Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1997

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Study Guide

Before You Read Beta

Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue and Part 1, Chapters 1-4

Part 1, Chapters 5-9

Part 2, Chapters 1-5

Part 2, Chapters 6-11

Part 3, Chapters 1-9

Part 3, Chapters 10-18

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools Beta

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the polyphonic first-person narrative structure of Voices from Chernobyl? What insights does it offer that a standard historical narrative wouldn’t?

Voices from Chernobyl is bookended by two similar monologues sharing a title, “A Solitary Human Voice.” Why do you think Svetlana Alexievich chose these particular monologues to frame the book? What is the significance of their title?

Alexievich’s subjects in the book frequently compare the Chernobyl disaster to war. Is this a fair comparison? How is the disaster similar and dissimilar to wartime atrocities?