Analysis Of Persimmon

Analysis Of Persimmon
Persimmons, by Li–Young Lee, is a poem that discusses many aspects of growing up in a split between two cultures. Lee is presumably the narrator
of this poem and describes different aspects of him growing up between the lines of Chinese and American culture. This poem touches on the many
ways Lee feels as he is growing up in American Culture and how that affects the Chinese Culture he has at home. Each stanza represents a different
memory that describes an instance in which he feels as though he falls between the two cultures, not exactly pertaining to one or the other. Throughout
the poem, we can see that Lee is struggling with this notion of losing his Chinese Culture. The poem begins where Lee is an outsider to American
Culture, then ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The third stanza transitions into Lee discussing an intimate moment that he is sharing with a white girl named Donna. This scene seems like the
turning point in which Lee recognizes the fading aspects of his Chinese heritage. The fact that Lee makes it evident that the girl he is sleeping with is
white really highlights how he is now fully immersed in American Culture. He also talks about trying to teach Donna different words in Chinese, but
there are some words that he has forgotten. Lee forgetting these words emphasizes a point in his life where he might have identified more with his
American Culture; he does not dwell on the fact that he cannot remember these words and gets right back into telling her how beautiful she is in
English. This is an instance where Lee's cultural identity might have lied been more in line with American values rather than his Chinese values. Lee
then transitions back into talking about his sixth–grade class with his teacher in the fifth stanza. The class was given a persimmon, which the teacher
refers to it as a "Chinese Apple" (line 43). This specific phrase is italicized making it stand out, maybe it being referred to a "Chinese Apple" sounds
odd, but because Lee is from a Chinese culture, he knows more about this fruit than his fellow classmates (line 43). He discusses how he knows that
this fruit is not ripe and he chooses not to eat it. This specific instance seems like this is a time in which Lee
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

Analysis Of Under The Persimmon Tree
(AGG)War is a topic that seems to always be in the news, the families that have been torn apart, the people that have been scarred for life because of
it, the destruction, but usually we don't hear the good side of those wars, for instance: why people fight for them. (BS–1) The Fear in the hearts of
those who have lived through these wars.(BS–2) The Destruction they've seen, that has become permanently etched into their
memories.(BS–3)However the purpose of many wars ends up bringing good things. (TS) In Suzanne Fisher Staples book Under The Persimmon
Tree(UTPT), which is a book about the war in the Afghanistan area, which shows the horrors of the war... but the book also shows that can create
positive changes in people.
(MIP–1) Fear is the spark that causes so many fires in the world, fear of death, fear of loss. (SIP–A) One of the main protagonists named Najmah goes
through a multitude of character changes that anyone would see in a 11–12 year old girl. (STEWE–1) When the book starts Najmah could be seen as
"immature", "childish", and "complacent". However after her father is taken to war by The Taliban(Staples 17–19) she starts her character change, she
becomes more serious, more focused on keeping her mother, her newborn baby brother, and herself alive until her father returns. After a month or two
an American bomber destroys her village and her house, with her mother and brother inside it! After this Najmah becomes "dead inside" silent,
depressed, she is also

Persimmons Poem Analysis
In the last century, there are a lot of families immigrant to the other countries due to some reasons that wars, politics, national issues, and the safe
environment for next generation. Although they escape some trouble from their original country, they still encounter some problems in foreign
country. Between these problems, the most significant is the culture conflict including self–identity, languages, and family influences. The contradiction
of culture gradually become an issue that affect on the mind of next generations that they hesitate between accept or reject, gain or lose, forward or
backward when they are in a foreign situation. The speaker in the poem "Persimmons" and the narrator's brother in the story "Simple Recipes" both
express ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In this respect, he has rejected his original culture and language and tries to have a distance as far as possible. Except he spends a lot of out of home,
he also refuses to try chinese food which stand for chinese culture. Thus, to start with he keeps a distance from home and hates traditional food, a new
culture begins to occupy his dominant mind. Both the speaker in "Persimmon" and the narrator's brother in "Simple Recipe" has already forgotten their
original language and culture; however, they affected on the different families.
After some people immigrants, their families may become a place that reconcile the contradiction of traditional culture and new culture or a hot spot
that exist complicated situation because of mix of two different culture. In the "Persimmons", the speaker's mother plays a great role for the speaker
who respectively treats traditional culture. When the speaker have the trouble to distinguish "yarn" and "wren", it makes speaker to image that "his
mother made birds out of yarn." (Line 37) rather than to feel nervous or upset. It meant that the imagination of traditional handicraft to the speaker is
not only the love from his mother but also

Symbolism In Under The Persimmon Tree
(AGG) Symbolism is a huge part of our world in everyday life, the stars have been used in literature and storytelling to convey meaning and feelings,
"Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night" (Sarah). (BS–1) In the
book Under the Persimmon Tree, Suzanne Fisher Staples establishes Najmah's association with family and home, with the stars. (BS–2) The author
then manipulates the personal connection Najmah has to the stars, to foreshadow an event in Najmah's life, exploding and destroying the things she
loves. (BS–3) Similarly, later in the story, the stars mirror Najmah's emotional changes, as her hope fluctuates. (TS) Clearly, Suzanne Fisher Staples in
the story Under The Persimmon Tree uses symbolism to get across a deeper meaning involving stars.
(MIP–1) Throughout the story, the stars have a meaning to Najmah on the surface. (SIP–A) Wisdom about the stars are passed down from her father to
Najmah throughout her life, giving them a memorable meaning. (STEWE–1) Najmah's name has the literal meaning of star. Najmah explains,
"Baba–Jan loves the stars so much that he named me Najmah, which means 'Star'" (Staples 11). Her father gave her this name, therefore on the
surface, stars are a connection that Najmah has in relation to family. When Najmah sees the stars, they give her comfort. She knows that they are a
constant. They will always be there and will always be associated with her father, due to the fact that Najmah and her father have so much history and
memories formed by the stars. (STEWE–2) Baba–jan has taught Najmah how to use the stars for guidance. Baba–jan promises, "As long as you know
the stars,you will never be lost," (Staples 10). This quote can be interpreted in different ways. The literal meaning of the stars in this particular
sentence is being, a sense of direction in case Najmah gets lost. They are also a reminder that she can always find her way back home. In addition to
this, they have a deeper symbolic meaning using the fact that Najmah's name means star. When the author has Baba–jan telling Najmah to be sure to
know the stars so she will never be lost, it is being implied by the author to the reader

Persimmon Tree Quotes
(AGG) Have you ever wondered what it is like to suffer through PTSD through someone else's point of view, in the book Under The Persimmon Tree
it shows this with a young girl living in Afghanistan. (BS–1) Najmah begins to show changes in herself when her family is dismantled, this
disconnection can cause a person to break down and develop PTSD. (BS–2) After the tragic event, Najmah doesn't do anything about her problem, the
author made her become silent to show how it needs treatment, otherwise it will become worse. (BS–3) Najmah has become independent and mature,
although she still goes through symptoms of PTSD, this would be the same with a person. (TS) In the book Under The Persimmon Tree, the author
uses the real life disorder of PTSD to create Najmah's hardships throughout the book. (MIP–1) Najmah's family gets taken away from her and she
begins to change, also, if loved ones get taken away from someone, the victim will very likely also start to show symptoms of PTSD. (SIP–A) Najmah
begins to feel isolated from her loved ones and loses hope for herself, PTSD can affect at any time after an event.(STEWE–1) Watching this... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(BS–3) Najmah has changed to be more mature and more self–sufficient, she does still go through symptoms of PTSD, this shows how a real person
might change when encountered with PTSD. (BS–2) PTSD needs treatment or it will get much worse over time, Najmah did not do anything about it
for a while, the author did this so the reader would see what a person would act like. (BS–1) Najmah's family gets taken away from her, once this
happens she starts to show symptoms of PTSD and it is very likely for this to happen to a real person. (R) PTSD can affect many people in many
different ways, how will this terrible disorder affect you and your family, just like it did to

(AGG) As said by Manly Hall, "Symbolism is the language of the Mysteries. By symbolism men have ever sought to communicate to each other those
thoughts that transcend the imitation of language", and there are many signs of symbolism in the book Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fischer
Staples, especially involving the stars. (BS–1) Stars do symbolize many different elements in the book, but a literary view, or surface view, on the
stars, as well as each character's personal connection to stars is evident as well. (BS–2) Moving more into the symbolism of stars, they convey the
mental state of Najmah throughout the book. (BS–3) Not only are the stars used in a more in–depth meaning for Najmah, there are also major instances
for Nusrat,... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(SIP–B) But through her trip, it's evident that her mental state is improving, represented in the stars. (STEWE–1) She has shown signs of development
from her initial breakthrough from her past mental state.The next time in the book development is shown, Najmah is yet again changing her mental
state in a positive way,"Moon– and starlight guide us through the mountains, and I am able to keep our direction true by finding al–Qutb... just as my
father showed Nur and me what seems a lifetime ago in our village in Kunduz" (Staples 109). Najmah is focusing more on the reality of her
situation, rather than staying in the past, and she shows that whilst thinking of her missing family. Though she has shown she has "found a new
purpose" so to speak, the purpose being her decision, "... to look for my father and brother" (Staples 131), she still isn't able to let go of her mother
and baby brother just yet; "Intermittently clouds roll over the sky, obscuring the moon and the stars..." (Staples 109). The clouds could be seen as her
memories blocking her from being able to move on and to be able to grow and help herself, as they are obscuring the stars, which represent her hope.
(STEWE–2) Once she had reached Torkham, she was in the

Under The Persimmon Tree Essay
(AGG) Having a traumatic experience can put somebody through a whirlpool of emotions, usually changing physicality or mentality. (BS–1) In "Under
the Persimmon Tree", Najmah constantly worries about her father and brother, scared about what will happen to them. (BS–2) She is sacrificing pieces
of her life to be able to finish her journey in finding her brother and father. (BS–3) Some of these sacrifices include leaving the people that are trying to
help her. (TS) Najmah has shown major change throughout the book after the loss of her family, which has changed her mindset. (MIP–1) In "Under
the Persimmon Tree", Najmah shows great worry for her loved ones, as she is thinking about them all of the time. She starts to become focused on
finding them (SIP–A)... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(SIP–A) First off, Najmah starts to show the pain she is going through in her journey. (STEWE–1) "I cannot feel my feet, although they are bloody with
broken blisters, torn nails, and cracked calluses from walking so long in the rigid, rough sandals" (124). Najmah is showing that she can endure the
pain she is going through, all in good faith that she can find Nur and Baba–Jan. (SIP–B) Going along with this, Najmah sacrifices talking for many
chapters because of when her mother and baby brother, Habib, died. (STEWE–1) Here, Najmah is at the Refugee Camp and talking to the malek, She
does not reply to his questions. "I cannot answer him, no matter how hard I try" (183). She can't think of an answer to give him, the questions are
bringing back bad memories. (STEWE–2) Sacrificing of her speech is also shown when she meets Nusrat for the first time. "'This boy does not
speak,' says Haroon. 'No doubt he has seen terrible things'" (188). And this is true, Najmah had seen terrible things in the past that had affected her.
(CS) Najmah makes decisions that will help her to find her father and

(AGG) The main point of the book, Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples, is to show the effect that loss can have on an average
person, like you and me. (BS–1) When Nusrat had lost her beloved sister, she felt lost, and like she did not belong. (BS–2) Since her sister tragically
died, helping children in need has helped Nusrat cope as she has been on a constraint search for the "why" that she felt she so needed to find. (BS–3)
Her husband's death has showed Nusrat her real self and that she must honor her husband and make amends for her mistakes in the past. (TS) The
experiences and obstacles that Nusrat has within this book, are related to all of the loss that she has encountered in her life, changing her. (MIP–1) The
death of... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(SIP–A) Faiz coming into Nusrat's life made her feel as if she 'found herself' and was made to be with him. (STEWE–1) When she first meet Faiz, she
felt a deep and true connection with him and knew that it was right, "And they connect her directly with Faiz, who is saying his prayers at the same
moment, perhaps fifty mountains away"(Staples 133). Nusrat here explains that she feels a connection with Faiz no matter how far away he is, they
will always be 'connected' through the stars. (STEWE–2) If there was one thing that Faiz gave Nusrat above, hope, happiness, love, it would be faith
because it is one of the big things that she did not have before she met Faiz, "She watches the stars rise, and once again wonders whether Faiz watches
them too, whether he's safe and warm"(Staples 220). Although Nusrat is worried for Faiz, she still has faith that he is alive and well. (SIP–B) The
death of Faiz has helped Nusrat to not only deal with Margaret's death, but now she knows how to let go of and honor her husband. (STEWE–1) At
this part of the book, she finally lets go of Margaret and Faiz and begins is see clearly, "Their fingertips brush each other before Faiz follows Margaret
to drift among the stars"(Staples 231). This is when Nusrat loses the 'connection' that she had with Faiz through the stars and now she accepts

Under The Persimmon Tree Analysis
(AGG) Despite all of its faults, war is what first forced humans to band together, blossoming the flower of civilization out of a god–forsaken
battlefield. (BS–1) Everybody loses something in war, whether it be their family member, or their life. (BS–2) War also kills in a way sometimes
unseen, contorting the minds of the apparent "survivors." (BS–3) On the surface, war is nothing but a means to steal human life away, but deep down it
can leave some in a better place than they started. (TS) In Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples, war takes a great toll out of many, but
also helps characters learn about themselves.
(MIP–1) People are physically affected by war, both intentionally and unintentionally. (SIP–A) Brutal violence in war can be expected when soldiers kill
other soldiers, but sometimes the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(STEWE–1) When the Taliban conscripted Nur and Baba–Jan, they decided to execute all of the grown men, in order to make a statement and instill
fear in the village boys. He tells this all to Najmah, saying "...We saw the men of our village– nearly every grown man you and I have ever known–
lying on the ground with their bodies overlapping each other, with blood coming from bullet holes in their heads and bodies" (Staples 254). The lengths
that the Taliban goes to indoctrinate their fighters is incredible, massacring an entire village just to get the point across that they mean business.
(STEWE–2) Najmah witnesses violence firsthand when she stows–away in the truck. She hears her driver getting assaulted, "Then I hear a gunshot,
and my heart hammers so loudly I'm afraid the men will discover me in my hiding place" (Staples 158). In the lawless wasteland that is the border
roads between Afghanistan and Pakistan, thieves who know nothing bad will come to them if they

(AGG) The loss of somebody or someone can lead to PTSD, which can later lead to other effects, and it is said that up to 20% of all adults in America
who have experienced some type of loss develops PTSD ("PTSD Statistics"). (BS–1) Towards the beginning of the novel Under the Persimmon Tree,
there is a character named Najmah who loses the ability to speak and loses control of her life, as a result of Mada–jan and Habib's loss. (BS–2) As an
effect of Baba–jan and Nur missing from her life, Najmah changes her mindset and the decisions she makes from then on. (BS–3) Najmah's
relationships with others and voice is altered, this happens once she meets Nusrat and she adjusts due to her losses. (TS) Throughout the novel Under
the Persimmon Tree, we see a character named Najmah who is ultimately shaped through the people who are missing in her life.
(MIP–1) Firstly, Najmah is altered due to the fact that Mada–jan and Habib are missing from her life. (SIP–A) Due to Mada–jan and Habib's loss,
Najmah loses the ability to speak. (STEWE–1) Before Najmah witnessed her mother and brother's bombing she can be seen speaking willingly. "I
thought it was the Pashtun Talib," I say. "I don't want them to steal the animals"(58). Najmah's reaction shows her awareness and will to speak freely
compared to later in the novel, when she doesn't speak freely and overall loses the ability to speak. (STEWE–2) Later, Najmah loses the ability to
speak and this can be seen when she witnesses their death, "My

Under The Persimmon Tree
Novel: Under The Persimmon Tree
My Feedback: Always proofread carefully before you publish or submit something.
My goal: My goal for the next assessment is to proofread and take my time writing this essay and not rush and make spelling errors, if I do this could
get my grade up to a 3 or 4. (TS): Najmah becomes confident through the events she goes through and regains her voice.
(MIP–1) Chooses not to speak (loses her voice).
(MIP–2) When she regains strengths, and focuses on other things that will keep her mind off of what happened.
(MIP–3) Meets Nusrat, Nusrat talks to her and is forced to say her first words. (gaining more strength).
(AGG) Throughout this novel, Najmah loses her mother and baby brother and this changes her. (BS–1) ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(SIP–A) The silence for Najmah is finally broken while attending Nusrat's school and with it the feelings of fear, and wonder pour out like a waterfall.
(STEWE–1) Nusrat knew that Najmah was a girl, because of her hands, the work Najmah did at home showed Nusrat that she was a girl. Najmah
was forced to first speak out of fear that Nusrat would tell everyone her secret. After her mother and brother were killed, Khalida helped Najmah to
survive by cutting her precious hair and dressing her as if she was a boy. The Taliban never questioned her on the journey to find her father and brother.
As we know of the Taliban rules of persecution for women travelling alone." How did you know? says Najmah, her voice a hoarse whisper. So you can
talk! I'm so relieved it will be much easier to help you if I know more about you. I knew you were because of the way your hands are calluses. Your
work is carrying wood and cutting grass and sweeping, is it not?" she asks. Najmah nods once. "That is girls' work," says Nusrat. She opens her
own hand and shows Najmah her own calluses in identical places on her fingers" (194). Najmah was convinced to speak for the first time in weeks.
Najmah was terrified of what Nusrat what telling her so she decided to use her voice. (STEWE–2) Nusrat really wants to help Najmah. She wants
Najmah to open up but she isn't forcing her Nusrat is going to help Najmah but she first needs to know what happened." Really, you are safe here, "
Nusrat says. " I don't want to make you talk if you don't want too. But I need to know what happened to your family so I can help you find them. Do
you understand?" "Najmah blinks again and studies Nusrat's face carefully before nodding slowly. Nusrat smiles and reaches for Najmah's hands, but
the girl pulls back. Nusrat stands

The Sound Of Language In Persimmons
The Sound of Language in "Persimmons"
The speaker of Li–Young Lee's poem, "Persimmons", articulates a relation between words and their meaning in order to prove how an immigrant's
assimilation in society depends on conceptual perception, rather than a concrete manifestation.
The speaker articulates an irrelevancy in the sounds of the language that conveys how our perception of immigrants as foreigners is absurd. He depicts a
memory from his childhood in which his (presumably) American teacher, Mrs. Walker, punishes him for "...not knowing the difference / between
persimmons and precision." Essentially she is punishing him for confusing between two English words. This intolerance of his confusion implies the
teacher's reluctance to accept unusual ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Despite Mrs. Walkers earlier assertion of her knowledge about persimmons and the speaker's lack of knowledge, we observe that she does not
know whether it is sweet without cutting it and tasting its insides, unlike the speaker, who claims to know. Moreover, his knowledge comes not
from observation by sight alone, but as he states, one needs to "sniff the bottoms. /the sweet one will be fragrant." He asserts how, in order to gain
knowledge of something's (or someone's) essence, sight alone does not suffice. Furthermore, the paintings done by the speaker's father illustrate the
relationship between the inner and the outer, when the father shares, "I painted them hundreds of times / eyes closed. These I painted blind. / some
things never leave a person: / scent of the hair of one you love, / the texture of persimmons, / in your palm, the ripe weight." The father's art
distinguishes the difference between the inward essence and our colored perception of the outwards. The father is able to paint this fruit sightlessly
because he uses his other four senses when he recalls his impression of persimmons. The art he creates attests to the subjectivity of perception: it is
colored by emotional undertones, "the scent of the hair of one you love," similar to how the speaker was biased when he called Donna "beautiful as
the moon." This illustration attest to the unreliability of sight and affirms how, just as we are biased in favor of something, we are also biased in our
judgment of other's difference. Whether we call persimmons by this English word, by the name "Chinese apple" (which, according to dictionary
definition, is incorrect) or any other, is insignificant to what the fruit is

(AGG) In every person's life, the events that occur around them affect and change their character and personality. (BS–1) In Under The Persimmon
Tree Najmah is changed by the loss of her father and brother, which is something that happens in real life. (BS–2) Similarly, a rule that the Taliban have
created causes Najmah to become an almost entirely new person when traveling to Peshawar. (BS–3) Nusrat is also affected by real life laws and events
when she is forced to think about her parents and New York because she would not be allowed to live inPakistan as a single woman. (TS) Many
character developments and conflicts in Under the Persimmon Tree are based in real life events that occur because the Taliban treat women poorly.
(MIP–1) The Taliban taking Nur and Baba–jan to fight and leaving Najmah and her mother because they are women, an event that occurred often in
Afghanistan, caused Najmah to mature quickly and lose her childhood innocence. (SIP–A) Nur and Baba–jan were taken by the Taliban which is
something that has happened in many cases in real life. (STEWE–1) In the beginning of the book, the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(BS–3) Nusrat is changed when she is forced to think about returning to New York because of laws in Pakistan making it difficult for women to live
without a husband. (BS–2) Najmah is also changed by an event based in reality when she is traveling to Peshawar dressed as a boy and gets changed
into a different person. (BS–1) Najmah becoming a more mature and responsible person after the loss of her father and brother to the Taliban is
another event based in reality that causes character change. (R) The characters in Under The Persimmon Tree are affected, both negatively and
positively, by events around them, which brings up the question; how are real people affected by events similar to the ones surrounding Najmah and

(AGG) How would someone feel if their loved ones died or were abruptly taken away? (BS–1) In the beginning of the novel Under The Persimmon
Tree, Najmah is mentally affected by Baba–jan and Nur, her father and older brother, who were taken away by the Taliban. (BS–2) Najmah is driven
by her mother and baby brother's deaths to try to find her father and older brother, as they are her only family left. (BS–3) At the end of the book,
Najmah decides to travel back to her home, in honor of her family. (TS) Throughout Under The Persimmon Tree, Najmah continuously changes from
losing close loved ones.
(MIP–1) Najmah is first effected by the Taliban taking away Baba–jan and Nur. (SIP–A) She is very childish in the beginning while Baba–jan and Nur
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Later on she still has to bring the animals to feed, "I no longer think of leopards at all. I am more worried about leaving my mother and baby brother
alone in the house with the possibility that the Taliban might return looking for more food" (Staples 62). This displays how her fears have not gone
away as now she is fearing real monsters. Instead of leopards, which she has never seen before,it is now the Taliban. (STEWE–2) Najmah's evil uncle
comes over to her house and the mother very kindly invites him for breakfast, so she has to fetch the food from inside the house, "The only thing to
eat is some naan in a basket, and three amrud, which have ripened in the the time since Baba–Jan has gone...I hide one amrud and a piece of bread
under a cloth so my mother will have something to eat" (Staples 60). This presents how Najmah cares for her mother, even though,she's upset about the
invitation to the evil uncle but she still leaves food for mother. (CS) This all depicts how the Taliban have affected Najmah by making her more
responsible and mature since the taking of her brother and father.
(MIP–2) Najmah is then driven by her mother and baby brother's deaths to find her father and brother who have been taken by the Taliban. (SIP–A)
She deals with the deaths of her mother and brother dying, with total silence. (STEWE–1) After the house bombing, she carries Habib over to her
mother and puts them together, "I sit in the dirt

Under The Persimmon Tree Analysis
The loss of somebody or someone can lead to PTSD, which can later lead to other effects, and it is said that up to 20% of all adults in America who
have experienced some type of loss develops PTSD. (BS–1) Towards the beginning of the novel Under the Persimmon Tree, there is a character named
Najmah who loses the ability to speak and loses control of her life, as a result of Mada–jan and Habib's loss. (BS–2) As an effect of Baba–jan and Nur
missing from her life, Najmah changes her mindset and the decisions she makes from then on. (BS–3) Najmah's relationships with others and voice is
altered, this happens once she meets Nusrat and she adjusts due to her losses. (TS) Throughout the novel Under the Persimmon Tree, we see a
character named ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"I awake with the sun on the morning I plan to take them back into the hills"(57). Najmah is showing awareness and making her own decisions that
show she has control of her life, compared to more later in the novel when she has witnessed the bombing and later, she shows no sign of life or
control. (STEWE–2) Najmah loses sense of her life, that can be seen from how she reacts to her mother and brothers bombing. "I sit in the dirt beside
them quietly, not crying, not thinking, not even aware that I am breathing, and it occurs to me that I might be dead, too"(83). There is no physical
reaction from Najmah showing unawareness. Later, Najmah is being taken to journey elsewhere, and she blindly agrees. "You will be safer dressed
as a boy traveling through strange areas." I obey without thinking,"(85). As a result of her blind acceptance she is given a new identity and ultimately
loses a say in her life, that is caused after the bombing and loss of Mada–Jan and Habib. (CS) Consequently, due to the death of Mada–jan and Habib,
Najmah loses the ability to speak and later loses control of her life, and overall shows Najmah being shaped from the people who are missing in her life.
(MIP–2) Secondly, Najmah's mindset is adjusted once she knows what her goal is, which was ultimately shaped due to the loss of her father and brother.
(SIP–A) Najmah starts to regain her focus and sets a goal for herself due to her need of reuniting with

Italo Calvino, Italian journalist, once said, "a classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say." Books can help build a meaning for
the reality around you. They construct a perspective within the world's issues. The words in these books can strike a chord within people's hearts,
minds, and actions. Suzanne Fisher Staples, author of Under The Persimmon Tree, uses her words and her voice to describe the plight of civilization in
Afghanistan and Pakistan–the mistreatment of women. The mistreatment of women has been going on for centuries, even during the time of
Muhammad–a religious leader who was believed to be a messenger of God. According to an article called, "Muslim Women", Muhammad "improved
the status of... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
People need to step up and be heroes to help these heroines. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4KEQxVvwPw I previously talked about the
mistreatment of women but something that is also very important is how women feel about all of this. It is very easy to find out the issue at hand
but in order to really understand, we need to dig deeper. In the book, one character who lives Peshawar, Pakistan reminisces of how "easily violence
happens here, how quickly it passes, with everyone acting as if everything is normal soon afterward" (Staples 81). Peace is a desperate situation for
Afghanistan and Pakistan because of the Taliban's sharia. When the character says that violence is easily caused, it relates to current day as well and
how the treatment of women and Taliban rule is continuous. According to an article named "FATA women and the question of Taliban sharia", "The
precedent of Taliban rule and their treatment of women are visible next door to us". This scenario is present throughout Afghanistan and Pakistan
which make me wonder how these countries can return to peace after a long period of time where nothing was right. One of the characters in the book
describes the things the Taliban forbids such as "playing music" or "laughing out loud" (Staples 12). The same character states other rules of the
Taliban sharia. Some of these include, "the Taliban whip women whose shoes

(AGG) People have the choice to deal with loss in two different ways: they can choose to let it control their lives, or they can let it empower them
through their actions and other decisions. This was the choice Nusrat had to make in the book Under the Persimmon Tree. (BS–1) Nusrat's connection
to the loss of Margaret; her sister, shaped her decisions throughout the book. (BS–2) Nusrat loss of religion led to her decision of finding Faiz and
adopting Islam. (BS–3) When she found out Faiz died, she realized she must make amends with her parents. (TS) Nusrat chose throughout the book to
let her losses help her and shape her character.
(MIP–1) The loss of Margaret has a connection to everything Nusrat does and helped her find what she wanted to pursue as an adult, which lead to her
split from Christianity and her parents. (SIP–A) Losing Margaret affected how she interacted with people as a child and how what she did to cope led
to her purpose as an adult.(STEWE–1) After Margaret's death, Elaine found herself missing her best friend, and she began to grow distant from her
parents. She began rejecting their ideas of meeting new friends, and instead found other ways to fill the void. Elaine prefered to work with animals
instead of meeting new friends, like her mother suggested. "Her mother tried to tell her that Margaret was gone and she would have to learn to do
things with other people... instead of making friends she volunteered at the animal shelter" (Staples 54). The loss of

Under The Persimmon Tree Quotes
In the book Under The Persimmon Tree written by Suzanne Fisher Staples, the character Najmah fled from her home village because of conflict.
Staples story about what happens after that is very unrealistic. The fictional portrayal of Najmah's journey as a refugee is very different from real life
as a refugee. Staples used this to show how experiences can impact someone's character. The refugee experience in the book was easier than it is in real
life."I am given a brand–new Punjabi Dereshi made out of lightweight woven fabric. It's warm and clean and too large(staples pg 148). Clearly she is
getting supplies of clothing and is being treated good. "At least twice a day a truck comes from the Pakistani border city loaded ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
The quote is talking about how the refugee arrests in Afghanistan to Pakistan have gone up very quickly. Najmah did not have to witness a lot of
crime as a refugee like there is in real life. "there are 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan today and some of them were issued POR's
{Proof Of Registration cards"} (Voanews.com). In real life you have to register to be a refugee in the book Najmah just fled from her home and
became a refugee without registration. "If there is a person traveling on a bus and if security or any police constable comes and asks for
identification, and the person doesn't have one they would be taken down from the bus and taken aside" (Voanews.com). Najmah in real life wouldn't
of made it as far as she did because some sort of security would of tried to ask for identification before she went

Literary Analysis Of Persimmons
A bildungsroman is a story showing the evolution of a character from an innocent childhood to a greater understanding of life that comes with
adulthood. In Li–Young Lee's poem, Persimmons, he tells the story of the speaker in an episodic manner to convey how the chapters of life are
intertwined and the impact they all have on one another. This is a free verse poem and lends itself to the assumption of being autobiographical. It
begins with the speaker in sixth grade being lectured by his teacher for not knowing the difference between "persimmon" and "precision." It sharply
transitions into discussing the art of eating a persimmon. The poem then flashes forward to a more mature memory where we are introduced to a
euphemistic portrayal of... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This is clear in that a disproportionate amount of his poems from the Rose collection as well as The Winged Seed: A Remembrance collection drew
from these two categories of his life.
While it is uncertain when exactly Li–Young Lee wrote this poem, it can be deducted that it was written sometime in the early eighties or late
seventies. The exact date cannot be confirmed since it was published along with many of his other works in Rose, which was published in 1986.
This year was full of tragedy with the Challenger explosion on live TV and the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explosion. The years leading up to
1986 and following it were full of rising political tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. Amidst all this darkness, Lee takes the time
to reflect upon his own life and the simple pleasures within it, focusing on the individual human experience as opposed to societies faults. The initial
analysis of the poem begins with investigation of the title, Persimmons. The poem gives an informational description about how to eat a persimmon in
second half of the first stanza, so from this it is inferred that a persimmon is a fruit that is delicate and has savory meat on the inside. Also the speaker
tells the story of when he was a kid in class and his teacher brought in a persimmon and he refused to

Li Young Lee Persimmons Essay
Li–Young Lee's delightful and evocative poem shows us the difference between being poetic and being pedantic. For Lee, a Chinese–American who
grew up bilingual, the main purpose of language was to evoke and describe feelings and the deeper meanings of things. For his miserable sixth grade
teacher, Mrs. Walker, the only measure of language was whether her students used it correctly, precisely. Mrs. Walker was not concerned about the
beauty of precision (as in mathematics), or the deliciousness of persimmons (which, as we see later in the poem, she had no conception about). She was
only concerned that her students not confuse the two words. Chinese and English, having evolved completely separately as languages and cultures,
have pronunciations that are entirely different. So when a young Chinese boy is trying to master English, it would not be unusual for him to confuse
two English words that have similar pronunciations, but entirely different meanings. Thus his confusion between persimmon and precision. But as the
grown up poet Lee shows us, precision is important here not in distinguishing the pronunciation of persimmon from a similar sounding but completely
unrelated word. Rather, precision is needed in knowing "how to choose persimmons," and "how to eat" them, and most important, how... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
It served to symbolize the strong contrast between the teaching styles of the poet's mother and the clueless Mrs. Walker. While the latter tries to
introduce the class to the fruit she calls the Chinese apple, she ignorantly brings one that "wasn't ripe or sweet." So instead of the children tasting a
delicious fruit that they might remember and enjoy the rest of their lives, they bite into a piece of persimmon that is so tart and bitter it scrunches up
their faces. Lee's mother, on the other hand, certainly serves only deliciously ripe persimmons to her boy, and sanctifies the fruit with a traditional
Chinese idea wrapped in motherly

(AGG) On a clear, starry night, look at the majestic stars and wonder – Do they inspire hope or guide decisions? (BS–1) There is a clear connection
that the author of Under the Persimmon Tree establishes between the main characters and the stars to demonstrate the relationship each character has
with their family. (BS–2) Staples also represented their hope and prosperity using these celestial lights. (BS–3) She eventually portrayed the stars as
symbols that enabled each character to become increasingly independent through consistent guidance. (TS) It has become evident that Suzanne Fisher
Staples has developed stars into her own symbols that she uses to display a connection built on hope and guidance in her novel and in real life.
(MIP–1) The stars show the connection that the protagonists have with their loved ones when they each suffered major losses. (SIP–A) The stars were
shown as a bridge connecting Najmah and her family, despite distances. (STEWE–1) After the Taliban arrived, Najmah had been thinking about her
father and brother. Najmah says, "That night I lie on my back wrapped in my quilt, my arms behind my head, staring at the sky and thinking about
where under these very same stars, this very same sky, Baba–Jan and my brother might be,"(Staples 63). The author represented Najmah's thoughts
about them using the stars. Whenever Najmah thinks about her father and his whereabouts, Staples either makes Najmah look at the stars or think
about the stars too. This

(AGG) As said by the great William Shakespeare, "Self–love, my liege, is not so vile a sin, as self–neglecting", a journey through life will be
dampened by self neglect, but can be made richer in acceptance. (BS–1)In Under the Persimmon tree Nusrat's life is turned upside down through a
struggle with grief, and attempts to correct it through helping lead to her dissociating from her world. (BS–2)Nusrat additionally heaps on feelings of
helplessness as she neglects herself to help others. (BS–3)Luckily Nusrat is able to see the crossroads she passed and finds the empathy to reconnect to
her past. (TS) Throughout Under the Persimmon Tree Nusrat's attempts to find out why her sister died leads to her losing the ability to be herself, until
she eventually reconnects to her past and finds peace.
(MIP–1) The initial shock of Margaret's death sends Elaine into a guilt spiral that prompts her to help everything and everyone in sight, and makes her
disassociate from the world around her. (SIP–A) Before her transition into Nusrat, Elaine struggled with inability and guilt, and tried to solve her
problems by helping everything and everyone she could. (STEWE–1) As a child Nusrat tried to make up for not being able to help her sister by helping
animals in her neighborhood. "Often her mother would come out to the back yard to find Elaine making a splint out of popsicle sticks, applying them
to the leg of pal the family's tolerant cat, and winding gauze around the whole mess. Because

Under The Persimmon Tree Thesis
In the book Under The Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples the education and quality of it is very different from the rest of the world. In
Afghanistan the education is very poor especially for women. This the same in the book Under The Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples. The
book Under The Persimmon Tree is about a family that has to go to a refugee camp with a struggling economy with huge amounts of families living
there too and people getting killed by the Taliban. In thenovel education is portrayed differently than it actually is in real life, because the Taliban does
not support education they do not get much money from the government to support schools and education is a lot harder to continue. No one cares
about women's education obviously because no one cares enough to fix ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Also government does not give them enough money to have the extra classes they just have core classes and nothing else. Education is poor as
you see. Women not a lot of priorities in school men are given a lot more priorities in school "boys are given priority in education." (Giaya). This is
stating that real world examples show that women are given as good education as they do in America. Women are not allowed to make their
choices when they want jobs they have little to no options compared to men they have a better chance of getting a job compared to men because
they do not get as good of an education shown here "women can not get jobs such as engineers or doctors that require a lot of education." (Giaya).
School does not have the extra activities we have like recess and estar activities like our oak basketball team. "It's like you go to school to school and
learn academics and nothing else." (Giaya). This is showing that real students like us just living In differen up environment are treated differently
because they don't have enough

Under The Persimmon Essay
(AGG)Have you ever wondered what painful decisions you would have to make as an Afghan refugee? (BS–1)Many refugees struggle with having
food and a good source of income to support their families.
(BS–2) Education for refugees especially girls is rarely offered in real life but Nusrat teaches refugee children to benefit them if they return to their
homeland's.(BS–3)Many refugees face day to day conflicts involving relying on others for food and taking care of family members.(TS)This proves
that many refugees have hard lives and many of them will always have hard lives.
(MIP–1)In the book Under the Persimmon Tree, the daily life of refugees shows that many refugees struggle with having food and finding
jobs.(SIP–A) Many refugees rely on food

(AGG) As Mae Jemison, the astronaut once said, "I still look up at the stars, and it gives me hope, and it gives me energy. I think one of the things
that we have to think about it is, we are all part of this universe." (BS–1) In Under the Persimmon Tree, Najmah's family caused a surface connection to
the stars that the character was aware of. (BS–2) The stars were especially reflective of Najmah's state of mind during her physically and mentally
taxing journey to Torkham. (BS–3) The author puts value on the symbol, with things such as decisions and major events in the novel. (TS) In Suzanne
Fisher Staples' Under the Persimmon Tree, the author uses the stars as a symbol to convey Najmah's hopefulness. (MIP–1)Najmah has an inherent
connection to the stars, caused by the people around her.(SIP–A) This surface connection starts with her father's lessons about the stars, and her name.
(STEWE–1) Najmah's father, called Baba–jan by Najmah, gave them lessons in basic astronomy. "Baba–jan taught us to find Al–Qutb, the star that
never moves... He knelt by my side and told me to make a fist, and then to point the second knuckle to the star. 'As long as you know the stars, you
will never be lost,'" (Staples 10). This meaning of guidance that Baba–jan gave to the stars is something that Najmah is aware of, and is the root of her
connection. (STEWE–2) Najmah's father also dedicated his daughter's name to the stars."Baba–jan loves the stars so much

Najmah's Under The Persimmon Tree
(AGG) How can the young girl Najmah lose what she loves, along with her voice and say in her life, but get most of it back? (BS–1)Najmah lost her
voice, and now does not have a say in her life. (BS–2)Najmah has a plan now, and is using her silence as a tool. (BS–3)Najmah regains her voice, as
well as a say in her life (TS)In Under the Persimmon Tree, Najmah has lost her voice and her say in her life but she also got her voice and say in her
life back with a plan. (Mip–1)Najmah has lost both her voice and a say in her life. (SipA) Najmah's home being bombed is the specific event that led
to the loss of her voice. (Stewe–1) Najmah has not been able to speak ever since she witnessed her mom die. This is shown when in the book it says,
"We look at... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(65). When she says that her tongue is locked inside her mouth, it is her saying that she cannot speak .(Stewe–2) This is proven to be the specific event
that leads to the loss of her voice when she says, "They speak to me and try to make me feel welcome. But I feel as if my tongue has been locked
inside my mouth since the moment I saw my mother airing the quilts just before the bombs fell".(88) There she says again that her tongue has been
locked in her mouth which, is her saying that she cannot speak. She also said this before her mom died, and her using the same phrase is making the
direct connection between her being bombed, and her after she was bombed. (SipB) Najmah has lost her say in life ever since her family was bombed.
(Stewe–1) Najmah lost

"War. War never changes," Is a water downed quote from Einstein which is a very true statement, which connects to almost every war. In the book
Under the Persimmon Tree, the main character is right in the northern reign of Afghanistan and is trying to escape the war by traveling to a southern
country called Pakistan. In both the book and in real life it people have real courage to venture out into the world and try and find loved ones and
find safety. The book Under the Persimmon Tree has very close relations to the Afghanistan war because the book takes place during the war.
Afghanistan, a less progressive country that has been in constant war for about 17 years now and there have been peace talks. Before the war started
Afghanistan was still... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Michael O'Hanlon (2011) tells us "We need a better way to help the War in Afghanistan 4 Afghan government improve its performance without inciting
periodic public spats along the way that set back our efforts to cooperate. And we also need a way to help build for Afghanistan's post–Karzai future,
the sooner the better." Government is in a bad place in Afghanistan and need a lot of support. The government doesn't have enough people to keep the
schools open from the Taliban. In Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Staples (2005), it says "...but the Taliban shut down the schools in our village
and all the villages of Kunduz." (pg 184) Taliban has tons of authority in most regions of Afghanistan. In 2009 our general looked at the government and
saw tons of corruption and it threatened itself. Michael O'Hanlon (2011) says that "the situation in Afghanistan famously and dramatically concluded
that corruption in the Afghan government was comparable to the insurgency itself is posing a serious threat to the country." There are many ways that
governments are corrupt and are unstable. Most governments around the world need to be checked and supervised around the world. The quote will
never become false because it is in human nature to fight. Afghanistan is

Persimmons By Li-Young Lee Analysis
"Persimmons": Between Heritage and Upbringing In the poem "Persimmons" Li–Young Lee leads us on a journey that bounces between childhood and
adulthood. There is an undercurrent of divisiveness as Lee recounts moments from his time at school that conflict with the lessons he learns at home.
Lee writes "Persimmons" as a stream of consciousness reflection of his youth and his struggle to reconcile his Chinese heritage with his American
upbringing. He structures the poem to allow the audience to see these moments through his eyes and uses persimmons to show not only the emotional
attachment that words have but as a symbol for the strained relationship Lee had with his white teacher Mrs. Walker. In reading the poem we gain a
deeper understanding of Lee's complicated relationship with the two worlds he finds himself in. The structure of "Persimmons" was a deliberate
choice as Lee attempts to share his memories not exactly as they happened but rather as he re–experiences them. He narrates in the stream of
consciousness method where each stanza is its own episode retelling a memory. But the stories are not told in a linear or chronological fashion and
instead it seems the narrator thinks of the next story to tell as he tells the current one. The first and third stanzas utilize this methodology to great effect
to demonstrate the different reactions Lee has during two different moments when words fail him. In the first stanza, Lee relates the memory of his
teacher punishing

Persimmon Case Summary
Sales growth is defined as the increase in a company's sales over a particular period of time, usually given as a percentage. It is better for the
company to have a higher sales growth. The sales of Barratt increased by 16.9% in one year from 2013 to 2014, while the sales of Persimmon grew
by 23.4%. Persimmon performed better than Barratt in terms of sales growth during that period of time.
Gross profit growth is defined as the increase in company's gross profit over a year, usually given as a percentage. The higher the gross profit growth
is, the better it is for the company. The gross profit of Barratt increased by 47.38% from 2013 to 2014, while the gross profit of Persimmon increased
only by 31.33%.
Operating profit growth is defined ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It basically shows the increase in the net profit of the company from the previous year. The net profit of Barratt increased by a staggering 308.84%,
while the net profit of Persimmon increased only by 44.63%.
Gross profit margin ratio shows the amount of revenue which remains after paying the cost of products sold. The gross profit margin of Barratt in
2013 was 13.78% and in 2014 it was 16.77%. It means that Barratt used 13.78% of its revenue to cover the direct costs and the remaining amount of
revenue could be used for operating expenses in 2013. In 2014 Barratt gross profit margin increased by 2.99% in comparison with the previous year.
The gross profit margin of Persimmon in 2013 was 20.87% and it grew to 22.22% in 2014.
Operating profit margin measures a company's pricing strategy and operating efficiency. The operating profit margin of Barratt was 9.59% in 2013
and it was 12.98% in 2014, therefore Barratt got 9.59 pence before paying interest and tax for every pound of sales in 2013 and 12.98 pence in 2014.
The operating profit margin of Persimmon was 16.33% in 2013 and it grew to 18.08% in

Under The Persimmon Tree Summary
From the novels "Under the Persimmon Tree" by Suzanne Fisher Staples, "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai and "A Long Walk to
Water" by Linda Sue Park, the refugee child have to deal with traumatizing events occurring during their journey. First, Najmah is a teenager living in
Kunduz, Afghanistan who had to flee to Peshawar, Pakistan to find her brother and father, who have been taken by the Taliban, Salva is an 11 year
old boy who had to flee from his village in South Sudan who has set out to find his family and Ha, a ten year old girl who had to flee her home because
the Communist will take over Saigon. Secondly, all of the refugees have to flee their homes because of their country being at war; the Taliban, the
Sudanese Civil war

'Symbolism In Under The Persimmon Tree'
(AGG) Symbols are used everyday to explain hidden or subtle meanings. (BS–1) In the book Under the Persimmon Tree, the author uses symbolism to
explain how the stars comfort the characters into believing that their families are still out there. (BS–2) Later in the book, she also connects the stars
with the characters through fear and loss. (BS–3) Ultimately, though, the author eventually relates the stars to hope and determination for the
characters. (TS) Evidently, in Under the Persimmon Tree, the author uses symbolism to convey the stars through different literary meanings to the
readers. (MIP–1) On the surface, the author makes it so that the characters associate the stars with their loved ones. (SIP–A) The author does this with
Najmah,... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(SIP–A) This change, though hesitant, is very apparent with Najmah. (STEWE–1) It takes her quite some time to calm down after the deaths of
Mada–jan and Habib, but eventually, Najmah realizes that her remaining family might still be out there and forms a plan to find them. However, she
can't just leave Akhtar and Khalida straight away, so she describes "l[ying] awake the rest of the night thinking about [her] plan, staring at the stars,
and praying for guidance" (Staples 131). The sudden change of mind here is not subtle, but that doesn't matter. The author makes the point that the
feelings of fear and loss that Najmah had previously are now slowly disintegrating, and that her seeing the stars a source of guidance is a sign of
growing determination and optimism. (STEWE–2) However, Najmah only really lets go of her fear pertaining to the stars much later, when she
witnesses a second meteor shower with Nusrat. At first, the mere image of the meteors shooting across the sky reminds Najmah of the meteor
shower she watched before the deaths of her mother and brother, sending her into a state of terror. However, Nusrat is able to calm her down by
teaching Najmah "that the sky is endless space and time" (Staples 227). This helps the young girl realize that she "feel[s] unimportant as a speck of
dust in [the universe]" (Staples 227). Najmah is

Introduction
(AGG) Many authors use symbolism to show the development of a character, like the author of Under The Persimmon Tree does. (BS–1) In the
beginning of the novel, Najmah changes from a childlike girl to an adult–like woman and the author uses the bukri, or baby goat, to symbolize this
change. (BS–2) When Mada–Jan and Habib die, Shaheed is born and Golestan Najmah dies and the author uses Najmah's first haircut to give a deeper
meaning to this change. (BS–3) After Najmah meets Nusrat, she develops into another version of herself and the author uses another haircut to add
another level beneath this literal change. (TS) The author uses symbolism to show Najmah's development throughout the novel.
(MIP–1) Najmah goes from an innocent child in the family to an adult in the family and the author uses the bukri to show this change. (SIP–A) The
author shows that Najmah grows up to be an adult after her father and brother were taken away. (STEWE–1) After Najmah's brother and father are
taken away, her mother goes into depression and just silently sits. This is like a role reversal between Najmah and her mother. Before, Najmah
used to need to be told to do the work because she was much like a child. Now, it is the other way around. Najmah knows she has to have the
maturity of an adult in order to survive, so she does. This is why she tells her mother, "'You may choose not to live, but the baby and I need you. And
the flock needs food. I don't want to die"'(38). Right after

(AGG) Many authors use symbolism to show the development of a character, like the author of Under The Persimmon Tree does. (BS–1) In the
beginning of the novel, Najmah changes from a childlike girl to an adult–like woman and the author uses the bukri, or baby goat, to symbolize this
change. (BS–2) When Mada–Jan and Habib die Shaheed is born while Golestan Najmah dies, and the author uses Najmah's first haircut to give a
deeper meaning to this change. (BS–3) After Najmah meets Nusrat, she develops into another version of herself and the author uses another haircut to
add another level behind this literal change. (TS) The author uses symbolism to show Najmah's development throughout the novel.
(MIP–1) Najmah goes from an innocent child in the family to an adult in the family and the author tracks this change with the bukri. (SIP–A) The
author shows that Najmah grows up to be an adult after her father and brother were taken away. (STEWE–1) After Najmah's brother and father are
taken away, her mother goes into depression and just silently sits. This is like a role reversal between Najmah and her mother. Before, Najmah
used to need to be told to do the work because she was much like a child. Now, it is the other way around. Najmah knows she has to have the
maturity of an adult in order to survive, so she does. This is why she tells her mother, "'You may choose not to live, but the baby and I need you. And
the flock needs food. I don't want to die"'(Staples 38). Right after she

Squeezed Persimmons By Yiyun Li
Randy Benoit
ENGL 122H – 02 (Dorrill)
Assignment 1: Li Essay
Draft 1, 3 March 2015
Squeezed Persimmon The short story "Persimmons" was written by Yiyun Li. Li was born in 1972 in Beijing and moved to the United States in 1996
to go to college. She originally studied immunology at the University of Iowa, but after taking a writing course she started writing fiction. She earned
her master of fine arts in 2005 with a focus on fiction (Yiyun). "Persimmons" is a short story told by a group of older men sitting around a tree. They
are in the middle of a drought, so their crops and animals are dying, and they are left with nothing to do. They tell the story of Lao Da, the protagonist
of the story. After his son was murdered, Lao Da planned revenge... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The term Lao Da means the boss or the leader of the group ("Lao"). The narrators show their respect to Lao Da by calling him "Lao Da" and
treating him as their leader, even though he is a murderer. The reason as to why these "soft persimmons" resort to violence is because the county
officials treat the lower class people, such as farmers, like shit. These soft persimmons are eventually "squeezed too hard" and can't take it
anymore. If the people of the town were treated fairly, they would not have to resort to such violence that Lao Da resorted to. Before Lao Da took
revenge, he tried as much as he possibly could to seek justice for what happened to his son. He tried multiple "riots" with his fellows, but the county
seats just pushed him aside and treated him as if he was a dog. After that he decided to wait until New Year's Eve, when everyone would be at their
own house to individually murder the seventeen county officials, starting with the one who murdered his son. The narrators seem to believe that the
county officials "Squeezed him enough for fun," and that they "Squeezed a murder out of it" (Li 182). Lao Da is not only a soft persimmon, but also a
heroic

Imagine a community being perfectly happy living life just how the people would like and having the freedom to do what they will, now imagine this
freedom being taken away from them and along with it, the people's happiness, all because a group of people want you to live like they do. Doesn't
seem too happy anymore, does it? In the book, Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples, this exact incident happened to the protagonist
Najmah. Although in the book, the Taliban is portrayed as a cruel group of people who make unreasonable rules and discriminate against women, the
book only mentions some less harsh events than the ones that happened in the reality of Afghanistan. In the book, the Taliban is portrayed as a cruel
group of people who discriminate women and have strict, unreasonable rules. When Najmah enters a town with Akhtar's family, "a black–turbaned
Taliban comes along with a bamboo stave ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This is because they have caused a great deal of conflict among the Afghan people. The book focuses on two people in particular, Najmah and
Nusrat. Najmah lives on a farm that is quite peaceful until the Taliban come. They disrespectfully raid her home and take all of the food and also
capture Najmah's father and brother (Staples page #). By targeting Najmah's home and family, the Taliban disrupted Najmah's life because after the
Taliban left, America thought that Golestan was where some members of the Taliban were hiding and bombed the village along with the farm. This
bomb killed Najmah's mother and newborn son and Najmah knew that she would have become independent and brave to find her captured family and
be at peace again. ([find evidence from book]) The Taliban was the reason why Faiz wanted to go to Afghanistan, to help people who were targeted by
them. Because of the Taliban, Faiz had gone there to help but instead, Nusrat lost her

Summary Of Under The Persimmon Tree
(AGG) Leaving their home in Afghanistan, refugees are forced to start a new life in Pakistan which is a daily struggle in view of the fact that they
have nothing. (BS–1) Throughout the novel Under the Persimmon Tree, the many services and resources the refugee camps offer like schooling, food,
and shelter are shown and help create literary elements. (BS–2) Since leaving everything in Afghanistan, the refugees constantly struggle with poverty
like how in the book when Najmah resorted to stealing because she didn't have any money. (BS–3) As a result of the fighting, women and girls like
Najmah have to take on male tasks in order to live. (TS) In Under the Persimmon Tree, Najmah and Nusrat's point of view reflects how the author uses
real life... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(STEWE–2) Meals are regularly provided in modern day Pakistani refugee camps because food is vital for human survival (Constable). Like in
Nusrat's school, they provided meals so the students can eat and not suffer from malnutrition. (SIP–B) The author includes a connection to make a
literary element by acknowledging that refugee camps have food that they prepare and serve to the refugees. (STEWE–1) When Husna brings out the
food when it's lunchtime in Nusrat's school it gives the message to the reader that refugee camp are very giving when it comes to food and education.
Schooling is very important for children and to find out what is happening around you and learn more about your culture. Refugee camps fortunately
supply the kids with education and teaching. Sadly, schools are a main target for violence because education is a weapon in the Middle East since not
many children are educated (Constable). (STEWE–2) This event in the text also reveals that Nusrat is very helpful and giving to her school children.
Nusrat not only takes time out of the day to teach the refugee children, she also helps cook meals so they don't starve. Also it reveals

Under The Persimmon Tree Thesis
The Taliban is a very dangerous group of extremist that rule Afghanistan and apply very strict rules. The book Under the Persimmon Tree has showed
the extreme rules of the Taliban. Under the Persimmon Tree is about a girl that lives in Afghanistan and tries to find her family after being taken by
the Taliban, while finding her family her parents both die along with her little brother and finds that her twin brother is her only part of her family
that's left. (thesis statement) The Taliban are an atrocious group in the book. One example of this is "We have heard how they lock people inside their
houses and burn them to the ground, how they slaughter men like goats, slitting them open and leaving their blood to soak in the ground"(Staples

Analysis Of Persimmon

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Luicina Davis

More from Luicina Davis (13)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Analysis Of Persimmon