Setting in The Breadwinner

The setting of a story is the location and time, or the where and when. Settings often play a crucial role especially in the case of historical fiction as is the case in the book The Breadwinner. The story begins about a year and a half after the Taliban has taken control of Kabul, Afghanistan and the main character, Parvana, and her family are living in poverty under the Taliban's oppressive and violent rule. Students will create a setting chart to identify the time and place of the story to gain a deeper understanding of the characters and their situation. Students can use a grid where they can illustrate and describe each aspect of the setting.

The Breadwinner Setting Example

When

The Breadwinner takes place after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 1996. Parvana says that her mother and sister have not left the house in a year and a half. The Taliban forbade women to leave the house unattended. Therefore the time period is about 1997 or the late 1990s.

Where

The book takes place in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Kabul has been devastated by the war and most people live in poverty. At one point, Parvana's mother and siblings go to Mazar-e Sharif, a city to the north that has not yet fallen under Taliban control.

Due Date:

Objective: Create a storyboard identifying the settings in the book The Breadwinner.

Student Instructions:

1. Click "Start Assignment".
2. Identify the time and place for the novel The Breadwinner.
3. Add appropriate scenes, items, textables, etc. to illustrate each setting.
4. Write a description for each cell.