You might think there's nothing to hope about when you're a prisoner in a war that makes no sense to you. And hey—you might be right. But we still see glimpses of hope in Vahan throughout Forgotten Fire. Call it his foolish naivety, perhaps, but it's there. At first he hopes for big things, like his dad coming home, or the war ending—but even at his lowest, Vahan still hopes, though by the end he hopes only for small things, like a companion or some bread to eat. Vahan learns that even in the darkest of times, he can still hope for things, including to come out of this whole experience alive.
Questions About Hope
- Does Vahan represent hope for the future? Is he hopeful, or naïve?
- Do you find this novel hopeful? Depressing? Somewhere in between? How to you feel about the ending in particular?
- What gives Vahan hope throughout his journey? When does he feel most hopeful about his future?
Chew on This
Vahan manages to never completely lose hope, and this is the reason he's able to survive.
Since Vahan has seen despicable things that no twelve-year-old should ever see, he loses hope for his future. Eventually he just wants to be with his family, even though they are dead.