TG In The Country Of Men Pages
Insight Text Guide
Anica Boulanger-Mashberg
In the Country of Men
Hisham Matar
In the Country of Men_prelims-2pp.indd 1
11/02/13 2:08 PM
contents
Character map
Overview
iv
1
About the author
1
Synopsis
2
Character summaries
3
Background & context
6
Genre, structure & language
9
Chapter-by-chapter analysis
15
Characters & relationships
36
Themes, ideas & values
46
Different interpretations
60
Questions & answers
63
Sample answer
70
References & reading
73
Glossary
75
In the Country of Men_prelims-2pp.indd 3
11/02/13 2:08 PM
iv
In s i g h t T e x t G u i d e
character map
Najwa
Suleiman’s mother; married at fourteen and pregnant at fifteen; loyal to her husband but resents the resistance movement.
married
Faraj
Suleiman’s father; works as an importer; supports the resistance movement; is taken by the
Revolutionary Committee.
friends
friends mother/son uneasy friends father/son
Moosa
Egyptian; a friend and brother-figure to Baba; supports the resistance; takes care of Najwa and
Suleiman when Baba is away.
father/ son style relationship Rashid
University lecturer; represents the resistance; publicly executed; father of
Kareem, wife of Salma, neighbour and friend to Faraj and family.
Suleiman
Narrator and central character, an only child; cares for his mother when his father is away on business; solitary and occasionally violent.
father/son friends occasional contact Sharief
Member of the
Revolutionary Committee; conducts surveillance in
Mulberry Street after taking
Rashid; oddly kind to
Suleiman.
In the Country of Men_prelims-2pp.indd 4
Kareem
Only child; Suleiman’s neighbour; withdraws after his father is taken; eventually tries to rekindle friendship with Suleiman.
11/02/13 2:08 PM
1
In t h e C o u n t r y o f M e n
OVERVIEW
About the author
Hisham Matar was born in 1970 in New York City. His parents moved back to their home country of Libya soon after and lived in Tripoli until he was nine. His
Anica Boulanger-Mashberg
In the Country of Men
Hisham Matar
In the Country of Men_prelims-2pp.indd 1
11/02/13 2:08 PM
contents
Character map
Overview
iv
1
About the author
1
Synopsis
2
Character summaries
3
Background & context
6
Genre, structure & language
9
Chapter-by-chapter analysis
15
Characters & relationships
36
Themes, ideas & values
46
Different interpretations
60
Questions & answers
63
Sample answer
70
References & reading
73
Glossary
75
In the Country of Men_prelims-2pp.indd 3
11/02/13 2:08 PM
iv
In s i g h t T e x t G u i d e
character map
Najwa
Suleiman’s mother; married at fourteen and pregnant at fifteen; loyal to her husband but resents the resistance movement.
married
Faraj
Suleiman’s father; works as an importer; supports the resistance movement; is taken by the
Revolutionary Committee.
friends
friends mother/son uneasy friends father/son
Moosa
Egyptian; a friend and brother-figure to Baba; supports the resistance; takes care of Najwa and
Suleiman when Baba is away.
father/ son style relationship Rashid
University lecturer; represents the resistance; publicly executed; father of
Kareem, wife of Salma, neighbour and friend to Faraj and family.
Suleiman
Narrator and central character, an only child; cares for his mother when his father is away on business; solitary and occasionally violent.
father/son friends occasional contact Sharief
Member of the
Revolutionary Committee; conducts surveillance in
Mulberry Street after taking
Rashid; oddly kind to
Suleiman.
In the Country of Men_prelims-2pp.indd 4
Kareem
Only child; Suleiman’s neighbour; withdraws after his father is taken; eventually tries to rekindle friendship with Suleiman.
11/02/13 2:08 PM
1
In t h e C o u n t r y o f M e n
OVERVIEW
About the author
Hisham Matar was born in 1970 in New York City. His parents moved back to their home country of Libya soon after and lived in Tripoli until he was nine. His