The novel mirrors the real life of the people of Nigeria as the characters are subjected to a number of forms of subjugation.
-While staying with Aunty Ifeoma in Nsukka, Jaja and Kambili experience a heat wave without electricity to power any type of air conditioning. Except for the elite of the country, a class the wealthy Eugene most definitely belongs to, Nigerians are often are forced to go without modern necessities.
-Aunty Ifeoma contends with a lack of an adequate fuel supply.Midway through the novel, Obiora asks “‘Will the fuel make it, Mom?’” (Adichie 132). A woman then stops her car and walks towards Ifeoma’s to say that her “…My own car stopped near Easter Shop yesterday…My son sucked one liter from my husband’s car this morning, just so I can get to the market.O di egwu. I hope fuel comes soon”(133).
-Another scene sees Kambili remarking on spoiled meat from Aunt Ifeoma’s freezer due to frequent electricity outages. “‘So much wasted meat,’” Kambili says (246).Ifeoma responds: “Wasted, kwa? I will boil it well with spices and cook away the spoilage’” (246). Not only is Ifeoma used to an unreliable power supply, but she is also used to living with a scarcity of food. As well, the Nigeria she lives in suffers from a “poor supply of potable water” (Okuyade 251).
Mama's Figurines "Things started to fall apart when my brother, Jaja, did not go to communion and Papa flung his heavy missal across the room and broke the figurines on the etagere(Kambili page 1)." Mama has some beloved ceramic figurines of ballet dancers that she keeps in the house. She always polishes them after Papa beats her. Mama, Kambili, and Jaja never speak of Papa’s violence, but polishing the figurines become a kind of euphemism for his domestic abuse. On Palm Sunday, the turning point for the family, Papa gets angry at Jaja’s open disobedience and throws his missal, breaking the figurines. As she cleans them up, Mama tells Kambili that she won’t need to replace them. This shows that something has changed in the family dynamic, and Mama won’t stand for violence anymore, just as Jaja asserts his independence by disobeying Papa. This being said, the figurines symbolize the silence the family lives with under the fear of Papa’s violence, and when the figurines are broken it means the beginning of freedom.
Kambili reminds me of myself in some ways. She loves her father, but its easily shown that his religious views and ways can be very overwhelming. Especially for a teenage girl. While reading this novel, I had flashbacks of many times when my grand mom would turn every conversation into religion. Im not saying that Im not religious at all, but Im only 17. Its easily understood for young teens to be confused and not want to talk about God in every conversation. But, I also had to respect my grand mom. Kambili is a very respectful child to her father no matter what. Respect for family members, especially elder ones, shows a sign of honor and value.
"A love sip, he called it, because you shared the little things you loved with the people you loved. Have a love sip, he would say, and Jaja would go first. Then I would hold the cup with both hands and raise it to my lips. One sip. The tea was always too hot, always burned my tongue, and if lunch was something peppery. my raw tongue suffered. But it didn't matter, because I knew that when the tea burned my tongue, it burned Papas love into me(Adichie page 8)." After reading this, it stuck to me. I pictured this whole scene in my head very vivid and clear. It really shows how much love Kambili has for her father. As little as sipping from the same cup of tea shows such an abundance amount of love she has for him.
In what genre does your book belong? Give reasons why and explain. "Damned" would be considered a realistic fiction book. Realistic fiction is a genre consisting of stories that could have actually occurred to people in real life. Fictional characters in this book (Madison, Babette, Leonardo, Etc.) react similarly to real people. In "Damned", Madison is in a present setting that could taken place in today's world. The characters in this book could actually go to Hell and do "bad things" realistically. The characters in this book live in Hell, and if you believe in an after life, then this could be realistic to you. Madison has realistic problems in this book, she feels depressed when she lives on Earth...but when she arrives in Hell, she feels at home. Make a collection of pictures to describe this book.
The devil obviously plays a huge role in this book. Everyone in the book is going on a hunt for the devil in Hell!!!!!!
The Breakfast Club describes the main characters in the book. The cheerleader..jock..nerd.. and the punk rocker. All stuck in Hell together, forced to become friends. Questions for thought!!!!!!!!! (please answer these) Would you recommend this book to a younger or an older person? Explain why. Do you think Madison and her friends will ever find the Devil? If you were to make an assumption, do you think Madison will end up with Leonard? Why?
Compare a character in this book to a character in another book:
While reading "Damned", I instantly got a flashback. Madison from Damned reminded me of Katnis Everdeen from "The Hunger Games". Madison is a very straight forward, tom-boyish teen girl. Which is basically the same as Katnis Everdeen in The Hunger Games. Katnis is ends up being more "girly" after she develops feelings for Pita. Madison, just like Katnis Everdeen, starts to act differently once she starts liking the boy she met in Hell, Leanardo.
Write a Poem about the main character in the story:
Im home.
Home isn't fresh baked cookies
or a happy family. Home isn't
family dinners or church on
sundays.
Im home.
Home isn't warm and cozy.
Home isn't welcoming or
comforting. Its not family.
Its not happiness. Its not
home.
Im home.
Home is being different.
Home is living on the edge.
Home is doing drugs.
Home is dark...cold.
Home is living. Really
living.
Im home.
What would you say to convince the librarian to put this book in the library?
Well.. I would tell the librarian that teenagers need to read about a topic they would enjoy. I wouldnt lie, teenagers like to smoke weed and perform "reckless" doings. So whats better than reading a book about that?????? Teens would actually read more and more if they could choose books of interest. So it would have a positive affect on students. How could the librarian turn that down!!? And, its not like the book is influencing anything negative. Madison smoked weed... then went to Hell. So, it could be a very interesting novel that teaches teens!
Madison is a thirteen year old girl who wakes up in Hell from what she can recall, smoking too much weed... but "my parents told me to venture off and try new things in life, because evil doesn't exist, only bad situations." Madison, unlike many others who now call Hell their home, enjoys the surrounding setting. The dirty cells, the poisoned candy on the ground, and the non stop screams from fellow members who now are in this so called "Hell." Madison's main goal is to meet the only and only SATAN!
What is something you do or feel that is like the main character in the story?
Personally, I could connect to Madison more frequently than none. Madison, at first is a more quiet and shy girl who finds Hell interesting with an open mind. She's open to going off and adventuring the "gateways of Hell" with her dreamy brown- eyed crush, Leonardo. Throughout the story, Madison states how she never felt a real connection with her parents, she always felt like an outsider in the family. Great, I felt like a character of a book, but at least someone understood me... even if it just is some made up character. Madison is not a girl to go out of her way to show off or act "dumb" to get attention from boys. Of course attention is nice every now and then, but not when your basically asking for it! If you were wondering who I am talking about, her name is Babette. The typical "slutty cheerleader" who wont ever shut up about how she gained 3 pounds. Yes, that girl. Babette gets under Madison's skin without even trying. Just by being herself. While reading this book, detail after detail, trait after trait, I start resembling Madison more and more. If i could have a book written after myself, it would be called "Damned" and my name would be Madison.
Make a collection of symbols or songs for events in the story.
For when Madison is thinking about Leonardo, but he's thinking of Babette. She knows that he has feelings for her, but he randomly started to change up on her. Towards the middle of her situation, like the song, she gets angry and mad, but it ends with her accepting the fact.
Whenever I listen to this song, I get a true rebellious teenager feeling. I feel how Madison feels as she wakes up in her cell. Sorta confused, but at the same time she doesn't care. She's okay with being a reckless teen in Hell with others just like her. Just like the baby in the music video, she's new to everything and she is willing to explore.
"Creep" is about being an outsider, or at least feeling like one. The way Madison describes herself, while she was on Earth, is exactly like this song. She didn't feel whole or complete... until she woke up in Hell.
Why would specific groups of people like or dislike this book?
Groups of people that are older and more conservative or religious would definitely not approve of this book. Older people would be reading this book thinking teens are all devil worshipers who want to go to Hell. Thats not quite the case. I think the main reason older people would be against this book, is because of how generations have changed and close minded people are becoming more opened to things. Obviously younger people would understand this book and why the author wrote it. Books that teens can connect to are much easier and interesting to read.
