Essay Questions for Exam

Essay Questions for Exam
A How important is the setting of a particular time and place to the development of the characters? Choose two characters to discuss. B Discuss one of the following themes in the novel and how it Discuss two characters The conflict between traditionalism and individualistic values. Conflict between traditional India and modern India Quest for self-fulfillment/spiritual fulfillment Self-deception Playing the roles that are expected of us. C Discuss Narayan's narrative technique of using a braided narrative. Why is it effective and how does it contribute to the novel as a whole?

The Guide as a Hindu work
Spiritual asscent Viney Kirpal’s The Archetypal Four-Stage Journey according to Hindu philosophy Student life (bramacharya Life of the householder (garhasthya Gradual withdrawl from life (vanaprastha) Final ascetic surrender of the self ( sannyasa)

Hindu terms Maya: role playing
“The world is a stage, (lila) and people are merely playing roles.” Bhagavad Gita values moral action according to one’s dhama (duty) even above learning and acts of piety. Critic Viney Kirpal believes that although he is netiher a mystic or sage, Raju attains moksha (liberation) through good action, renunciation of the self, and a return to the life of dharma.

Dharma Hindu concept that includes both social duty and a sense of vocation. In the introduction to the novel Michael Gorra asks how dharma “affects the novelist’s sense of the relation between plot and character?

Rasipuram Krishnawamy Narayan

“I'd be quite happy if no more is claimed from me than being just a story-teller. Only the story matters, that is all. If readers read more significance into my stories than was meant originally, then that's the reader's understanding of things. But if a story is in tune completely with the truth of life, truth as I perceive it, then itt will be automatically significant."

A celebrated Indian writer who writes in English
Known for his simple and unpretentious writing Was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

The Guide Takes place in a fictional town called Magudi- some place near Mysore: “Malgudi is a land of fantasy, not as in a dream, colored and brilliant; but the reverie of relaxed awakening, a contemplation of commonness. Life there is reduced, or elevated, to the lowest common denominator of living, which remains the same in nearly all places and times.” –Nandan Datta (California Literary Review)

The Rockefeller Foundation selected Narayan for a travel grant.
He left for the United States, in October 1956.” In the Hotel Carlton, Berkeley, California, Narayan wrote the most famous of his novels, “The Guide”. Sometimes he wrote with a typewriter, sometimes with paper and pen, cooking his own food on a hot plate in the hotel room every day.

Based on true incident A recent situation in Mysore offered a setting for such story. A severe drought had dried up all the rivers and tanks; Krishnaraja Sagar, an enormous reservoir feeding channels that irrigated thousands of acres, had also become dry, and its bed, a hundred and fifty feet deep, was now exposed to the sky with fissures and cracks, revealing an ancient submerged temple, coconut stumps, and dehydrated crocodiles. As a desperate measure, the municipal council organized prayers for rains. A group of Brahmans stood knee-deep in water (procured at great cost) on the dry bed of Kaveri, fasted, prayed and chanted certain mantras continuously for eleven days. On the twelfth day it rained. It was really the starting point of The Guide.

Agenda Looking at benefits of third person pov. How does it highlight incongruities between action and thought? How does the objective pov also support the satirical tone and irony?

Point of View Pay attention to the switch in Point of View
First and third person is used. Braided pov Narrative switches from time when narrator tells us about his childhood and then returns to the present time of the narrative and his current problem.

Tone Satirical Humorous irreverent
the use of irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to expose, denounce or poke fun at human folly. Humorous irreverent

Temple near Ghat (steps to river)

Another temple

Bharatnatyam Dancer

Duel POV Ist person Represents voice of the modern individual with desire for self-assertion Third person represents the community and demand for civic responsibility Sympathy and judgment for Raju are in delicate balance

Techniques The shift in points of view highlight the irony and satire in the novel… Naryan is an ironist who uses humor to expose the absurdity of the situation (this is accomplished through third person pov) 1st person draws sympathy toward Raju We see him as a lovable rogue

Technique first person narrative during the past action of the story
fast forward talking about Rosie. (ch. 1 p.4-8) Third person past during the present action Cinematic techniques: jump cut, flashback, flash forward…link between the two periods is his confession to Velan

1st person -Subjective Creates sympathy for Raju we see him as lovable rouge Represents the modern voice with desire for assertion 3rd person Objective detached view allows “observation, exposure and deflation.” Increases the irony between what the character is perceiving and what is actually happening. Represents voice of community/ demand for civic responsibility “Humor is achieved through this duel narrative shifting reader’s perspective closer to , and then further away from Raju”. (Middle Distance.)

eyewitness; confidant, - One person’s perspective only.
Third person : Most common for short stories (space, one reality, one climax, one turning point.) Anonymous narrator eyewitness; confidant, - One person’s perspective only. - Can’t enter another person’s internal reality - 3rd person is the protagonist. It is his or her conflict

The narrator or lens of the story
Can travel inside the character, and outside, making judgements on the character’s actions. This can increase the irony between what the character is perceiving and what is actually happening.

Advantages of third person
Immediacy and identification with that character. We are in that character’s story. We are in that character’s story. We see the world through his eyes. We move with that character toward their understanding Gives reader an immediate focal point. Freedom to know their mind

In third Question of distance How close is the narrator?
In a close third, the narrator is able to move in and out of the protagonist’s head and intimately knows the character’s feelings and thoughts.

Advantages of First Person
1. All observations must be consistent with what character knows, see, and believes to be true about the world. 2. Everything is filtered through the consciousness of the I. 3. Tighter focus can limit what is told. 4. But 1st person can be exploited in interesting ways through irony, discrepancy, and contradiction

5. Issues of reliability. How much can the narrator be trusted
5. Issues of reliability. How much can the narrator be trusted? Reliable or Unreliable narrator? Advantages of unreliable narrator: gives reader the job of getting involved. Discrepancy of what the narrator says and what the reader perceives. 6.When you have 1st person narrator the I is the protagonist. Central character or observer. When the I is an observer, there needs to be a reason for telling the story. The narrator has to be changed in some way. What they have witnessed has changed them. 7. Can’t have a passive protagonist.

1. What do we learn about the Raju?
appears to be honest. he doesn’t like to be stared at, and tells Velan “I’m not as great as you imagine, just an ordinary man.” (4). “old habit of “affording guidance to others” his nature to involve himself into interest of others. p. 10 “I hope she is uninteresting.” Sense of trouble with women? Rosie P. 14 felt irritated by the responsiblities the villagers were placing on him.

Ch 1p. 12 pov- “Felt like an actor…(9).”
“He was of the stuff that disciples are made of; an unfinished story or an incomplete moral never bothered him; it was all in the scheme of life ” (12) “Felt he was growing wings (14)’

Raju? How does Narayan take us to the heart of his character?
Braided pov creates delicate balance between sympathy and judgment: a Third person(allows more objective view of character) b. First person (more subjective, creates sympathy) Creates a Flawed character who finds redemption at end (that is debatable) a. Emerging from jail b. covets another man’s wife c. fasts for good of the village

Agenda Shared Inquiry: How does pov contriubute to irony and humor in novel? Homework for tomorrow or (Thursday) Read hand out on The Guide as a Post-Colonial novel. Then read chapter 7 and find examples of your assigned character

Ch 2 First person past through p. 20
Then switches back to third person pov present action Raju tries to debunk his own greatness: “There is nothing extraordinary in my guess. Still mistaken for a yogi. He realizes “ that he had no alternative; he must play the rolde that Velan had given him.”

Quick Write P. 24: (after the girl agrees to marry)
“He realized that he had no alternative: he must play the role that Velan had given him.” Describe the significance of this line as it relates to theme and character.

Ch. 3 Railroad opens’ symbol of modernity

Ch. 4 Plays the role expected of him
p. 34: “What can a crocodile do to you if your mind is clear and you conscience is untroubled?” “He was amazed at the amount of wisdom welling up from the depths of his being.” “He was hypnotized by his own voice…” No one was more impressed with the grandeur of the whole thing than Raju himself (Authorial comment)

Does the narrator seem to believe that acting like a holy man can give us holy man thoughts? Or is he commenting on how gullible people are when it comes to wanting to believe in the wisdom of others?

P. 40: “With the exception of Velan, and a few others, Raju never bothered to remember faces or names or even to know to whom he was talking. He seemed to belong to the world now. His influence was unlimited.”

Chapter 5: Railroad Raju
When people asked him questions, he never admitted that he didn’t know Doesn’t mean to lie, just trying to be pleasant He makes comments about travelers: “Travelers are an enthusiastic lot. They do not mind any inconvenience as long as they have something to see.”

Scared of the man who acted as “the examiner”
Then he played meek and self-effacing He learned as he taught

Meet Rosie P.48-51 The cobra:
“She stretched out her arm slightlyand swayed it in imitation of the movement; she swayed her whole body to the rhythm-for just a second, but that was sufficient to tell me what she was, the greatest dancer of the century.”

“I felt annoyed with him at this stage. What did he take me for?... A tout? It made me ver angty, but the fact was that I really was a tout….” (someone who solicits business in an annoying way) The next day he ingratiates himself a bit by offering to ask Rosie to join them on the ride to the cave.

p.55 Going to the Peak House
He flirts with Rosie: “You may come out as you are and no one will mind it. Who would decorate a rainbow?” Irony: Marco knew everything about the cave and didn’t need Raju to be his guide

p. 64 History of Rosie’s family
Raju expresses his love and admiration She tells him about the quarrels with her husband She was a temple dancer “viewed as public women” Not viewed as respectable or civilized.

Rosie went to school Earned her master’s in economics
Saw an ad for a wife that Marco placed Is she happy in her marriage?

Ch. 6 Deepavali (Divali) is the festival celebrating the return of the sun after the rainy season. Sawmiji: ji is an honorific suffix Sadhuy: holy man

Part of the comedy He is regarded as a sage for making expected guesses and mouthing certain platitudes. Comic irony is obvious in this chapter. Raju’s contrived, false mysticism becomes a problem for him in this chapter.

Ch. 6 From his perspective: 72
“They were clearly losing their head. They were entering a nightmare phase” Why does he fail to recognize the severity of the drought? Women tell him that he “must show us the way.” He waves his hand and says, “Be peaceful; everything will be all right; I wil fix it with the gods” (73).

p. 73 When taken to look at the dead buffalo Raju learns that the buffalo didn’t belong to anyone in the village. “Raju felt relieved a the possibility of there being other solutions and explanations. Raju says: “It must have been bitten by a poisonous insect.” Why does he deny the obvious signs?

Fight over the price of rice with the shopman p. 74
Conflict develops between relatives of the man who was attacked by the shopman and the shopman’s relatives How does this affect Raju and his feelings for the villagers?

POV examples P 74 Velan and his men.. P77 Velan’s brother

Read pages 82-87 How does 3rd person pov create humor and irony in these pages? Find examples of irony and moments of change in Raju’s thinking place a post it by significant passage P-pov C -change in character

Alex: 85.” Did they expect him to starve? His view of his demands
Peter 84: What was this new subject? He doesn’t know what’s going on 82 he Felt ridiculous playing hide and seek with his feet. Ben 87 : I am no saint: Serena 83: he had already had two meals that day. Natalie: Press dust into my own eyes: maybe I am Grrace 84: come to attach value to his own words Stephen: significance of what he says.Casey 86 moved by the recollection of the crowd touching his feet…moved by their attention Peter: got down from his pedestal. “ N: Velan tries to sitbelow Raju, and Raju moves down so he isn’t seen as above him

P. 82 He tried to cover his feet.
83: began to feel it right that they should touch his feet 83 Where is the stuff for my Bonda Allowed to touch my feet: he would press the dust to his eyes (change) starting to believe that he is the holyt man. Accepting his role Eva: p. 86:”But he felt moved by the recollection of the villagers touching his feet.” 82-83 POV from both (Nick) Raju is angry that they don’t come/ villagers are so faithful Aidan ( change in Raju: moved by their gratitude. Realizing how much he means to him. Jesse: 87:Begins to be truthful protect himself. + change Change: P 84:”To attch value to his own words.” Stepped down from his pedastl. The seat had acquired his glamour.

Joey: Skyler 83: He himsellf… press dust to his eyes creates irony begins believe in his own glory
Piper 85: “Did they expect him to starbve?” Nick: 85: It is alone that I shall be alone tonight…” The throne had acquiried authority. Doesn’t want to be seen as amore than he is. Khradh. : 82 womean kissing her feet Mahatamah.Not accepting that position. Elizabeth: Helps us understand how ambigious . Changes Mahida: 84: to attach value to his own words: shift from previous self. Henry: 86 shift: But he moved by the recollection of people trying to touch feet Mikael altrusim Olivia 87: Took his seat, Raju sat down. Trying to make himself level with Velan.

Read 84-85 He felt that he had worked himself into a position from which he could not get out. He needed to attach value to his own words. He now saw the enormity of his own creation. He had created a giant with his puny self, a throne of authority with that slab of stone.

Reactions Alarmed at how agitated they were becoming
Thinks the village people don’t know hot to be peaceful Considers finding a new place. Learns that Valen was injured. Did not know what was expected of him. (felt the best thing for them would be to blow one another’s brains out.)

Reactions continued Why doesn’t he go to see Velan?
People will expect him to visit other injured Villagers plan to burn down the houses Raju Worried that so much commotion could attract the police. Raju tells Velan’s brother: “Not to fight.”

“Unless they are good I’ll never eat.”
The boy could not understand the connection Between the fight and the man’s food. The boy said, that Raju’s message was: “Tell your brother not to bring me any more food. I won’t eat. If I don’t eat, it’ll be all right; and then everything will be all right.”

Villagers misinterpret the boy- they think: p. 79
If he fasts it will rain. “Only great souls that take upon themselves tasks such as this-”

P Raju is waiting for his food and gifts and feels even more satisfied with himself thinking that people were jubilant over the fact that’he had prevented a fight.” “He felt happy that he had achieved something, and saved the village.”

82 “Your prayers will surely be answered and save our village. Every one of us in the village prays night and day that you come through it safely.” Now they tell him he is “Mahatma” (great soul=saint)

Why does he try to cover his feet? (82)
And then: (83) It seemed possible that he himself might bow low, take the dust of his own feet, and press it tohis eyes. He began to think that his personality radiated a glory….” “We Derive merit from your face” Hindu belief in darshan” by witnessing holy objects or person, is a spiritual blessing. At this point he thinks they are grateful that he stopped the fight.

Where does he begin to change?
p. 86: But he felt moved by the recollection of the big crowd of women and children touching his feet. He felt moved by the thought of their gratitude,” “By habit, his nature avoided the direct and bald truth even now. ..I want to know what has made you think so about me.?”

Snippets? Ch 6 “I think I’ll look for a new place.”
“Unless they are good I’ll never eat.” I am no saint

“I am not a saint” “Raju felt really sorry to be shattering his faith; but it was the only way in which he could hope to escape the ordeal.

How does pov help reveal character?

What type of person is Raju?

How is Raju depicted? Techniques of characterization
Internal or external representation? Actions? Use of Language Interactions with other characters? Dialogue? Symbolism? Physical description? Interaction with environment? Setting? What character says about themselves What others say about them

Monday Stamp notes Background Point of view
Looking for irony and shifts in attitude in ch. 6 Tomorrow: reading day in class ch. 7 answer study guide questions Quiz on Thursday: chapters 1-6 and vocab. ( list coming tomorrow)

Agenda Read essay on The Guide as a Post-Colonial Novel when you finish-mark important ideas that would be useful for exam. What does the writer say about Narayan’s juxtaposition of : Traditional way of life and modernity? How does this relate to Rosie, Raju and Marco? Discuss Bharatanatyam dance

Agenda Review points of The Guide as a Post-Colonial Novel
Characters in Ch. 7: How do they represent the conflict between traditional India and an emerging Modern India?

Bharatanatyam Dance Classical South Indian Dance
Performed in temples by a class of dancers (devadasis)

Bha' - Bhavam (means expression),
'Ra' - Ragam (means music), 'Ta - Talam (means beat or rhythm) and Natyam (means dance) in Tamil.

The dancer uses the space as her own sacred temple and brings the audience into her magical circle as she performs and acts out stories with Gods and Goddesses from Indian mythology, folk tales and stories with emotional content.

The dance originated 5000 years
Young girls were dedicated to the temples at the early age of eight years underwent a strict teaching, related to the arts to fully understand and evoke the sentiments required of them as dancers.

Devadasis Servant of god
Outlawed in but parents sell daughters (usually of the dalit or untouchable cast) into the practice.

Narayan in a Post-Colonial world
His early novels show that Indian culture existed independently of colonial power (108) P. 109: Sees intrusion of the modern into traditional India. Hindu world-view absorbs all contradictions. Sen argues that Narayan does not ignore distress of poor India (111)

Ch 7 tradition/Modernity
Emerging theme of transformation and self-fulfillment. Characters in Ch. 7: How do they represent the conflict between traditional India and an emerging Modern India?

Sen asserts on 117 that Narayan Navigates the “contradictions of the post-colonial world. He is not only aware of the inevitability of change, but also of the problems that attend the processes of change in a traditional society.” How is this true in The Guide? How are the situations and the main characters a reflection of changing times in Post-Colonial India? (1948) 2 What other significant pts do we learn about them? Four groups Rosie: Raju Marco Raju’s mother

Four groups 1.What do we learn about your character?
2 Find examples of the conflict between traditional India and post-colonial India. 3. Examples of self-fulfillment. 2. Where is there a discrepancy between Raju’s attitude and the reader’s sense that his account is shaded by self interest? 3.Where in ch. 7 would you like to hear Rosie’s or Marco’s side of the story?

Rosie 7th hr After all he has been so good to me. Traditional value of DUTY!! Yet, she has freedom. Name is a western name…Changes It so that it sounds more traditional. Before she was rich and famous…dreamed of having riches, but found a balance. She takes the traditional dance and makes it a career. Has college education. Finds fulfillment through tradition. Raju-Starts trying to be a ‘modern’ business man, but finds fulfillment by becoming a guru. Marco-Marries outside caste, indicating progressive, but still treats wife poorly. Scientific man who loves history. Feels guilty after cheating, so tries to be a better wife to alleviate guilt. Spiritual quests are started by others-guides.

5th hr Rose: dancer of traditional dance, commercialization
Practices traditional dance, but has a western name..Nalini. Balance She escaped her duty as a dancer, but she returns to it. Example of Rosie acting like a modern woman: xcheating Degree Masters in economics Even after Raju is put in jail she continues to dance and is still successful. Unmarried, independent After all he is my husband… she gives him respect…traditional view of marriage. Her duty as a wife Rosie embodies india they are both attempting to find success in amodern world through traditonal methods.

Rosie comes from a traditional background of devadasi, but seems modern in respects:
Caste MA in economics Torn between duty to husband and her own self-fulfillment as a dancer Feels guilty over affair and tells Marco 93-95 Art form is very old, she performs it as a cultural art form outside of its origin Though modern, desires affection from husband.

7th Raju RAJU!! Pg 90-Somethimes felt like in rags-something… not modern enough…invest in hair face lotion. Wants to appear modern. Abandons arranged marriage for personal gain. Begins to be concerned with other’s feelings, but this is because HE doesn’t want to see others in pain. Doesn’t care for Marco. Almost pities Marco. Then resumes being jerk. Raju defies mother. (Individualism vs Collectivism). Railway RAJU!! RAJU!! like the train. RAJU!! Embodies modernization. Selfish, individualistic. Contrasts with father’s traditionalism.

Raju Reinventing himself
Railway Raju, tourist guide, business manager for Rosie , swami Raju (Raillway Raju) Places self interest over tradition and society. could serve for a symbol for the changing identity of India Interesting how he could serve for a symbol for the changing identity of India

Raju Railroad Raju…represents the modern with a more traditional
P. 90: Clothes: he dresses in a more modern fashion to attract Rosie Railroad is a symbol of modernization..line of work first pov: depicts Marco as focused on work only. Neglectful husband

5th hr Marco 89: all practical affairs of life seem impossible to him.
Focuses on the past of India…bit out of place in the modern age. Wealthy, higher solcial classVery authoritative. Bossing others around

Marco 7th hr Symbolizing western orientation. Archaeologist, celebrates western science but has reverence for ancient things. Ignores caste prejudice to marry Rosie. Breaks REALLY BIG barrier to marry her. Still remains traditional in patriarchal behavior. Very controlling, denies Rosie her freedom. Third cave… musical notation.. Figure.. Puzzled (98) Ignores Rosie’s knowledge of traditional music. Pg 115- not branch of learning, street acrobatics.. Discuss something… dance like… what creativity?... Monkey... Trick. THEME! PAST! PRESENT! EFFECT! AFFECT! RAJU!! COLORS PERSPECTIVE. Don’t know how Marco feels. Marco acts reserved when learning about affair. Absolutely helpless… Impractical… could barely even buy a ticket.

Marco Man of science Contradiction: marries out of caste, but ignores wife’s desire P. 115 (Doesn’t see any thing intelligent or creative in her dancing.)

Raju’s mother RAJU!!’s Mother.
My mother came out of the kitchen… smiled.. Asked kindly. Taken aback by name Rosie… Looked anguished for a moment, didn’t know how to accommodate someone named Rosie Whispered… snake woman.. Couldn’t stand Rosie because of her caste RAJU!!’s mother very traditional. Doesn’t understand Rosie. Gives very traditionalist advice to Rosie.

5th hr Raju’s mother Traditional views toward women
“Who has come with you?” “Girls Today.” (141) Traditional Hindu woman, denied public exposure. Prohibited and afraid to go out alone…Rosie is not. Thinks Rosie (a tainted woman) should return to her husband after she hears gossip from other women. 121

agenda Finish Raju’s mother Write intro on the setting
Silent conversation 4 passages. Monday: Quiz Socratic Seminar After seminar Read article and see if it changes their mind

Raju’s Mother She enforces the idea of being subserviant in a marriage to men. “Girls today how courageous you are. “ She follows more traditional values The Wife’s resposibility to bring the husband aroud. She thinks Rosie should just fall at his feet.

Raju’s mother Traditional
She never left the house before, her responsibilities are in the kitchen 110: these girls are doing all these brave things. Who is with you? Where is Mr. Rosie. 112: invites Rosie to well…

(exam question ’06) The characters of a novel can only be individulaized if they are set in a background of particulari time and place. How important is the setting of a particular time and/or place to the development of the characters? On you homework write a brief introduction to this question based on either the character you discussed today or another.

Comments on Intros Get to the question right away in topic sentence
What type of setting? post colonial setting… Which character will you discuss? Two points of discussion and his purpose

In intro… The particular setting of The Guide by R.K. Narayan is essential to the development of the characters. The setting of post-colonial India contributes to the transformation of his main character, Raju, who Points of discussion could choose one or two Traditional vs. modern society Community vs. individual desires Transformation and self-fulfillment

Silent conversation When you are done, annotate your passage and use the guiding question to address the theme of self-fulfillment and transformation in the novel Write your key insight at bottom.

Switch passage with group member
Read the passage and the comments made by the other person Add your comments, or add to their comments. Highlight or circle any other lines that also seem significant. Continue ….

Key insights Passage A:
-there’s a comparison of rosie to post-colonial India, modernizing yet sticking to tradition -there is a discrepancy between what Raju thinks is happening and what is actually happening (he thinks one thing—about Rosie—when in fact she’s moved on) -the moment where Rosie is transformed—from being reliant on Marco and Raju to being self-reliant and independent -3rd line: Rosie says she’ll give him something to get him out of jail but after that she wants him to leave her alone once and for all, to be truly independent Passage B: -self fulfillment for Raju—he’s working with his hands and connecting to the land. He says he wishes he hadn’t spent all the money on buying a lawyer, and had accepted full sentence because he wouldn’t have minded taking all the years in prison

Key insights 7th hr Passage A: RAJU!! knows that Rosie has the potential to be successful even though she under estimates herself. Tradition/Modern. Self fulfillment: Dance. “Neither marco nor I had any place in her life….” Rosie just needed someone to recognize her capability. Passage B: Find fulfillment in prison. “forget the walls and you will be happy.” Considers himself more free in prison. Uses loving diction to describe the growth of the plants.

The particular setting of The Guide by R. K
The particular setting of The Guide by R.K. Narayan is essential to the development of the characters. The setting of post-colonial India contributes to the transformation of his main character, Raju, who… Give examples of two of the settings and how they relate to character development Villages Malgudi/Mangal

The particular setting of The Guide by R. K
The particular setting of The Guide by R.K. Narayan is essential to the development of the characters. The setting of post-colonial India contributes to the transformation of his main character, Raju, who symbolizes the contradictions and ironies of a modern nation emerging from colonial rule. Raju embodies the modern ambitions of a young nation, but he is also cast into the role of a swami and forced to play the traditional part of a religious man in order to save a village from drought. Narayan juxtaposes Mangal and Malgudi to reveal the tension between community needs and individual desires, and to show that transformation and self-fulfillment of character is specifically linked to a particularized time and place.

Agenda “Reversal of Fortune”
Turning point of the character. A point at which the plot takes an unexpected turn for the protagonist Looking at introductions for Paper 2 Practice Homework: Annotate book. Transformations and themes.

Agenda Socratic Seminar (25 minutes)
Does Raju find redemption at the end? The Guide as a Hindu Work (10) Read..essay on theme/titledoes it change your opinion? Voc Quiz (8 minutes) Thursday: E110 google/docs and print out essay Book and notes allowed, but not critical essay Topics are on board

Socratic Seminar Opening question: ten second response: Which theme most interested you in the novel? What would be another good title for the book? Who is the guide in the novel?

Does Raju achieve redemption?
Yes, because he came clean to Velan for all of his sins- forgiveness Yes, through doing something for other people- he got nothing out of it Just doing his job, not doing what he wants, which is what dictates his actions in the early part of the novel He’s acting completely selflessly now Emotinoally and physically drained, but still helping and accepting help Light symbolism, rebirth- renewed or reborn as a spiritual leader, held as a child, baptism, river and water

Redemption? The grinch grew to be a caring person, Raju’s humanity- his heart grew three sizes that day Truly altruistic towards the end of the novel Third person makes it less about sympathy, more about honest truth Acting for wholly selfless reasons Endurance and journey to seek what is true Affect Raju has on other people, and how much he’s learned Always referred to by title, even by third person narrator Hated fasting, until the American asked him

Not redeemed- only going along for his own personal benefit, conceit, doesn’t acknowledge what he’s done wrong Admits he isn’t a saint, he’s made a mistake Raju is the empty vessel, he knows he isn’t special

How do the following quotes apply to Raju’s transformation? Or not?
… “Forget the walls, and you will be happy” (181). “An empty vessel makes much noise.”

Empty vessel- god, empty demonstrates no connection, he makes noise through his words, but with no enforcement Tour guide- he knew nothing, but made noise He lost his self-control, controlled rosie, Velan has taken away his power, was forced to take it but did it thoroughly and intentionally What is redemption? He has changed is what counts He says nothing at the end, so it implies he is a full vessel- much different than the beginning

Did his experiences with Rosie help him evolve?
Traditionalism vs modernism, thought Rosie was a traditional woman, but he discovered modern elements

What is the relationship between Velan and Raju?
Some people are born to greatness, some have it handed to them, some are ‘guided’ to it. Velan guided Raju Raju has been living with himself, but he does not know who he is until the end

Closing question Read the essay on theme and title and write on the back of your ticket if the essay reinforced your opinion, or persuaded you to change your original answer and why?

Spiritual asscent Viney Kirpal’s The Archetypal Four-Stage Journey according to Hindu philosophy Student life (bramacharya) Life of the householder (garhasthya) Gradual withdrawl from life (vanaprastha) Final ascetic surrender of the self ( sannyasa)

The ending is ambiguous
“Velan, it’s raining in the hills. I can feel it coming up under my fee, up my legs-” He sagged down.” Is it raining or is Raju delusional? Why does Narayan end the novel this way?

Themes The conflict between traditionalism and individualistic values.
Conflict between traditional India and modern India Quest for self-fulfillment/spiritual fulfillment Self-deception Playin the roles that are expected of us.

How do Raju’s fortunes begin to change?
“Reversal of Fortune” Turning point of the character. A point at which the plot takes an unexpected turn for the protagonist

How is Rosie beginning to transform/

Groups dissect question
In groups which books would work best for this with The Guide as one choice? Make an outline of answers. Keep this.

Agenda Outline introductions Writing in class
Finish book for tomorrow: Answer assigned question on handout

3 points of comparison Point of comparison #1 Point of comparison #2
Novel 1 Novel 2 Point of comparison #2 Point of Compaison #3

The characters of a novel can only be individulaized if they are set in a background of particularised time and place. How important is the setting of a particular time and/or place to the development of the characters? Refer to at least two novels or short stories.

Outline Lighthouse/The Guide
Points of comparison Traditional vs. modern society 1 Mrs. R pre WWl/Lily post WW1 2Railway Raju in Malgudi and swami in Mangal Community vs. individual desires Mrs. R as hostess-mother/Lily Painter 1Raju: food and board/villagers 2Transformation and self-fulfillment 1 Lily becomes painter 2. Raju swami finds redemption

The particular settings of To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf and The Guide by R.K. Narayan are essential to the development of the main characters in both novels. Woolf’s setting of pre and post WW1 England create an historical context by which two characters, Mrs. Ramsay and Lily Briscoe, show the changing roles of women. Mrs. Ramsay represents the traditional Victorian role expected of women before the war. She is contrasted with Lily Briscoe, her foil, who symbolizes the more modern and independent woman seen after the war. R.K. Narayan’s setting of post-colonial India is also essential to the character development of his protagonist, Raju, who symbolizes the contradictions and ironies of a modern nation emerging from colonial rule. Raju embodies the modern ambitions of a young nation, but he is also cast into the role of a swami and forced to play the traditional part of a religious man in order to save a village from drought. Both Woolf and Narayan use specific settings to reveal the tension between community needs and individual desires, and to show that transformation and self-fulfillment of character is specifically linked to a particularized time and place.

Agenda HL exam marks Discuss end of book-passages
How does ending resolve issues raised in the book? Tomorrow: Socratic seminar Is Raju a real saint or is he fake?

Comments on Intros Get to the question right away.
What type of setting? The pre-colonial and post colonial setting… .post slavery setting, setting of an economically depressed town, Connect pov to shifting place or setting Use the word setting. The natural backdrop of the ocean setting in….

Novels need to be underlined. Short stories need to be put in quotes.
The short story “Fog” from the collection of short stories The Turning…. Mention the characters and in which novels they appear. Both Roseie from The Guide and Lily from To the Lighthouse represent characters who find self-fulfillment and independence due to the changes taking place in their society.

The Title? Discuss the different associations with the title.
How does it apply to the novel and its characters? .

Choose one prompt A How important is the setting of a particular time and place to the development of the characters? Choose two. B Discuss the theme of transformation and self-fulfillment in the novel C . Discuss Narayan's narrative technique of using a braided narrative. Why is it effective and how does it contribute to the novel as a whole?

The Title? Discuss the different associations with the title.
How does it apply to the nove and its characters?

First Person 1. All observations must be consistent with what character knows, see, and believes to be true about the world. 2. Everything is filtered through the consciousness of the I. 3. But 1st person can be exploited in interesting ways through irony, discrepancy, and contradiction 4. Issues of reliability. How much can the narrator be trusted? Reliable or Unreliable narrator? -Discrepancy of what the narrator says and what the reader perceives. subjective

Activity: Report on characters
In chapter 7 the action revovles around Raju, Rosie and Marco. What do we learn about each character? Keep in mind we are looking at Rosie and Marco through Raju’s eyes

Hindu Cosmology Brahma: the creator Vishnu: the preserver
Shiva: the destroyer How might this relate to the story? Maybe it doesn’t…but the idea of the trinity is interesting.

Homework Review vocabulary and notes on The Guide for test tomorrow
Read chapter 9

Thursday 1.How does Narayan achieve humor?
2.How does braided narrative reveal humor and irony in the novel? 3. How is third person pov used and to what effect? 4. How is first person pov used and to what effect?

After test Read quietly until everyone is finished (finish the novel for Monday) You can either answer the study guide questions in packet or write down three significant passages And explain why you chose them

“The Reluctant Guru” How is he transformed at the end?
Small groups will read passages and discuss their meanings for the class (character developmemt? Theme? Technique?)

Is the ending ambiguous?
There is a slight shift in the way the narrator addresses Raju. Did anyone notice that? Why the Hollywood producer?

Does he find redemption?
Why is Velan so important to the story?

Quick write: Title? What is ironic and/or significant about the title?

Spiritual asscent Viney Kirpal’s The Archetypal Four-Stage Journey according to Hindu philosophy Student life (bramacharya Life of the householder (garhasthya Gradual withdrawl from life (vanaprastha) Final ascetic surrender of the self ( sannyasa)

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