1. A Passage to India Chapter 8
Friday 19th September
To get to the end of Part 1 today!
The Aim:

2. Written task: Due Wednesday 24th
Choose one character to whom we are introduced in Part One of the novel. Examine Forster’s characterisation of your chosen figure, giving due consideration to both his methods and his purpose.
You may of course make reference to other, more peripheral, characters in your analyses
Miss Derek
Mr and Mrs Turton
Adela
Aziz
Fielding
Major Callendar
Ronny
Godbole
Mrs Moore
The Nawab Bahadur

3. Chapter 8: Adela refuses Ronny – they agree to “keep friends”
They walk and discuss – Ronny’s characterisation
The Nawab Bahadur offers them a ride
Car crash p.81
Which route? (What purpose does this conceit serve?) Remember, The NB had told the driver to go one way, Ronny undermines this instructions and tells him to go a different way.
Miss Derek
Adela takes back her refusal p.86
Mrs M contemplates marriage p.87
Ronny contemplates his day, which proves to him that the “British were necessary to India” p.88

4. What do we learn about Ronny in the first four pages of this chapter?
What is the purpose of the car crash?
What is revealed about Mrs Moore in the last few pages?
The sky!!
The Hot Weather…

5. “Ronny had not disliked his day, for it proved that the British were necessary to India.”
In what ways do the events of Ronny’s day prove this to him?

6. Chapter 9 Aziz “ill” Church bells Flies
‘No Englishman understands us except Fielding’ [Aziz] thought” p.92
Aziz and “beautiful women”p.93
Aziz’s feeling for propriety p.94
India as a “unity” – p.96
Aziz and his friends – poetry
Fielding…

7. Fielding in Ch 9
Look at how he arrives… “unobtrusively”
P.101
Remember Forster was a Humanist. Often, Fielding will be used to voice Forster’s thoughts. He is a device for communicating some of the didactic elements of the text.

8. Chapter 9: Fielding at Aziz’s
"But how then can you believe in God?" asked Syed Mohammed. "I don't believe in God." A tiny movement as of "I told you so!" passed round the company, and Aziz looked up for an instant, scandalized. "Is it correct that most are atheists in England now?“ Hamidullah enquired. "The educated thoughtful people? I should say so, though they don't like the name. The truth is that the West doesn't bother much over belief and disbelief in these days. Fifty years ago, or even when you and I were young, much more fuss was made.” "And does not morality also decline?" "It depends what you call--yes, yes, I suppose morality does decline." "Excuse the question, but if this is the case, how is England justified in holding India?"

9. “England holds India for her good”
Why is Fielding “disinclined” to give this answer to Hamidullah’s question?
Express article on padlet
Express article

10. Chapter 10: HEAT…
It matters so little to the majority of living beings what the minority that calls itself human desires or decides. Most of the inhabitants of India do not mind how India is governed.

11. Chapter 11
Part 1 closes with Adela and Ronny engaged and with the existence of a firm friendship between Aziz and Fielding. Forster creates a feeling of stability in spite of the arrival of the hot weather.