Before We Were Free

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What is a dictator? How can a dictatorial regime change the lives of its citizens? Have you heard of any dictators historically? If so, briefly describe one of the dictators you may have learned about in your history classes, and the effects of this person’s regime on the country.

Teaching Suggestion: This question focuses on the political component of the novel, namely the effects of the Rafael Trujillo government on the Dominican Republic. While many students may not be familiar with Trujillo’s policies, they can make connections with other more well-known dictators such as Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, and Saddam Hussein. If any contention arises in student discussion over political opinions or the definition of a dictator, it may be beneficial to redirect students to focus on Rafael Trujillo specifically and his effects on the Dominican Republic. This prompt directly links with Short Answer prompt #2 (below).

• “Dictators” on Britannica
• “Rafael Trujillo” on Britannica

2. As a result of harsh governmental restrictions, many of which are imposed by dictatorial regimes, people often flee their country of origin in order to find a better life elsewhere.