Iqbal

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Regional Presence of Child Labor in Contemporary Society”

In this activity, students will research child labor in a particular region of the world, draw comparisons to the situations in the novel, and present their findings to the class.

D’Adamo’s novel was published over 20 years ago. While Iqbal and other activists have been instrumental in fighting for children’s freedom, the use of forced child labor is still a problem in many regions of the world. Working in small groups, select one of the following regions to research the presence of child labor:

• North America
• South America
• Caribbean
• Europe
• Middle East and North Africa
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• South Asia
• Southeast Asia
• East Asia
• Oceania

Use the following questions to guide your research:

• Explore the history of child labor in this region: locations, circumstances, products or services, and statistics.
• Is child labor still present in contemporary society? If so, why?
• What were and/or are the conditions that child laborers live and work in?
• What are the steps, if any, that governments or organizations have taken in order to combat this region’s child labor?

After researching your region, prepare a group slide presentation with bulleted points of information, visuals, graphs, and any relevant media. Make comparisons between D’Adamo’s novel and the region you researched while reflecting on the themes of The Power Of Corruption and The Economic Impact Of Forced Child Labor. Include comparisons and theme discussion in your presentation.

Teaching Suggestion: This Activity is an opportunity for students to exercise their presentation skills in the context of a group assignment. It may be beneficial to review research skills, especially identifying appropriate and legitimate sources of information.

Differentiation Suggestion: For a writing-focused approach, this Activity may be amended to include guidelines for the writing of a research paper instead of a slide presentation. This might serve as an opportunity for introduction or review of the research paper writing process (e.g., initial research, annotated bibliography, thesis statement, outline, drafting process, peer review).

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Iqbal’s actions and moral character influenced the children at Hussain’s carpet factory. 

• How does the atmosphere of the factory change after Iqbal’s arrival? (topic sentence)
• Analyze the ways in which the children change after Iqbal’s arrival. Which 3 children seem to be most strongly influenced, and how does this affect the overall atmosphere of the factory? Incorporate examples and text details in your discussion.
• In your concluding sentences, summarize the connection between Iqbal’s influence, the new prevalent attitude among workers, and the theme of Coming Together to Escape Oppression.

2. Maria’s character transforms throughout the novel.

• How do Maria’s primary character traits change from the beginning of the novel to the end? (topic sentence)
• What incidents in the novel most directly incite change in Maria’s character? Analyze and discuss at least 3 examples and explain how her character transformation develops over time.
• In your concluding sentences, summarize the way in which Maria’s actions at the end of the novel connect with the larger theme of The Power of Corruption.

3. Consider the tone of hope in Iqbal.

• Overall, to what extent do the bonded children in the factory experience hope? (topic sentence)
• Analyze and discuss the different ways that Iqbal impacts the children’s sense of hope throughout the novel. Incorporate at least 3 examples with text details and/or quotations in your discussion.
• In your concluding sentences, briefly evaluate the novel’s value as a work of hope despite the tragic circumstances of the story.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Use several reputable resources to gain an understanding of the life and contributions of Iqbal Masih. Compare and contrast D’Adamo’s fictional portrayal of Iqbal’s story with the historical figure. In a 3- or 5- paragraph essay, explain what readers might gain from the fictionalized account of Iqbal’s story. In your essay, analyze and discuss the differences between the historical account and the novel, and incorporate text details and cited quotations.

2. Consider Karim’s role in the novel. Why does he support and defend Hussain? Does Karim’s support for Hussain change over the course of the novel? If so, how? In a 3-paragraph essay, analyze the ways in which Karim differs from the other characters and evaluate his impact on the development of the changing mindset among the children. Include text details and cited quotations to support your discussion.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. In Chapter 1, Fatima thinks about her life prior to working with Hussain Khan. She realizes that “as time went on these memories faded like old, worn carpets.” Which of the following literary terms does Fatima use in this quote?

A) Metaphor

B) Simile

C) Personification

D) Allusion

2. In Chapter 1, Fatima notes that, “I never saw a clean slate, neither mine nor one of my companions.” Based on Fatima’s observation, which of the following assertions could be true?

A) The children are deliberately lazy at the factory.

B) The boss manipulates the slates to ensure he still has laborers.

C) The children are not interested in monitoring the progress of the slates.

D) The boss supports the children in finishing their debts in a timely manner.

3. Why do the children initially resent Iqbal’s words?

A) Because he destroys their hope of leaving their enslaved conditions

B) Because he mocks their work ethic

C) Because he lacks the decorum required to work with Hussain

D) Because he attempts to become Hussain’s favorite worker

4. Which of the following emotions best describes the children’s reaction to Iqbal’s imprisonment in the Tomb?

A) Apathy

B) Hatred

C) Delight

D) Concern

5. Which of the following words best describes how the atmosphere in the workroom after Iqbal returns from the Tomb?

A) Stressful

B) Cautious

C) Relaxed

D) Fearful

6. How do Fatima and the other children come to view Iqbal?

A) As their father

B) As their leader

C) As their nemesis

D) As their employee

7. Which of the following sentences best describes how the children relate to each other one year after Iqbal’s arrival?

A) They are distraught.

B) They are uncertain.

C) They are unified.

D) They are ashamed.

8. Which of the following reasons best describes why Eshan’s companions believe it is a good idea to include Iqbal in their campaigns?

A) Because he can speak Arabic

B) Because he can convince the policeman more easily

C) Because he can talk to the child workers directly

D) Because he can prepare speeches very easily

9. In Chapter 12, what does Fatima mean when she says that Iqbal and Eshan “were made from the same mold, those two”?

A) That they were raised in the same village

B) That they share the same religious beliefs

C) That they had a shared lineage

D) That they shared many similar characteristics

10. Which of the following words best describes the period after Iqbal begins to advocate for the abolition of child labor?

A) Freedom

B) Rest

C) Exhaustion

D) Nonchalance

11. Which of the following phrases best describes Iqbal’s reaction to his increased international attention?

A) Fearful of his safety

B) Concerned for his work in Pakistan

C) Excited to leave his country behind

D) Apathetic to his newfound freedom

12. In Chapter 14, as Iqbal leaves for Sweden, Fatima notes that, “[w]ith a loud roar the plane took off and flew higher and higher through the sky. Iqbal had taken the biggest kite.” Which of the following literary terms best describes Fatima’s reference to a kite?

A) Simile

B) Metaphor

C) Personification

D) Allusion

13. Which of the following phrases best describes the format of the final chapter of the novel?

A) A letter

B) A poem

C) A speech

D) A song

14. Which of the following statements best describes the tone of the end of the novel?

A) Despair

B) Shame

C) Hope

D) Concern

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. What is the narration style of the story? Who is the narrator and how does this person relate to the story elements?

2. What is the setting of the novel? How does the setting reveal more information about the children’s backgrounds?