The Cellist of Sarajevo

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

What generally fuels a civil war in more modern times? What dangers might citizens face during civil war? What is the economic impact of war? What emotional conflict might victims of civil war face?

Teaching Suggestion: In the novel, the four main characters are in the midst of a civil war during the Siege of Sarajevo. In Sarajevo, there are food shortages, few clean water resources, bombings, and snipers because of the war. Each character must face the challenge of living in Sarajevo during this violent time. Consider discussing civil war, the challenges that civilians must face during civil war, the emotional impact of war on civilians, and the prevalence of civil war around the world.

• This encyclopedia entry describes civil war, its causes, and changes to war in modern times.
• This article from The New Republic discusses the increasing number of civil wars since World War II and the possibility of civil war in western countries.

Short Activity

Explore scholarly resources to develop an understanding of the Bosnian War, the Siege of Sarajevo, and the effects of the civil war in Sarajevo. Note responses to these guiding questions as you investigate.

• When and where was this war largely fought?
• What were the major causes and outcomes?
• What was the intended impact of the Siege of Sarajevo?

Teaching Suggestion: One way to discuss the Siege of Sarajevo is by dividing students into groups of 2-3 to become experts on one of the assigned topics below. Then representative speakers from each group can share their findings with the larger group.  

• The Siege of Sarajevo—This article describes the Siege of Sarajevo
• The Bosnian Conflict—This encyclopedia article provides a summary of the Bosnian War
• The End of the Siege of Sarajevo—This article from Brookings describes how the Siege of Sarajevo ended.
• After the Siege of Sarajevo—This NPR article describes the impact of the civil war on Sarajevo.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Describe a time when art inspired you. What art inspired you, and how did you react to it? How does art influence culture and perspective? What effects might art have on mood? How have you attempted to imitate art to influence others?

Teaching Suggestion: In the novel, during the Siege of Sarajevo, the cellist plays a solo for 22 days to honor lives lost in his community. The cellist ultimately inspires the other characters in a time of need. Consider discussing the impact of art on society and emotional well-being.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who require an additional challenge, consider allowing students to complete further research on the influence of art, how it changes society and the impact of art on human behavior. Students may wish to discuss and share findings with peers or showcase what they learned in a way representative of an art form.