Quizzer Part 6

What was the significance of the chapter dealing with the dogs?
I think this chapter represents the fact that Troost has not fully grown accustomed to the island. He is still very much in touch with his Western culture and its love for animals, dogs in particular. I think he is also trying to illustrate the semi-brutal attitude the I-Kiribati take towards the animals in the country. They appear to be pretty firm believers in the idea of Darwinism, and they generally take the stance of not caring as long as it isn’t theirs. This chapter is also a good illustration of the culture clash in regard to our feeling towards dogs, versus the Kiribati.

In the 15th chapter the government holds a “Dance-Off” for their Independence Day festival. What does this say about the carelessness of the Kiribati government?
This was a good representation of how little the government actually does for the betterment of their country. One of the government leaders from the island of Tarawa actually said it would’ve been better if they were still governed by the British. Their government takes time out of every year to hold a nationwide dance competition for seemingly no reason whatsoever. The participants do partake in abstaining from alcohol and sex during that period of time, so that might be the one good thing that comes out of the experience.

Why are the dogs actually an important asset to Tarawa?
The dogs were not merely carriers for disease and scavengers of wayward food, they were themselves used as food, and also used for protection. Troost trains his dog, Vaclav, to fend off peeping toms and other forms of I-Kiribati predators that may approach his property. The I-Kiribati also occasionally chose to eat the dogs, as they are a quite valuable source of protein.

What is the one page chapter 16 all about?
I think the author is once again poking a little bit of fun at himself. It’s essentially a blank page and the chapter description reads “This is the chapter in which the author goes deep inside the mind of the novelist and expounds-for the benefit of future generations-on what it takes to produce literature, the noblest art, to which many are called and few chosen.”