First They Killed My Father

Much of Ung’s memoir is about her family and her relationship with her siblings and parents. What role do these relationships play in shaping her experience during and after the war? Consider the following points as you develop your ideas:

• The significance of the memoir’s title as well as certain chapter titles
• The type of relationship Ung has with each family member
• Ung’s use of perspectives and points of view to explore the impact of genocide
• The exploration of The Strength of Familial Love in Wartime through Ung’s stories

Teaching Suggestion: Consider reminding students of the unit’s remaining two themes: How Young People Cope with Survival and How the Government Justifies Genocide. While they are not directly related to familial love, they impact the way that love manifests. As the discussion builds, consider asking probing questions to help students connect to all three themes.

Differentiation Suggestion: Some students may have difficulty recalling the characters and their direct relationships to Ung. In anticipation of this problem, consider drafting a detailed list or family tree that depicts Ung’s immediate family members and their roles in the story. This could also serve as an additional class activity or take-home assignment in preparation for this Discussion/Analysis Prompt.