T HE M ISTRESS OF S PICES Reading and Writing – Guiding Questions

C HAPTER 1: “T HE I SLAND OF S PICES ” How did M ’s parents feel about her? Have you ever scared or disappointed your parents? What happened? How did it make you feel? How does M feel about the Old One? How does the Old One feel about M ? Why does the Old One let M stay on the island? What do you think will happen on the island? Can you predict any themes from this first chapter? What lessons does M learn?

C HAPTER 2–“S HAMPATI ’ S F IRE ” The Old One tells them about their future. Why do they all look at the ground? Why do the prettiest ones look at the ground the longest? What is the story of Tilottama? Why does the Old One tell it? Why does Tilo choose this name? What kind of person is she? What can you learn from the pictures in the mist? In the last paragraph, Tilo feels sad, angry, and happy. Why does she feel so many different things? Why must the mistresses be ugly? Why aren’t they allowed to look at their reflections?

C HAPTER 3 – “T HE S PICE B AZAAR ” C HARACTER D EVELOPMENT 1. Lalita 2. Haroun 3. Jagjit Write 3 Adjectives to describe each character: What kind of person (or people) do you think they are? Defend your adjectives: find something in the text to support each one. Choose one “character” from your life. Choose three adjectives to describe them. Then write a paragraph about them to show the adjectives. DO NOT SAY the adjectives in your paragraph. Tomorrow, someone will guess what they are.

C HARACTER D EVELOPMENT P ARAGRAPH E XAMPLE Right now, my brother Sam is borrowing my car. I am a little afraid because he always gets in car accidents! He’s really not very good at taking care of things. When he borrows things from people, he doesn’t give them back, and he often breaks his own things! However, he doesn’t like to hear people complain about it. If anyone scolds him, he cries! We try to be careful with his feelings… but really, he is a good person! He is careful with other people’s feelings and he would never hurt anyone! When we meet, he hugs me and asks how I’m doing. Even though he’s not perfect, I love him! My adjectives were: irresponsible, sensitive, and loving

C HAPTER 4 – T HE L ONELY A MERICAN 1. What is special about this guy? How does she feel about him? (How do you know?) 1. Why does she think he is lonely? 1. Why is she conflicted about the Asafetida? 1. Should she think of her own needs? 1. What is her one fault? Do you agree that it is a fault? 1. Why doesn’t she want to use her magic on the Lonely American? 1. What do you think about her magic? Is it good or bad?

C HAPTER 4 – T HE L ONELY A MERICAN “If you let your own desires affect your thoughts,” she said, “you will not see things clearly any more. You will become confused, and the spices will no longer obey you.” (27) Do you agree with this? Does it apply to everyone, or just the mistress?

C HAPTER 5–“G EETA ’ S G RANDFATHER ” Geeta does a lot of things that her grandfather doesn’t like. Who do you think is right in these arguments? Why? Have you ever had problems like this with your parents or grandparents? Why doesn’t Geeta want to go back to India? How would you feel if you were her? How do Geeta’s parents react when she tells them that her boyfriend is Mexican? How would your parents react? Tilo decides to go see Geeta because she thinks they have something in common. What is it? Why does she dream of the island? What is she warned about? What do you think will happen?

C HAPTER 6 – S PICE M AGIC 1. What’s up with Lalita? Why can’t Tilo see what spice to give her? 2. Does Lalita want the fennel? Why is she disappointed? 3. How does Tilo feel when Haroun shouts at her? What happens? 4. Why does Tilo say she needs more time before she gives him the asafetida ? What does she think will happen in that time? 5. Does Kwesi put up his poster? Why? 6. What is Jagjit so angry about? 7. Why doesn’t Jagjit want Indian medicine? Why does he change his mind? 8. Do you think that the changes in Jagjit are Tilo’s fault? Do you think she’s being punished?

C HAPTER 7--“O UT I NTO T HE W ORLD ” Why is Geeta disappointed when Tilo comes into her office? What does Geeta think Tilo can do to help her? What is Tilo’s plan? Will it work? Is the Old One really in the store? Why has she come? What does Tilo ask the Old One? Why does she leave before answering? “Don’t let the temptations of America lead you from your true path. ” Do you think that is happening to Tilo? What is her true path? Should she give in to temptation?

C HAPTER 8–“R AVEN ’ S S TORY ” What are Tilo’s assumptions about the Lonely American? Is she right? Did the peppercorn make him tell his secrets? How does he describe the Native Americans? Do you think his name fits him? Why is he so embarrassed about the story? Why does Tilo tell him her name? Which name do you think she tells him? Do you think it’s important that they both have more than one name? Why or why not?

C HAPTER 9 – PROTECTION C HAPTER 10 – PARADISE ON EARTH Explain the names of these chapters. Why does Tilo give Geeta’s grandfather a medicine that will give him stomach pains? Why does Tilo want to apologize to Haroun? Are you surprised that Tilo went out with Raven? What would you think if you saw them together? Explain Raven’s Paradise. Why do you think he wants to have a paradise like that? What is your idea of “Paradise on Earth”? Is it like his? At the end of the chapter, why does Tilo tell Raven that she will be busy for the next 3 days?

C HAPTER 11 – T HE R ED S PICE OF A NGER What happened to Haroun? Are you surprised? What made Tilo want to use the chillies? Why is Tilo being called back? How did Geeta’s problem get solved? What is the meaning of Raven’s dream? (65) Tilo has some decisions to make. What do you think she will do?

C HAPTER 15 – T HE O NLY P ARADISE Why did Raven drive to find Tilo? What is Raven’s plan for finding Paradise? Why does Tilo think that she made the Earthquake happen? Do you think it was her fault? What is Tilo’s idea about paradise? Why does she tell Raven that his paradise doesn’t exist? What do you think? Which one would you prefer? Why? Why does Tilo decide to go back? Why does she need a new name?

T HE E ND ! How did Tilo change from the beginning of the book to the end? What did she learn? Do you think Tilo and Raven will be happy in the future? Why or why not? What about the other characters? Did Tilo help them enough? Will their futures be happy?