Sea Prayer

There are many specific, vivid details of life in Homs included in this story. How does the language engage all five senses? What is the effect of this?

Referring to both the figurative language and the visuals, what are the biggest contrasts in the story between the sections before and after what Marwan can remember?

In the narrator’s final statement to the reader, he states “[h]ow I pray the sea knows this” (45). While Marwan is the recipient of the letter, how does Hosseini address other intended audiences of the text?

Find a news report about the death of Alan Kurdi. How does the language in that report compare with that used in Sea Prayer?

Throughout the book, pages are left empty of text but filled with illustrations. How do the illustrations affect the pace of the book?

Throughout the book, the illustrated figures grow more and more detailed before returning to simple outlines. What is the effect of Hosseini choosing not to include basic information about Marwan’s parents but deciding to include other details?

This story was originally paired with another artist's visuals. What is the difference between each of these visuals, and how do they effect the experience of the text?

How does the text balance specific representation of this time period and place of Homs with the larger experience of loss and persecution?