Interpreter of Maladies
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Coursework activities booklet
2013
A Temporary Matter
1. Create a diagram of the orientation, complications (rising tension), climax and resolution of the story. 2. How do the characters overcome the narrative complications? 3. From whose perspective is the story told? Why are we denied the other point of view? Whose story is it, Shoba’s or Shukumar’s? 4. How does Lahiri give depth to the characters in the first 2 pages? 5. What evidence of tension does the reader get in the first 2 pages? 6. How have Shoba and Shukumar changed since the still birth? 7. Why do they find it so hard to communicate? Why is it so much easier in the dark? 8. List the revelations that the 2 characters reveal. Why does Shukumar tell Shoba his last revelation? 9. Why does the story end with the Bradfords walking past? 10. Although this story is based on Indian characters, is it necessarily an ‘Indian’ story? 11. How does the title refer to more than just the blackout? 12. Lahiri often gives the reader clues as to what will happen before the characters themselves are aware. What clues are given in this story? 13. Many of Lahiri’s stories use the natural world to underline a theme. How is the natural world used in this story? 14. How important is food in the story? What might it symbolise? 15. Writing task: take a section of this story and change the perspective – tell it from Shoba’s point of view. How would her perspective alter the story? 1 page
Vocabulary: dissertation, superfluous, agrarian, methodically, cavernous, paprika, candelabra, bulbous, dysentery, diction
When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine 1. Who is the narrator of the story? Whose story is it? 2. This is one of the stories that deal with the immigrant experience. How do the adults in the story try to fit into American society? Answer in detail, using examples from the text. 3. Analyse the use of food and
Coursework activities booklet
2013
A Temporary Matter
1. Create a diagram of the orientation, complications (rising tension), climax and resolution of the story. 2. How do the characters overcome the narrative complications? 3. From whose perspective is the story told? Why are we denied the other point of view? Whose story is it, Shoba’s or Shukumar’s? 4. How does Lahiri give depth to the characters in the first 2 pages? 5. What evidence of tension does the reader get in the first 2 pages? 6. How have Shoba and Shukumar changed since the still birth? 7. Why do they find it so hard to communicate? Why is it so much easier in the dark? 8. List the revelations that the 2 characters reveal. Why does Shukumar tell Shoba his last revelation? 9. Why does the story end with the Bradfords walking past? 10. Although this story is based on Indian characters, is it necessarily an ‘Indian’ story? 11. How does the title refer to more than just the blackout? 12. Lahiri often gives the reader clues as to what will happen before the characters themselves are aware. What clues are given in this story? 13. Many of Lahiri’s stories use the natural world to underline a theme. How is the natural world used in this story? 14. How important is food in the story? What might it symbolise? 15. Writing task: take a section of this story and change the perspective – tell it from Shoba’s point of view. How would her perspective alter the story? 1 page
Vocabulary: dissertation, superfluous, agrarian, methodically, cavernous, paprika, candelabra, bulbous, dysentery, diction
When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine 1. Who is the narrator of the story? Whose story is it? 2. This is one of the stories that deal with the immigrant experience. How do the adults in the story try to fit into American society? Answer in detail, using examples from the text. 3. Analyse the use of food and