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Farewell to Manzanar

Hello to this course!

  • Course Length: 3 weeks
  • Course Type: Short Course
  • Category:
    • English
    • Literature
    • Middle School

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Need a break from the seemingly endless flood of dystopian novels and vampire/zombie books? Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's Farewell to Manzanar is a memoir about an equally unbelievable but very real and little-known history of America.

During World War II, when America was at war with Japan, President Roosevelt declared that "wartime necessity" made all people of Japanese descent a potential threat to the United States, even though most were American citizens. Farewell to Manzanar follows Wakatsuki as she and her family are forcibly relocated to an internment camp in the California desert.

Actually, maybe this is a dystopian novel after all.

At the end of this Common Core-aligned course, you'll be able to

  • understand the memoir as something more than a fancy French word.
  • define the terms prejudice, racism, and discrimination (yes, there are differences), and evaluate how they appear in the text. 
  • study stereotypes and generalizations in a broader context of everyday society. 
  • define and analyze the use of various literary devices and rhetorical devices including narrator, setting, character, irony, theme, and perspective.
  • analyze the themes that center on the subjects of cultural difference, identity, discrimination and civil rights. 
  • analyze Houston's portrayal of Manzanar against other forms of representation, including some cool photographic images and videos.
  • learn the history surrounding the story's events and discuss what it means for contemporary Americans.

Unit Breakdown

1 Farewell to Manzanar - Farewell to Manzanar

Farewell to Manzanar is Jeanne Wakatsuki's memoir of growing up Japanese American, from internment camps to housing projects to becoming prom queen. If it sounds upsetting, it is—but don't worry, because there's also baton-twirling and at least three toilet jokes.


Sample Lesson - Introduction

Lesson 1.03: A Memoir is Not a Fancy Piece of Furniture

Dust, dust, and more dust: Newcomers arrive at the Manzanar Relocation Camp.
(Source)

In this lesson, we'll review the genre of the memoir, two very impressive, French-sounding words.

Say it with us:

Genre.

Memoir.

Though you're now, like, totally fluent in French, we bet you didn't know that a memoir is autobiographical, but it's not an autobiography. Confused? Don't worry, we'll sort it out in this lesson. We'll hear from Houston herself as she tells us what's what in the book, and shows how a memoir is more like a selfie than a self-portrait.

Vous êtes prêts? Allons-y!

Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 1.1.03a: Farewell to Manzanar, Chapters 2 & 3

With these next two chapters, we arrive at Manzanar to settle into Block 16, the cluster of half-finished pinewood shacks that will be the home of the extended Wakatsuki family—as well as many other families. The 12 Wakatsuki family members end up sharing two rooms, each about 16' x 20', with six other strangers. Sounds cozy, huh?

But hold on. Before you pick out your bunk and get comfy, make sure you pay special attention to these key scenes as you read Chapters 2 and 3:

  • Mama (almost) selling her set of china to a dealer. What happens? How does she react? Would you have done the same if you were forced to sell your (fill in the blank with something you treasure dearly) for a few dollars? Why or why not?
  • First dinner in the mess hall. What are they served, and how does Jeanne react? What's with Mama's reaction?

And if you need help finding your way around camp, check out these Shmoop summaries:

Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 1.1.03b: Perspectives in Memoirs

The Genre: Memoir

Farewell to Manzanar, a retelling of a time in the author's own life, belongs to the genre of the memoir.

Let us tell you a little bit about it:

  • A memoir is a written account of one's own personal experiences; the most important thing to know is that it focuses on one particular period in a person's life. 
  • It's different from an autobiography, which usually spans a person's entire lifetime.
  • It's also different from a biography, which is an account written by someone other than the person whose experiences are retold.

So, let's break it down, Shmoop-style, with some examples:

  • Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is an example of a memoir. It's a retelling of a period in the author's life—when she traveled the world.
  • Night by Elie Wiesel is a fictional memoir about his experience in the Nazi concentration camps. It retells Weisel's experiences, but his stand-in character has a different first name. That slight change makes it...officially not a memoir. Memoirs have to be totally straightforward and truthy. Another good example of fictional memoir would be On the Road by Jack Kerouac.
  • Unbroken is a biography of Louis Zamperini, American prisoner of war survivor and Olympic runner, written by Laura Hillenbrand. 
  • One Direction: Who We Are: Our Official Autobiography, is an...um...autobiography. Or rather, it's several autobiographies, written by all the members, since it spans their entire lifetimes. All 20 years of it.

Farewell to Manzanar is a memoir covering Wakatsuki Houston's experience of internment, from age seven to seventeen. Although she wrote this book with her husband, James Houston, it covers her own personal experiences. (No offense, James. Maybe she'll include you in the biography, but memoirs are for one particular life experience only.)

Meet the Narrator

Hello! We'd like you to meet the narrator, Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston. She's retelling her own experiences, using a first-person narrative voice.

With any personal retelling of life experiences, we should always keep at the back of our minds that the perspective is one-sided. This doesn't mean that the narrator isn't open-minded or fair. It just means that the narrator is presenting the story from her own view. And Wakatsuki's view? Shmoop would call her tone reflective, since she tells her story in a thoughtful, careful voice while looking back on her childhood.

But...um...how did Wakatsuki Houston remember the details of these events if she was only seven? Her narrative is actually pieced together from her own memories, from research on the Japanese in America, and from the memories of families and friends (Source). It's sort of interesting to wonder, as she lists details and incidents in the book, if each anecdote is from her own experience, or from research (and to consider if this information changes your understanding of the event).

The Woman Behind the Memoir

Now we're really going to meet the woman behind the book. Watch this 5-minute interview with Farewell's author, Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston.

Here are some questions to ponder while you watch:

  • What motivated her to write her memoir? 
  • What was involved in the process of writing it?
  • How does she want readers to respond to Farewell to Manzanar?

Sample Lesson - Activity

Activity 1.03a: Going to Manzanar, Chapters 2 & 3

You've been an awesome student. So...surprise! You're heading to Manzanar!

That's right. You've just gotten news that you're being evacuated to the Manzanar Relocation Camp, located in the sunny, spacious California desert. All you've been told is that you and your family will go with other families to the camps, and the evacuation is for your protection.

By the way, here are some ground rules:

  • You must leave your home and your things behind.
  • We can't tell you what kinds of amenities you'll have (that's the surprise), but don't worry—your basic needs will be met.
  • No pets allowed.
  • There will be no Wi-Fi. 
  • You have 48 hours to get your things together. So get cracking.

Ready for the fun?

  1. Part One

    Write a list of things you would carry to Manzanar. You're allowed one carry-on sized suitcase. You know, like the ones you can bring on airplanes nowadays. You should list at least seven things, but you can list more—if they'll fit in the suitcase. Be as detailed as you can. For example, don't just say "clothes," but say, "My gray hoodie with the Hello Kitty patch." We're trying to get an idea of what makes you you, after all.

    Because we're imagining this is happening today, you can include any modern-day items that may not have been around during World War II. For example, if you want to bring your laptop, you could. But keep in mind that Wi-Fi is a no-go.

    List 'em below:

  2. Part Two

    Write a one-page letter from camp to your best friend, neighbor, or teacher, who for whatever reason was not relocated. The letter should be at least 250 words in length, but can be longer if you want. In the letter, you'll write from camp, letting him or her know where you are, what you're feeling, your expectations, whatever you want to share. The letter should serve as a memoir of your experiences.

    Be sure to include historically accurate information about the following:

    • What the camp is like
    • Who's with you
    • Why the government evacuated you and your family
    • The preparations your family made for the move
    • How you're feeling and what this all means to you

    And include realistic wonderings in the letter about what you don't know:

    • How long you'll be there
    • What you'll be doing in the near future
    • What will happen to your stuff, etc.
    Soon-to-be Internees leave a thank-you sign on their pharmacy. Did this happen to you in your imaginary letter?
    (Source)

    And be detailed! Use the text to help you find information to include in your letter. For example, after reading Wakatsuki Houston's comment that the Japanese families were frightened, having "all heard stories of Japanese homes being attacked, of beatings in the streets of California towns" (15), you might write:

    I'm so relieved to be away from people who might harm my family, but I'm a little bit freaked out since I don't know what we're going to do at camp or when we're going back. No one's really telling us anything.

    Right now we just finished setting up our room and organizing our junk. The camp looks like it's not even finished, so there's not much to do.

    You could also write about camp life in the first few days, including references mentioned in the text but also relating your own feelings about it:

    Mom, Dad, Emma and I are all squished into one room with another family of four. The room is only about 16 square feet. I hate it because we don't have any privacy with the other family here. We're sleeping on these rock hard army cots.

    Use your imagination.

Creative Written Representation Rubric - 25 Points

OutstandingProficientDevelopingNeeds Improvement
Content Understanding

All content is accurate and presentation reflects sophisticated understanding.

(10)

All content is accurate.

(9)

May contain minor errors.

(8)

Major errors.

(7)
Understanding of Genre

Uses conventions of genre to enhance message.

(5)

Accurately follows conventions of genre.

(4)

Mostly follows conventions of genre.

(4)

Does not follow conventions of genre.

(3)
Creativity

Presentation is very creative, bringing additional levels of interpretive depth, while remaining true to original text or topic.

(7)

Presentation is creative and goes beyond original meaning of text while remaining true to original text or topic.

(5)

Presentation shows minimal creativity or is very creative, but doesn’t retain all original characteristics of original.

(5)

Presentation is not creative or deviates greatly from characteristics of original.

(4)
Style

Language is clear and interesting. Enhances presentation of information. No errors.

(3)

Language is clear and appropriate to topic. Minor spelling or grammatical errors.

(2)

Language is occasionally unclear, but meaning is generally understandable. Frequent spelling/grammar errors that do not impede comprehension.

(2)

Language use makes writing very difficult to understand. Frequent spelling or grammar errors that impede comprehension.

(2)

Sample Lesson - Activity

  1. A memoir is different from an autobiography because

  2. The narrator of Farewell to Manzanar is

  3. Soon after Jeanne's father, Ko, is arrested by the FBI and taken into custody, the Wakatsukis move from their home in Santa Monica to Terminal Island because

  4. For the first time, at Terminal Island, Jeanne is surrounded by other Japanese families. Her feelings are best described as

  5. After living at Terminal Island for only two months, the Wakatsukis are forced to leave because

  6. The Wakatsukis are given only __________ to move from Terminal Island

  7. When a secondhand dealer offers Jeanne's mother $15 for her beloved set of china, she

  8. The Wakatsukis are evacuated to Manzanar, the relocation camp. Their feelings are best described as

  9. After their first night at camp, the Wakatsukis wake up to find

  10. With their father absent, who assumes his responsibilities in helping Jeanne's mother care for the household?