would've Hongyongs Christian faith played during this time of chaos? 5. Do you think she became a little bit more skeptical and dubious about Christianity and the existence of God? Why or why not?


 * Shattered Faith**

1. Do you think it’s fair to view all North Koreans as bad, or communist? Can the example of Hongyong prove otherwise? 2. What do you think happened to Yongwoon in the end? 3. How would you have reacted if you didn’t know where and how your eldest son was? 4. Do you think it was usual for the ROK troops to take Daekun to the hospital and fix his jaw? 5. What can you infer from the incident mentioned in question #4? According to this incident, how does it compare to the hostility of other major wars?

Sam Lee

1. What was the reasons that mad Hongyong leave her home woth her children? 2. Which family members did Hongyong abandoned? What was the reason for abandoning them? Are the reasons rational? 3. Compare and contrast some of Hongyong's family members (including Hongyong) 4. Inferring from the reactions of people that helped Hongyong, what would Hongyong's personality be like? 5. Why were the Un and ROK bombed innocent cilvilians? Was the action justified?

1. What is Hongyong's view towards Korea's future? 2. Is it right to view all communists to be bad? 3. What were some results and consequences of the war? 4. When and how did the family contact Yongwoon? 5. Why does Hongyong believe that Korea will unite in the future?

Megan Song

Toll of Innocence
1. Why did the Hongyong approve her daughter staying with the Grandfather? 2. How did Hongyong’s religious practices change due to the Korean War? What are some examples of it? 3. Why did the man sleeping next to the beef release Hongyong’s arm and let her take the beef? 4. How did the family of Hongyong decide to change routes to Sinmak? 5. Eventually what was more threatening to Hongyong, the attack or her own weakness? 6. How is it significant when Hongyong throws away her property deeds? 7. What are some factors that encouraged Hongyong to carry her journey South? 8. What was agi’s state after many people trampled on her and her mother?

**Shattered Faith**
1. When Hongyong was waiting for Yongwoon, did she really think that he was going to come back? 2. Why did the three men have to be invisible as pregnant women? (pg. 231) 3. Why are Hongyong's children the "children of war"? How do they act? 4. According to the letter sent by Yongwoon's daughter, how did the North Koreans view Ameiricans? 5. Why does Hongyong firmly believe that Korea will unite?

Youjin Kwon 1. What do we know about Hongyoung before the war according to a man who calls her ajuma? 2.How does Hongyong retrieve meat from the soldiers? 3. Why does Hongyoung decides to leave the baby? Explain why she calls it a "last sacrifice" Why does she give up? 4. Interpret why grandfather says "Freedom is there"? 5. Infer what agi symbolizes in the story

Sun Young Park QUESTIONS FOR TOLL OF INNOCENCE 1) Why did Hongyong decided to not wait in the house, but to escape? 2) Although Hongyong believed in Christianity, she sometimes had to make choices that were not acceptable in Christianity. What are some examples and do you think these "choices" were acceptable, considering the situation she was in? Why or why not? Explain. 3) Daekun parted from the family, when Hongyong told him to find his brother to return and meet the rest of the family. After this, Daekun doesn't appear in the rest of the chapter at all. In your opinion, what happened to Daekun? Illustrate your idea. 4) What can you relate about the "B-29" air jets bombing people randomly with the incident that happened in No Gun Ri? Explain. 5) "So many times when I thought she was not going to survive, she clung on." What was so special about //agi//? In your opinion, how was she able to cling on?

QUESTIONS FOR SHATTERED FAITH 1) According to the text, the husband's face showed a strangely sad expression. Why was that? Explain. 2) Yongwoon's friend Daekun tells Hongyong about how everyone who went to Haeju were encaptured and sent back to north by trucks. Luckily, Hongyong and others went to Sinmak, due to her son's stubbornness. Why did this happen? Why do you think this probably happened? 3) Hongyong refers to her children as the "children of war". What does she mean by "war children"? How are they different from the children today? 4) Aeran, daughter of Yongwoon, later writes to Hongyong's family, a letter. There, she says, "If there were no American barbarian, there would be a chance for blood brothers to meet." The quote mocks the Americans, just like Hongyong used to say when she was in North Korea. From this quote, what can you infer about North Korea and its people? 5) Interpret the quote "...blood is thicker than water". What does this really mean?

Shattered Faith - Clair Kang 1) What made Hongyong not want to move out from the tents even though the condition at the tents were horrible? 2) How did Hongyoung deal with the news about Yongwoon? Do you think it was wise for her to react that way? 3) What happened to Yongwoon according to his friend Daekun? What do we know about him by the end of the story? 4) In the letter from the Yongwoon's daughter, she writes that "if there were no American barbarians..." what does this show about her opinion about Americans? To her, who is to blame for the war and the separation? Why do you think she thinks this way? 5) Do you think that Hongyong still has hope to see her son before she dies? Support your opinon with evidence fromt he reading.

Shattered Faith - Leah Park

1. Why did Husband suddenly flashed a strangely sad expression across his face when Hongyong yelled out that their son came? 2. Why do you think people gossiped about Hongyong saying that she has no modesty when she was depressed and emotionless because of her son’s death? 3. Why do you think Hongyong froze and was unable to move or speak when the cameraman was near her? 4. What did it say on the letter? 5. What does Hongyong say at the end? What does she say about Koreans?

Shattered Faith - Jason Park

1. Why does Husband basically give up on Yongwoon? 2. Based on this section, how does Hongyong and other Koreans view the American benefactors? 3. Why did the South Koreans help repair Daekun's jaw? Why help the enemy? 4. Why does Aeran write the letter, and not Yongwoon himself? Does he simply not care anymore? 5. Why does Hongyong believe Korea will unite?

Shattered Faith- Youjin Kwon 1. Contrast Hongyoung's reaction with loss of her eldest son, Yongwoon and //agi// 2. Why does Hongyoung let her unmarried daughter left unprotected and her children running around like savages? 3. What does Daekun tell Hongyoung about Yongwoon? 4. Aeran says that her passion to search for our family was never divided, what would be probable reasons why she could not find any of her family? 5. The title is shattered faith. How was her faith shattered when she had believed her son was dead?