56 pages • 1-hour read
Once Were Warriors
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Essay Topics
How does the depiction of intergenerational trauma in Once Were Warriors shed light on the complex dynamics of violence and its enduring impact on the novel’s families and communities?
How does Duff represent slavery in Māori culture and how does this impact the novel’s broader discussions around decolonization, cultural revival, and healing?
Discuss the role of the education system in Once Were Warriors, particularly in terms of social inequalities and the characters’ experiences of loss and marginalization?
Compare and contrast Beth Heke and Nig Heke’s experience regarding community.
How does the concept of hope and the pursuit of dreams emerge in the novel?
How does the narrative explore the notion of personal responsibility? Discuss, for example, representations of addiction.
Tania is the only female member of the Brown Fists in the novel. Analyze the way Duff constructs Tania’s character.
In what ways does the exploration of violence in Once Were Warriors reflect larger social issues, such as poverty, cultural displacement, and intergenerational trauma? How do these factors contribute to the characters’ experiences of violence?
How is masculinity presented in the novel? Discuss, for example, the societal pressures placed on individuals to conform to assumed traditional notions of warriorhood, and children’s perception of “toughness” in men.
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