Themes - Love, Loyalty & Belonging

Question 1

chapter 1

“an illegitimate person who would never have legitimate claim to the things other people had, things such as love, family, home, acceptance.”

Mariam

Answer 1

• She experiences love and acceptance from Laila
• Mariam is labelled a “harami”, which is a label she shamefully carries with her for her entire life

Question 2

Chapter 6

“For the first time, Mariam could hear [Jalil] with Nana’s ears.”

Mariam, Jalil

Answer 2

• Jalil’s true nature shines through, which shatters Mariam’s perspective of him
• Hearing Jalil with “Nana’s ears” shows how this also happened to Nana - she loved a man she thought was someone else, only to come to her senses when it is too late

Question 3

chapter 19

“It was Tariq who was real, flesh and blood.”

Laila

Answer 3

• Tariq is Laila’s source of comfort in a trying time (after Mammy’s death) and the man she truly loves

Question 4

chapter 25

“He spoke through the door and promised that he would come back … for her.”

Laila, Tariq

Answer 4

• a real display of love that will echo in the reader’s mind as events unfold in Laila’s life
• elipses - a pause as it would have been an emotional moment between the two + emphasises how passionately Tariq feels about being reunited with Laila one day

Question 5

AIPWCNHLCTT […] L, F, H, A.

Answer 5

“an illegitimate person who would never have legitimate claim to […] love, family, home, acceptance.”

Question 6

FTFT, MCHJWNE.

Answer 6

“For the first time, Mariam could hear [Jalil] with Nana’s ears.”

Question 7

IWTWWR, FAB.

Answer 7

“It was Tariq who was real, flesh and blood.”

Question 8

HSTTDAPTHWCB…FH

Answer 8

“He spoke through the door and promised that he would come back … for her.”