When the Emperor Was Divine: Teacher's Guide (curricula)

The Information provided in this 10-page guide aims to get students to understand When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka "as both a work of art and a meditation on freedom, identity, and loyalty" (page 2). There is background information about the novel and the author, including excerpts from an interview with Otsuka. The historical information provided about the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans was garnered from Lauren Kessler's Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese-American Family (New York, Random House, 1993).

For classroom use, the guide contains a series of comprehension questions organized by chapter. More probing questions can be found in the "theme" section of the guide. These questions prompt critical thinking about the author's intent, use of literary devices, symbolism, character, plot development and so on. The guide also provides suggestions for writing assignments that build upon learning from the book, along with a list of related readings.

This teacher's guide was published by Anchor Books in 2003.