Literary Elements in the Latehomecomer- Peer Responses

Literary Elements in the Latehomecomer- Peer Responses

Peer 1 Post

Hello,

I agree that the book brings out the theme of being victims of circumstances by using the scapegoat archetype characterization. According to Ridder, a scapegoat is a group or person accused of or blamed for something they did not do. Your quote highlights the relationship between the scapegoat character and how Hmong lives were affected because of circumstances. Another quote that brings out the use of the characterization element to demonstrate how the Hmong were victims of circumstances is the quote, “They were used to the patterns of soldiers approaching, the bullets, the noise and the confusions of ambush” (Yang 9). This statement indicates that the refugees were used to the violence around them because they could not control what was happening around them since the soldiers blamed them for things they had not done to find a reason to attack them.

Works Cited

Ridder, Tannis. “Scape Goat Archetype.” prezi.com, 2014, prezi.com/nbvtcxtwhfuq/scape-goat-archetype.

Yang, Kao Kalia. The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir. Coffee House Press, 2017.

 Peer 2 Post

Hello,

I agree that the use of imagery to describe how the people who were taken to the reeducation and death camps were treated allows the audience to understand the experiences of what the people in the camps went through because they can imagine the pain and suffering in the camps. According to DeGuzman, imagery appeals to the sense of taste, feeling, smell, sound, and sight to evoke emotion or create an effect. The imagery in your quote evokes the emotion of sympathy: it brings out the theme of suffering because the people who surrendered to the soldiers suffered in the hands of the soldiers who put hot liquid in their veins and made them dig under the hot sun. Imagery is also used in other sections within the chapter to help the audience understand the refugees’ experiences in their journey to America. For example, the quote, “They had gotten used to the scabs on their back from the heavy packs, the gnawing hunger, the feeling that there was air in their stomachs all the time and bombs that fell from the sky” (Yang 9) paints a picture of people struggling to survive, thus bringing out the theme of suffering.

Works Cited

DeGuzman, Kyle. “What Is Imagery — Definition & Examples in Literature & Poetry.” StudioBinder, 8 June 2021, www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-imagery-definition-examples.

Yang, Kao Kalia. The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir. Coffee House Press, 2017.

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For your replies, find two people who chose different elements than you did. Find another (different) example of the element your classmate chose. Agree or disagree respectfully with the theme and/or reasons why it matters. Whatever you do, add to the conversation in a respectful way.

Literary Elements in the Latehomecomer- Peer Responses

Remember that you might have another idea
about the theme, the elements, and why they matter. It’s not “either, or,” it’s “yes, and.” There are many possible meanings.