The God of Small Things

Lesson 24
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ELA

Unit 3

12th Grade

Lesson 24 of 37

Objective


Describe Estha's fears and the actions that his fears inspire.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy  pp. 184 – 193

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

What is Estha afraid of in this chapter? Explain how his fears relate to his “Two Thoughts” and the plans he and Rahel start to make. Use evidence from the reading to support your answer.

Key Questions


  • Note the setting.
  • What is the narrator’s tone toward Estha?
  • What is a “Bar Nowl” and what image do his descriptions of Estha paint?
  • What does the banana jam symbolize? (Love laws, categorization, preservation)
  • What might Estha need to Think about in private?
  • What are Estha’s Two Thoughts?
  • What is the impact of the allusion to Macbeth?
  • What is Estha’s Thought Number Three? How does it relate to thoughts one and two?
  • What is the nickname by which the narrator refers to Rahel on p. 188? And what nickname did she give Estha? What is the impact of the use of silly nicknames?
  • What color appears multiple times on p. 188? What does it signify?
  • What is Estha afraid of? How does his fear relate to the plans he is making?
  • Why does the moth appear on p. 189? What does it represent? What causes it?
  • What did Vellya Paapen tell the twins about the Kari Saipu’s house?
  • What does the narrator tell the reader about Vellya Paapen’s actions and the impact they had? What questions does this raise for you?
  • What plans do the twins make on p. 191? 
  • “The red flag planted in the earth beside him. A Mobile Republic. A Twin Revolution with a Puff.” What is the tone? Track how the author continues to develop this tone.
  • What is the impact of the repetition of the phrase “Things can change in a day” on p. 192? What mood does it help to create?
  • How does the author use the tone to create the mood? Explain.
  • What are the twins doing in this scene? 

Notes


There is a reference to the witches of Macbeth in this scene.

Next

Describe how the author creates an ominous mood in this chapter.

Lesson 25
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Lesson Map

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