A Long Walk to Water

What is the significance of Uncle Jewiir? What part does he play in Salva's life and personal philosophy?

Though the travelers never encounter the war itself, they are constantly running from it. What does Park seem to be saying about the unnamed casualties of war?

Of the two parallel plots, one is much more detailed and longer than the other. Why is that? In what ways does Nya’s narrative inform Salva’s?

Salva is a real person, but Nya is not. What was Park’s purpose in adding her to the story, and what does Park imply about tribal warfare through Nya’s perspective?

What role does Michael, the Irish camp counselor, play in Salva’s life?

Compare Salva’s experiences with the Nile and the Gilo rivers in the story. How do they comply with or subvert the symbolic meaning of water as a giver of life?

What major incidents likely led Salva to become a philanthropist intent on providing water for the Sudanese people? Consider both his journey, his father’s illness at the end of the novel, and his lack of concern for tribal ties.

Discuss some of the facts about the Second Sudanese Civil War and its results.