In The Shadow Of The Banyan

Why do you think Ratner chose to write a novel rather than a memoir about her experiences? What are the benefits and drawbacks of that decision?

Early on, Big Uncle says of the revolution, “This one is just beginning, and I’m not sure what it is. It has yet to be named” (49). What does Big Uncle mean by this? Where is the line drawn between revolution and genocide? And how does the course of history affect the names given to these events?

Why is it so important for the Khmer Rouge to evacuate the cities? What are the immediate and long-terms effects of these evacuations?

How is the death of the Viraks’s infant child a turning point in the novel? In what ways is the child’s death different than the deaths Raami has seen or heard about so far? And how does it foreshadow later tragedies?

Describe the role storytelling plays in the novel. How does Raami use stories and narrative imagery as survival mechanisms? And how does her perspective on the value of storytelling shift over the course of the novel?

In what ways do Papa and Mama differ in their parenting approaches? How do these differences relate to broader themes surrounding storytelling?

In its propaganda, the Khmer Rouge elevates the base people as paragons of Cambodian society. In what ways do the Khmer Rouge’s actions reflect the organization’s hypocrisy with respect to simple rural living?

Radana’s death is a turning point for Raami and Mama’s relationship. How did Raami feel about Mama before and after this turning point?