When the Emperor Was Divine Chapter 1 Close Reading Questions
Chapter 1 reading questions for When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka—perfect for IB English, literary analysis, and close reading.
“Evacuation Order No. 19” (pg. 3-22)
Introduce your students to Julie Otsuka’s haunting and lyrical novel When the Emperor Was Divine, a powerful text used in many IB Literature and Language classrooms. Set during the forced relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, the novel explores identity, silence, resilience, and historical memory.
About the Author
Julie Otsuka is an acclaimed Japanese American author whose spare, poetic prose gives voice to often-overlooked narratives. A former painter and Princeton graduate, she draws from her own family history to tell emotionally resonant, historically rooted stories.
About the Novel
Told in five chapters from shifting family perspectives, When the Emperor Was Divine follows one unnamed Japanese American family as they are ordered to leave their home in Berkeley and live in an internment camp. Chapter 1, “Evacuation Order No. 19,” focuses on the mother as she prepares their house—and her children—for an uncertain journey.
Major Themes
- Identity and anonymity
- Memory and silence
- Racial injustice and state power
- Loss, belonging, and survival
- Family dynamics under stress
Essential Questions
- How does Otsuka use minimalism and anonymity to convey meaning?
- What is the emotional and psychological toll of forced removal?
- How do individuals maintain dignity and agency in the face of dehumanization?
Chapter 1 Reading Questions
This downloadable worksheet breaks the chapter into three scaffolded sections with questions that prompt close reading, textual evidence, and analytical thinking. Perfect for IB learners, advanced 10th–12th grade readers, or interdisciplinary units exploring U.S. history and literature.
