Black Butterflies

Is there a difference between the “official” history of a country and the lived history of its inhabitants, particularly women? There is so much in Zora’s life and in the lives of the other women in the book that will be forever undocumented – the daily tasks, devotions and caring duties that don’t result in art or literature, but yet enable its creation. Do we tend to focus on the creation of art – particularly when it comes to the works of Great Men – and forget what has happened in the background to allow it to happen?

How important are books, paintings, sculptures and other artworks, and how tragic is it when they are destroyed in war? How does that destruction compare to the loss of human life and the other horrors Zora later realises have happened during the war in Sarajevo?

How does Morris use the symbol of the bridge to represent the once-glorious diversity of Sarajevo?

On p.1, Zora describes her day-to-day work and caring activities, which are representative of the responsibilities of many middle-aged women. With her mother and husband in England, does Zora find any positives in her new-found independence?

How does the dinner party scene (pp 39- 45) illustrate the different political views in Sarajevo at the time of the siege?

Can you understand why Samir may have finally decided to join the fighting after resisting it for so long?