Prisoner of the Infidels - Questions

 Noor Qureshi 

Mr. Roddy

IHSS

22 October 2021

Prisoner of the Infidels - Questions

Pick a section to note the style of his writing.  How would you characterize it?

Osman’s writing in general is very modern for his time. He wrote his diary in the 1700’s and language back then was very detailed and poetic, unlike the way our language is today. To take a specific section from his narrative, in the beginning, he writes in a very upfront, simple and direct tone. He just explains a series of actions like a list, so nothing too elaborate. 

What role does his religion play in his thinking?  Give an example.

Muslims believe that everything happens because of God, which is exactly the thinking of Osman in his  narrative. He mentions how Allah “decided that the dice would come up otherwise” which is implying that whatever happens to us is because of God’s will. 

What is a decision that he had to make?  Do you think it was a good one? Why or why not?

One major decision that Osman had to make was whether or not he would escape. He ended up attempting to do so, but only because a shepherd told him it would be a good idea. However, I think the man only told him to escape because he wanted to exchange his clothes for the expensive ones that Osman was wearing. The shepard didn’t actually care for his well being. At the end Osman ended up back in the dungeons as a slave, so his escape lead him to nowhere. Because of that, I don’t think it was a smart idea, since he was so easily caught and went back to the place he started. There’s a difference between a smart idea and a good idea. Although it wasn’t the smartest idea, it was a good one, because it didn’t seem like he was going to be freed anytime soon, or ever. He deserved a chance for freedom and the only way to do that was to try. Try by escaping. 

How does Osman's experience help us understand history?  Why is his experience important?

Osman’s experience helps us understand history from a different perspective. From the view point of a Turkish Muslim living in the Ottoman Empire. We don’t often learn about things like this, which is why it’s important to start understanding history in the eyes of other people. Here we get to see the life of a runaway slave, and a little insight into the Ottoman Empire.

 

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