Short Stories: The American Dreamers (2020)

Lesson 3
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ELA

Unit 12

7th Grade

Lesson 3 of 13

Objective


Analyze Mr. Kapasi’s point of view and what it reveals about cultural differences between India and America.  

Readings and Materials


  • Short Story: “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri (in Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1999)  pp. 43 – 53

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

What does Mr. Kapasi’s close observations of the Das family reveal about his perspective? Make sure to include one or two pieces of evidence to support your answer. 

Key Questions


  • p. 44 – Why does Lahiri describe what the Das family is wearing so closely? What does it reveal about Mr. Kapasi’s perspective?
  • What is significant about the Das family in India? Do you think they have achieved the American dream if they can afford to travel to India? 
  • On p. 52, Mr. Kapasi says, “before his parents settled his marriage.” What can you infer this means? 
  • How does Lahiri develop a tone of loneliness and emptiness? Advanced: how does the dramatic irony affect the tone here? 
  • How does Mrs. Das romanticize Mr. Kapasi? How does she not see him for who he really is? 
  • How is the Das family caught between two cultures? With which culture do they identify more?
  • “A Conversation with Jhumpa Lahiri”: According to Lahiri, why do some immigrants have a constant feeling of alienation?

Common Core Standards


  • RL.7.6 — Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.

Next

Explain the theme of loneliness. 

Lesson 4
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