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Obasan | Study Guide

Joy Kogawa

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Course Hero, "Obasan Study Guide," March 22, 2018, accessed September 22, 2023, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Obasan/.

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Check out this Infographic to learn more about Joy Kogawa's Obasan. Study visually with character maps, plot summaries, helpful context, and more.

Aunt Emily, Chapter 9 ou are your history. Sources: The Canadian Encyclopedia, Studies in Canadian Literature, Vancouver Sun Copyright © 2018 Course Hero, Inc. Importance of the Past Ignoring our past means denying who we are. Questions of Identity The characters attempt to reconcile being Canadian and Japanese. Dangers of Silence To live in silence is to bury thoughts and emotion. Themes Naomi’s angry older brother; escapes into music and begins rejecting his heritage Stephen Naomi’s activist aunt; works to spread awareness of Japanese internment in Canada fair play forAMERICA’S JAPANESE Aunt Emily Naomi’s strong, patient aunt; helps the family survive the ordeal of internment Aya Obasan Quiet, thoughtful girl; caught with her family in the persecution of Japanese Canadians Naomi Main Characters As a child, Kogawa was forced to leave her home with her family during the Japanese Canadian internment period. She drew on her experiences during that time to write Obasan and call attention to the treatment of Japanese Canadian citizens during World War II. JOY KAGAWABORN 1935 Author After the war, the family works on a farm for four years before they can go home. Beet Farm Naomi lives in an internment camp with other Japanese Canadians for three years. Ghost Town In May 1942 Naomi’s family is forced to leave their home in Vancouver. Forced Relocation As World War II begins, Japanese Canadians are identified as enemy aliens by the government and then forced from their homes to live in internment camps. Among them are Naomi Nakane and her family, who quickly learn what it means to be an outsider in your own country. Becoming the Enemy OVERVIEW English Original Language 1981 Year Published Joy Kogawa Author Obasan Historical Fiction Novel
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