34 pages • 1 hour read
Paul RusesabaginaAn Ordinary Man
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2006A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Rusesabagina writes that “a false view of history is a toxin in the bloodstream” (54). Explain this statement in the context of the Rwandan genocide.
Despite being the aggressors in this instance of the conflict, Hutus thought of themselves as victims of the Tutsi’s, convinced that “the person whose throat you do not cut will be the one who cuts yours” (62). How does the history of conflict between the two tribes explain this seeming contradiction?
What is the significance of the title of the book in the context of Rusesabagina’s description of himself? Is he really “an ordinary man”? Why or why not?
Why does Rusesabagina listen to hate speech on the radio? Does it help him manage his situation? Why or why not?
Rusesabagina saves more than a thousand lives. What are some ways that he does this, and what do these methods say about both Rusesabagina and the state of affairs in Rwanda at the time?
How does the “Rwandan no” play into Rusesabagina’s story? Give examples of him using this tactic to diffuse difficult situations. How do these examples compare with the ways he sees the “Rwandan no” negatively impacting his country?
Given Rusesabagina’s description of the events, what do you think were the reasons for the international community’s indifference towards the genocide?
Rwanda has a history of being colonized by different powers. Compare the strategies used by the colonizers to those used by traditional Rwandan rulers. Are they similar or different? How?
Which government policy decisions led to the genocide? Why?
What methods or practices does Rusesabagina recommend to ensure sure that horrors like the Rwandan genocide do not repeat?
