The God of Small Things

Lesson 21
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ELA

Unit 3

12th Grade

Lesson 21 of 37

Objective


Analyze the author’s development of the themes of history and love in these pages.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy  pp. 157 – 168

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Target Task


Multiple Choice

The color blue is repeated throughout the chapter in order to

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The reader can reasonably infer that the phrase “the one that would annihilate the family’s Good Name forever,” on p. 160, is meant to refer to

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Writing Prompt

Explain how the author uses the theme of history to help develop the theme of love in this chapter. Use evidence from throughout the chapter to support your answer.

Key Questions


  • Note the setting of this chapter. What do you know the chapter will be about given the title? Why might the author have placed this chapter immediately following the chapter about “Wisdom Exercise Notebooks”?
  • How does the narrator describe the house on pp. 157–158?
  • How does the author continue to develop the motif of freezing (or preserving!) time in this chapter? What is the message conveyed by the professional pickles story?
  • How does Mammachi feel about Margaret Kochamma? Track the multiple reasons why.
  • How does Mammachi feel about Chacko? What is she willing to overlook about him? Why?
  • What does the sentence “Of course they did not…unexpected quarter” on p. 160 mean?
  • Why did Mammachi give money to the “objects” of Chacko’s “Needs”? How does this relate to the theme of love?
  • Track the author’s characterization of Kochu Maria on pp. 161–163. She, Mammachi, and Baby Kochamma are all very concerned with appearances and class. Track evidence that shows this.
  • • The color blue appears frequently in pp. 163–165. Track what is referred to as blue.
  • At the beginning of the chapter the house is described as a stage. On p. 164 the narrator says Rahel “looked around and saw she was in a play.” What does this mean? What kind of part does she have?
  • What color are the steps to the house? Where else have we seen this color used? What did it represent? What color is it often shown in opposition to?
  • Describe Rahel and Velutha’s greeting to each other. What does it imply about their relationship?
  • What is Ammu thinking as she sees Velutha and Rahel greet each other on p. 167?
  • On p. 167 Ammu and Velutha catch each other’s gaze. The narrator says that in that moment, “History was wrong-footed, caught off guard.” What does this mean? What does it imply?
  • What are the love laws?
  • Why is Ammu shaking on p. 168?
  • How does the author weave together the themes of love and history here?

Notes


  • As they read this chapter, students will need to recognize the author’s development of the theme of history in these pages. Noting the classification of the characters into those who are part of the “old order” in India (colonizers, caste system, managers who exploit their workers) and those on the outside of this system (divorced wives, “Untouchables,” children of divorced parents, workers on the verge of rebellion) is the first step.
  • Students will also need to begin to develop an understanding of what the author means by “Love Laws” and to track how she uses the theme of history described above to develop this idea of a society where caste and history dictate who can love whom.
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Lesson 20

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Lesson 22

Lesson Map

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