The God of Small Things

Lesson 5
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ELA

Unit 3

12th Grade

Lesson 5 of 37

Objective


Contrast the author’s tone in this excerpt with the tone at the beginning of the chapter.

Analyze the author’s characterization of Rahel as an adult and her characterization of Baby Kochamma.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy  pp. 18 – 29

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Target Task


Multiple Choice

The shift in tone from the beginning of the novel to today’s excerpt can be described as moving from

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It can be reasonably inferred from p. 20 that the narrator considers Rahel’s indifference understandable because

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Which piece of evidence from p. 20 best supports the answer to number 2?

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Writing Prompt

What does the narrator mean when he or she says that Baby Kochamma is “living her life backwards.” Use multiple details from throughout Baby Kochamma’s life to support your answer.

Key Questions


  • How does the narrator support the teacher’s assertion that Rahel “didn’t know how to be a girl” on p. 18? Why does she “not know”?
  • The sing-songy poetic tone of earlier in the chapter is now gone. How would you describe the tone of this portion of text? (serious, somber) What features of the text (diction, figurative language, etc.) help to develop this tone?
  • How would you describe Rahel as a young adult based on the descriptions on p. 19?
  • Who is Larry McCaslin? What does the sentence on p. 19, “Rahel drifted into marriage…an airport lounge,” imply about her marriage?
  • How does Larry’s impression of Rahel change after they are married for a time? p. 20
  • What do the “Big God” and the “Small God” represent on p. 20? How do they relate to the idea of indifference and despair introduced earlier on p. 20? How do they contribute to the theme of colonialism?
  • What does the simile of stacked spoons on p. 21 imply about Estha and Rahel?
  • What causes Rahel to return to India from New York?
  • Trace the author’s characterization of Baby Kochamma on pp. 21–28.
  • Gather evidence to support or refute the assertion that Baby Kochamma is “living her life backward.”
  • What is revealed about her motivation for joining a convent?
  • What is revealed about Baby Kochamma through the description of her garden?
  • Who is Kochu Maria?
  • What replaced Baby Kochamma’s love for her garden?
  • Describe Baby Kochamma, both her appearance and personality, based on the descriptions in this chapter.

Notes


  • While the main plot of the novel has two storylines (one set during two weeks in 1969 and the other set in one day of 1993), it is also important to note that the author weaves in flashforwards and flashbacks that add to the reader’s understanding of the characters. Today’s emphasis on Baby Kochamma is one such flashback.
  • The teacher may wish to have students read some background information on religion (such as that included in the University of Wisconsin's Teaching The God of Small Things In Wisconsin: A Guide for Educators) in India prior to today’s reading that references Syrian Christians and Roman Catholics in Kerala.
  • There have been several references to communism in Kerala in this first chapter of the book. Including some historical context at this point or holding off until future chapters would be fine.
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