Essay Questions

How does Kevin Powers use imagery to show readers the ruthless murder of Bajalan's wife and child?

In several instances, the author uses imagery to describe events in the novel to engage readers to see, hear, smell and perceive the events. A good illustration of how the author depicts the sense of sight to readers is when describing the video footage of a convoy of vehicles that enter Bajalan's home. The narrator says, "A convoy of dark SUVs roared down the narrow street and stopped haphazardly in its middle of the compound." The reader sees how mercenaries emerge out of the SUVs to kill people aimlessly, which results in the death of Bajalan's wife and child. The sight imagery in this context is significant because it shows the dangers of the conflict where innocent people are paying the price.

Why is the author depicting corruption as one of the main themes in A Line in the Sand?

Throughout the novel, the reader interacts with Mr. Graves, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Decision Tree Company. The company's CEO is a power-hungry and corrupt individual. The Decision Tree Company defrauds the government billions of shillings in shoddy business deals. The company's shareholders use their influence in government to steal public resources. Thus, the resources that are meant to serve the citizens end up in the hands of a few selfish individuals.

What comes to Bajalan’s mind when he discovers a dead body in the swimming pool?

Bajalan always lives in fear because of the bad memories of the Iraq war and the loss of his entire family. When Bajalan finds a dead body in the swimming pool, he senses danger because the killers might also look for him. The dead body signifies that something bad is about to happen. Bajalan notifies the investigative agencies of the dead body in the swimming pool. The investigative agencies find out that the killers are after Bajalan.