The Mauritanian (Guantánamo Diary)

Why does the author retell Mauritanian folktales as a stylistic motif? Use at least two examples from the memoir to support your argument.

What are the “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques” and what role did they play at Guantanamo? What does their use indicate about the US justice system?

What role do racism and Islamophobia play in the captivity of 780 detainees at Guantanamo and their treatment in the context of the US War on Terror?

What are the four phases of detention at Guantanamo that the author identified? How do they relate to the stages of grief, Stockholm Syndrome, and trauma bonds?

What role did the author’s relationships with the Guantanamo staff (the guards and the interrogators) play in his life in captivity? How did he use these relationships to do more than just survive?

What methods did the author use to maintain his dignity and mental health while in indefinite detention at Guantanamo? Use at least four examples from his memoir.

Why did the author choose to use the memoir format for The Mauritanian? Who is his target audience and why?

What is the author’s view of democracies and dictatorships and their respective legal systems? How does this view transform throughout the book and why?