An Olympian S Journey from Airmen to Castaway to Captive

Unbroken An Olympian’s Journey from Airmen to Castaway to Captive By, Laura Hillenbrand PART I Hillenbrand recounts Louie’s bullied youth, his adolescent delinquency, and his transitions from high school track star to a top-ten Olympic runner and to being drafted by the Army Air Force on the eve of U.S. involvement in World War II. The author states, “Confident that he was clever and bold enough to escape anything, [Louie] was almost incapable of discouragement” (p. 9). (1) What is the central idea of part one of Hillenbrand’s novel? (2) Explore Hillenbrand’s use of figurative language [for example, “Passengers . . . saw the ship’s shadow, following it on the clouds ‘like a huge shark’ . . .” (p. 6)]. In what ways does the language enhance the reading experience? PART II In Part II, Louie and other members of the B-24 Liberator Super Man train in preparation for bombing runs on Japanese-controlled Pacific islands. (3) What is the central idea of part two of Hillenbrand’s novel? (4) How does Hillenbrand’s use of characterization help to convey this central idea? PART III Part III is dedicated to Phil, Mac, and Louie’s rubber raft odyssey in the Pacific Ocean. Wounded, Phil cedes command to Louie. Phil and Louie survive adrift for forty-seven days, shattering a 1942 wartime record by thirteen days. (5) What is the central idea of part three of Hillenbrand’s novel? (6) Discuss the role of luck or lack of luck up to this point in Unbroken and how this motif helps to convey this central idea PART IV Retrieved from the ocean by enemy Japanese military, Louie and Phil begin two years of internment at Japanese camps. Louie is imprisoned at Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands and in Japan at Ofuna, at Omori, and Naoetsu. The goal of these camps was to devolve prisoners of war into primordial flesh. Sadistic guards physically tortured and mentally abused their captives. Phil was spared execution because Japanese prison officials banked on Louie eventually becoming a propaganda prisoner because he was a former Olympian. At home, neither the Zamperini family nor the Allen family validated their beloved’s army-issued death certificates. (7) What is the role of dignity in this part of the novel? (8) How does Hillenbrand use this theme to help further the purpose of her novel? (9) Choose either character or setting and explain how it in conjunction with the theme of dignity helps to further the purpose of this part of the novel?

PART V After the war, Louie is asked to recount his experiences in venues across the United States. His resulting anxiety, particularly about having to talk about his experiences in front of crowds, causes him to descend into alcoholism in order to cope. Though he marries the love of his life, it is not enough to resurrect him from debilitating anxiety and his ever-present flashbacks. The marriage frays to the point of dissolution; then his wife, Cynthia, attends a revival meeting conducted by Reverend Billy Graham. She insists that Louie attend a meeting with her. He balks but eventually agrees to go. As he listens, sweat-drenched, Louie revisits promises he uttered to God more than once during his times of despair; he revisits being inexplicably spared from certain death. As Hillenbrand writes, “His rage, his humiliation, his helplessness, had fallen away. . . . [He] was a new creation” (p. 269).

(10)At the end of Part V, Louie is now a new creation, discuss the actions that demonstrate this. How does the change in Louie help to convey the central idea of the text? (11) Compare and contrast Cynthia’s role in helping Louie find redemption with Pete Zamperini’s role in saving him from the fate of a criminal in his youth.

EPILOGUE Hillenbrand writes, “Louie spoke of what a wild boy he’d been, and how Pete had rescued him. . . . Pete’s eyes opened, and with sudden clarity, rested on the face of his little brother for the last time. He couldn’t speak, but he was beaming” (p. 279).

(12) Both Louie Zamperini and Mutsuhiro Watanabe survive into old age. Hillenbrand provides a detailed account of prison guard Watanabe’s survival. As you analyze the survival of both Zamperini and Watanabe, consider the author’s reason for including Watanabe’s account. (13) Louie “remained invariably cheerful” into old age (p. 276). Discuss the importance of maintaining a positive attitude even in the face of major challenges. Is this the idea that Hillenbrand was trying to get across? Why or why not?

OVERALL

(14) Unbroken is composed of a short preface, five parts, and an epilogue. Each section foreshadows the one that follows. Discuss the structure of this book—how one section’s cliff-hanger leads to the next’s resolution or subsequent conflict. Discuss the author’s purpose for sectioning the book as she does. What effect does it have on the reading experience? (15) The book opens with an excerpt from Walt Whitman’s “The Wound-Dresser.” Read the whole poem, attached, and draw parallels between the wound-dresser’s changing attitude with Louie’s transformations in Unbroken. Examine the author’s reason for selecting the excerpt as her epigraph to Unbroken. (16) Hillenbrand makes ample use of figurative language in this book. For example: “In Torrance, a one- boy insurgency was born” (p. 6); “Stricken bombers began slipping behind, and the Zeros pounced” (p. 100); “The sky broke all at once. . . . The ocean began heaving and thrashing. The wind slapped the raft. . . . ” (p. 177); “With the bombers sweeping overhead, the Bird stormed into the barracks and shouted for all Americans to get out. . . . The Bird and Kono picked up their kendo sticks . . . and began smashing them [the Americans] over their heads. . . . Woozy, Louie lay there as the Bird and the sirens screamed” (p. 302); and “Louie walked upstairs and lay down on his old bed. When he finally drifted off, the Bird followed him into his dreams.” (p. 342) Discuss why the author might have chosen to use such figurative language in a biography. Does it help or hinder the understanding of the themes presented in this book? Explain. (17) Both Louie and brutal prison guard Mutsuhiro Watanabe survive into old age. After describing the Japanese World War II POWs’ liberation in Unbroken, Hillenbrand provides a detailed account of prison guard Watanabe’s survival. As you critique the survival of both Zamperini and Watanabe, consider the author’s purpose in including Watanabe’s survival account. The Wound-Dresser

Walt Whitman (1819–1892)

AN old man bending I come among new faces, Years looking backward resuming in answer to children, Come tell us old man, as from young men and maidens that love me, (Arous’d and angry, I’d thought to beat the alarum, and urge relentless war, But soon my fingers fail’d me, my face droop’d and I resign’d myself, 5 To sit by the wounded and soothe them, or silently watch the dead;) Years hence of these scenes, of these furious passions, these chances, Of unsurpass’d heroes (was one side so brave? the other was equally brave;) Now be witness again, paint the mightiest armies of earth, 1 Of those armies so rapid so wondrous what saw you to tell us? 0 What stays with you latest and deepest? of curious panics, Of hard-fought engagements or sieges tremendous what deepest remains?

O maidens and young men I love and that love me, What you ask of my days those the strangest and sudden your talking recalls, 1 Soldier alert I arrive after a long march cover’d with sweat and dust, 5 In the nick of time I come, plunge in the fight, loudly shout in the rush of successful charge, Enter the captur’d works—yet lo, like a swift-running river they fade, Pass and are gone they fade—I dwell not on soldiers’ perils or soldiers’ joys (Both I remember well—many the hardships, few the joys, yet I was content).

2 But in silence, in dreams’ projections, 0 While the world of gain and appearance and mirth goes on, So soon what is over forgotten, and waves wash the imprints off the sand, With hinged knees returning I enter the doors (while for you up there, Whoever you are, follow without noise and be of strong heart).

2 Bearing the bandages, water and sponge, 5 Straight and swift to my wounded I go, Where they lie on the ground after the battle brought in, Where their priceless blood reddens the grass, the ground, Or to the rows of the hospital tent, or under the roof’d hospital, 3 To the long rows of cots up and down each side I return, 0 To each and all one after another I draw near, not one do I miss, An attendant follows holding a tray, he carries a refuse pail, Soon to be fill’d with clotted rags and blood, emptied, and fill’d again.

I onward go, I stop, 3 With hinged knees and steady hand to dress wounds, 5 I am firm with each, the pangs are sharp yet unavoidable, One turns to me his appealing eyes—poor boy! I never knew you, Yet I think I could not refuse this moment to die for you, if that would save you.

On, on I go, (open doors of time! open hospital doors!) 4 The crush’d head I dress (poor crazed hand tear not the bandage away), 0 The neck of the cavalry-man with the bullet through and through I examine, Hard the breathing rattles, quite glazed already the eye, yet life struggles hard (Come sweet death! be persuaded O beautiful death! In mercy come quickly).

4 From the stump of the arm, the amputated hand, 5 I undo the clotted lint, remove the slough, wash off the matter and blood, Back on his pillow the soldier bends with curv’d neck and side-falling head, His eyes are closed, his face is pale, he dares not look on the bloody stump, And has not yet look’d on it.

5 I dress a wound in the side, deep, deep, 0 But a day or two more, for see the frame all wasted and sinking, And the yellow-blue countenance see. I dress the perforated shoulder, the foot with the bullet-wound, Cleanse the one with a gnawing and putrid gangrene, so sickening, so offensive, 5 While the attendant stands behind aside me holding the tray and pail. 5

I am faithful, I do not give out, The fractur’d thigh, the knee, the wound in the abdomen, These and more I dress with impassive hand (yet deep in my breast a fire, a burning flame).

Thus in silence in dreams’ projections, 6 Returning, resuming, I thread my way through the hospitals, 0 The hurt and wounded I pacify with soothing hand, I sit by the restless all the dark night, some are so young, Some suffer so much, I recall the experience sweet and sad, (Many a soldier’s loving arms about this neck have cross’d and rested, 6 Many a soldier’s kiss dwells on these bearded lips). 5