Burnt Shadows

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Part 1

Part 2, Chapters 1-3

Part 2, Chapters 4-7

Part 2, Chapters 8-12

Part 3, Chapters 13-16

Part 3, Chapters 17-20

Part 3, Chapters 21-23

Part 3, Chapters 24-26

Part 4, Chapters 27-30

Part 4, Chapters 31-33

Part 4, Chapters 34-37

Part 4, Chapters 38-42

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

Kim’s post-9/11 paranoia causes her to be suspicious of Abdullah. How does Shamsie relate paranoia and nationalism throughout the novel? Cite at least one example from each of the four parts of the novel.

Many characters in Burnt Shadows have complicated relationships to sexuality: Hiroko is sexually liberated by her marriage to Sajjad, while Ilse finds little sexual satisfaction in her marriage to James, and Raza craves sexual intercourse as a substitute for intimacy. Overall, how does Shamsie characterize generational attitudes towards sexuality and the relationship between sex and intimacy?

Is Sajjad’s death caused by political or personal forces? Support your argument with both evidence from the text and historical research.