Chapters 6-8

ESCAPE FROM CAMP 14

In this section, Shin goes through emotional change after enduring the affects of torture,

prison, and the kindness given to him by his cell mate. In chapter 6, Shin is questioned and punished by guards who believe he was an

accomplice to the traitors in his family, because another guard had taken credit for Shin’s report.

We learn why Shin was put in prison: because his uncles tried to escape. Pg. 164: “Shin’s

unforgivable crime was being his father’s son.”

SUMMARY

Shin is thrown into a prison cell in a feverish and lethargic state. His cell mate,

called “Uncle,” is one of the first people Shin feels emotions towards, and in a way

he teaches him to love. This is a transformation for Shin. “Uncle” takes

care of Shin in his sick state and helps him to get well, while also sharing stories and

information Shin had not heard before.

CHAPTER 7

In chapter 8, Shin is released from his prison cell only to see his mother and brother executed. His

feeling of compassion he felt towards his cell mate does not

extend to his family and he watches the execution with anger.

CHAPTER 8

• The chapters in this section have a variety of sentence structures. It features both long and short sentences.•The shorter sentences are more direct and instructional. Also it allows the author to move the story along. •The longer sentences allowed Blaine Harden to incorporate more detail and description.

SYNTAX

“At dawn today, your mother and your brother were caught trying to escape. That’s why you’re here. Understand? Were you aware of this fact or not? How is it possible for you not to know that your mother and brother tried to run away? If you want to live, you should spit out the truth.” (chapter 6)

“Hey, Gyung Sub. Go sit at the very front.” (chapter 8)

•This excerpt from chapter six shows that the guards were very direct and straight to the point. •The short and quick sentences illustrates the fact that the guards wanted to know the truth as quickly and efficiently as possible. •The imperative sentences show that the guards were in control, and the prisoners have very little to say to fight back.

SYNTAX

“He turned mealtimes into thrice-daily medical treatments, using a wooden spoon as a squeegee on Shin’s infected blisters.” (chapter 7)

“Thanks to his loving description of roasting pork, boiling chicken, and eating clams at the seashore, Shin’s appetite came back with a vengeance.” (chapter 7)

•The longer sentences have more detail in them.•This excerpt elaborated on how Shin’s wounds were being treated by Uncle. •Blaine wanted to emphasize this event in Shin’s life because it was the first time Shin had experienced love and compassion. •Since this is such a strong memory, Shin is able to recall specific foods that Uncle talked about.

SYNTAX

“Before dawn, they forced their way into a house owned by Shin’s grandfather in Mundok County in South Pyongan Province.” (chapter 6)

•The first excerpt has a different sentence structure. The author rearranged it this way to emphasize the beginning phrase, “before dawn”. It focuses on the fact that Shin’s father was ripped from the comfort of his own bed in the middle of the night and tossed onto a truck with very few belongings to go to the prison camps. It shows the cruel nature of this particular society and highlights the reason as to why readers should be more aware of this situation in North Korea.

SYNTAX

“He rubbed salty cabbage soup into the wounds as a disinfectant. He massaged Shin’s arms and legs so that his muscles would not atrophy. To prevent urine and feces from coming into contact with the boy’s wounds, he carried the cell’s chamber pot to Shin and hoisted him up so he could use it.” (chapter 7)•The first two sentences are parallel, and it helps the readers read it more smoothly. However, in the third sentence, the author decided to rearrange it and put an infinitive phrase first to draw attention to what is being said. It disrupts the smooth rhythm, and it helps bring in the shock value. By making the focus of the sentence about feces and urine, it helps readers visualize the disgusting conditions of the underground prison and his cell. •One of Blaine Harden’s purposes in writing this is to bring awareness to this situation in North Korea. Whenever people read this and picture the horrid conditions that the prisoners have to go through, they will feel strongly about this and help shed light on these camps in North Korea.

SYNTAX

Diction is the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

Throughout chapters 6, 7, and 8 the author uses a variety of diction that sets the tone and mood, provides author

credibility, allows the reader to vividly see the horror, and influences the emotions of the reader.

All of the diction emphasizes a certain point in the story, and without the diction these important parts could get lost

with all of the action that surrounds it.

DICTION

Harsh language used against Shin such as “bastard” (54) and “son of a bitch” (55) show the ruthless, cruel behavior of the officers

toward Shin. Helps set the tone with the hostility and fear.

The mood of the chapters is haunting and hostile, and this is reinforced by diction such as; “interrogation” (56) and “struggling”

(56) and “squirmed” (57) and “screams and moans” (60) and “torture” (60) and “echoed” (61). These words stand out amongst

the rest due to the meaning they present as they emphasize a point made in the story.

The words “grateful” (61) and “kindness” (61) standout amongst the other diction due to the different image/mood they present. Since these words are the only “light” that shines among the “darkness within the story, their overall presence stands out in a way that

allows the reader to feel relief after the twitching anguish that has occurred over these chapters.

DICTION- TONE/MOOD

Words such as “fratricidal” (55) and “atrophy” (60) and “delirium” (59) and “reprieve” (59) give the author a well-educated appearance and lead to an enhancement on the

credibility of the author.

DICTION- CREDIBILITY

The repetition of “increasingly” on page 56 adds emphasis to the conditions of Shin, and how his health is deteriorating as he is interrogated.

When the author uses the word “crazed” (58) to emphasize the pain of Shin at that moment, it instills chills in the reader as they imagine the explicit

horrors faced by Shin.

“Gouged and bleeding” (57) are used to give a horrific image in the readers mind of the condition of Shin’s ankles.

“Pallid, leathery skin sagged over his fleshless bones.” (60) The diction used in that phrase gives a horrific scene of the old man that Shin comes

across. Later the reader finds that description of this man, Uncle, does not at all represent his strong head and heart, but the reader can clearly

imagine how the prison has removed all of the lively spirit in an individual.

“Bloody, brain-splattered mess” (66) describes the ending of the execution, and how gruesome it was.

DICTION- HORRIFIC IMAGERY

“Confused”, “frightened”, and “bewildered” (54) give the reader insight on the emotions Shin felt as he was betrayed

by an officer.

One word that stands out among all is “survive” (61). This word alone instills hope and a light-hearted moment for the

reader. It is a piece of calm in the story, away from the recently excruciating pain.

“Hated”, “foolish”, “self-centered”, and “savage” (all on 65) are a few words that emphasize the amount of anger Shin

felt toward his brother and mother on the day of their execution. It almost seemed like a drum would beat every

time I would read off a word that presented his fire because of their position in the writing, and how strongly they made

these flames grow. Instead of feeling sympathy for his family being executed, I felt Shin’s strong hatred, and this

shows how the diction influenced my emotions.

DICTION- EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE

•The previous chapters are essential to understand Shin’s actions and motives. Shin fabricated a story about how the guards discovered his mother and brother’s escape plan because he was ashamed of the truth.•Chapter 4

“Outsiders have a wrong understanding of the camp. It’s not just the soldiers who beat us. It is the prisoners themselves who are not kind to each other. There is no sense of community. I am one of those mean prisoners.” • This quote contributes to helping the reader understand

Shin’s actions. It also gives insight to the general character of everyone trapped in Camp 14.

• At the end of our section, readers are able to see a change in Shin because now he is able to tell the truth.

CONNECTION

•Harden also exploits others’ testimonies to expand on Camp 14 because his purpose is to provide the most accurate information possible.

•Chapter 3

“ [An Myeong Chul, a guard in an internment camp left North Korea in 1994,] became accustomed to hitting prisoners who did not meet work quotas… We were taught not to think of them as human beings… If you do, you will become a prisoner.”

• This shows a connection to Shin’s description of his torture in the underground prison (chapter 6).

CONNECTION

•The author characterizes their family as well as compares them to “Uncle”

Harden wants readers to see the contrast of the kindness and the indifference.

Shin was void of love from his parents.•Chapter 1

“[Shin’s father]… paid little attention to the boy, and Shin grew up indifferent to his presence.”

“When…[Shin’s mother]… came back midday and found nothing to eat, she

would become furious and beat her son with a hoe…”

His brother also wasn’t affectionate.

But “Uncle” was. •Chapter 7

“He had never trusted -never loved- anyone before…[his “Uncle”]”

CONNECTION

•Chapter 7

“He had never trusted -never loved- anyone before…[his “Uncle”].”

In this sentence syntax is used to draw the readers attention to the words “never loved”. The effect Harden gets from this is that the reader will acknowledge that the number of people that received Shin’s love was limited. Diction is also used, “never” is repeated twice which emphasizes that this was his first time establishing love or trust with anyone. The author’s use of diction and syntax is appropriate because this moment is memorable. “Uncle” gave Shin something his parents didn’t: unconditional love.

CONNECTION

•Ultimately, Shin felt they deserved their execution.•Chapter 8

“Shin thought…[his mother and brother]…deserved to die”

The author is very matter of fact throughout the explanation of their death scene, but this detachment helps the reader see Shin has still not learned to love his family. (Explained below.)

“There is nothing in my life to compare with this burden.”

He was unable to meet his mother’s gaze because he was disgusted by her. His mother was a traitor to him and everything he believed in. (The Camp 14 rules) Also according to the guards and teachers it was Shin’s parents fault Shin was in Camp 14.

CONNECTION

• These chapters are relevant to the understanding of the story.

• Without chapters 6-8, Harden wouldn’t be able to exploit all of the suffering Shin endured as well as the guilt that resulted.

CONNECTOR