66 pages • 2 hours read
Ismail KadareBroken April
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1978A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Introduction
Teacher Introduction
Broken April
- Genre: Literary fiction
- Originally Published: 1978
- Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
- Structure/Length: Novel divided into 7 chapters; approx. 218 pages
- Protagonist/Central Conflict: Broken April is a novel by Albanian author Ismail Kadare. The central conflict revolves around Gjorg Berisha, a young man living in the highlands of Albania, where an ancient code known as the Kanun dictates the rules of blood feuds. After Gjorg kills a man in a blood feud, he becomes caught in a cycle of vengeance and death. The novel explores themes of tradition, honor, and the tragic consequences of the blood-feud system.
- Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of violence, blood feuds, cultural practices, and the objectification of women
Ismail Kadare, Author
- Bio: Born 1936; Albanian author known for his contributions to world literature and his exploration of themes related to history, politics, and culture; celebrated for his novels, essays, and poetry; draws inspiration from his experiences in Albania
- Other Works: The General of the Dead Army (1963); The Palace of Dreams (1981)
- Awards: Prince of Asturias Award (2009); Man Booker International Prize (2005); Prix mondial Cino Del Duca (1992)
CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:
- Normalized Violence Causes a Cycle of Pain and Death
- Women Face Hardships in Traditional and Modern Societies
- Change Is Possible but Difficult
