Silence | Topics for Discussion & Projects

Silence Topics for Discussion

How does the Japanese persecution of Christians compare to other religious persecution in different countries?

Discuss some of the meanings of the word "silence" in the book.

What does Ferreira's apostatizing mean to the mission of the Portuguese missionaries?

Why do you think Rodrigues never makes a move to help the peasants thrown over the side of the boat to drown?

Why does Kichijiro continually aide, and then betray, the priests?

Endo's book is considered a novel. What impact does this classification have on the significance of the story?

How does Inoue compare to Adolf Hitler?

In Chapter Five, Monica, one of the peasant captives, says that they do not fear death because they would welcome the paradise of Heaven. Rodrigues is upset with her description of Heaven. Why do you think he reacts in this way?

Rodrigues constantly compares himself to Christ and his situation to that of the...
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