Chapter 18

The Iranian National team travels to Venezuela to compete.  Reza misses a curfew and is caught by the guards.  Ardeshir must decide between loyalty to his father and loyalty to his friend.

1. The most difficult choice you have had to make. 
2. The differences between loyalty and blind faith 
3. It is better to die a hero than live a coward.  Agree or disagree.

1. Contrast Reza’s attitude toward the Mullah with Ardeshir’s. 
2. Discuss the “author’s journey” to this point.  What has she learned? 
3. Why does Reza leave with Emilo?
4. Why does Reza come back to the compound instead of escaping with Emilo?
5. Were you surprised that Ardeshir defected?  Support your answer.

Fold your paper into four equal columns.  Label two “To defect” and two “Not to defect.”  Complete the columns for Reza and for Ardeshir by using at least three specific reasons in each column. *

1. Reza saw a woman pull her child closer as they approached.  The sight of the blindfolded American hostages, fresh in the minds of on-lookers, uprooted anxieties at the sight of the fearsome Iranian wrestling team.
2. Ardeshir shook his head. “I can’t. My family…I…just can’t.”  Reza’s whispering voice shook. “You want to go back to being Khomeini’s murderer? Living with rage and fear? I can’t do it.”  He looked at Ardeshir.  “And neither can you.”  Ardeshir rolled onto his back.  Under the single stream of moonlight, Reza saw tears roll down his friend’s face. I’m so sorry Ardeshir.  But we have to find a life…
3. In the moonlight, he remembered Hassan.  Crushed in the cage between the other prisoners, Hassan’s ragged face locked with Reza’s.  He began shouting, but Reza couldn’t hear him above the cries of so many.  Reza pushed his arm to get closer, closer to somehow touch Hassan.  Hassan’s arm too dangled with one outstretched finger pointing to their mother, repeating, “Go!  Leave Now!  Go!”

Tone conveys an attitude or mood. By examining the choices an author makes in characters, incidents, setting and diction, readers can isolate the tone of a work. In one to two paragraphs, contrast the tone of Chapters 1-5 with the tone of Chapters 6-13 by using specific examples of characters (actions and dialogue), incidents, setting (nature/weather) and diction (word choice).

Against the dramatic landscape of world altering events, Reza’s heroric journey unfolds.