Discussion Questions to bring out thematic analysis:
1. How does the title indicate what the story may be thematically about? How do we see the title being played out within the story on a general level?
Some bulleted answers, to get the ball rolling...
- Story is about how one handles their grief
- There are multiple ways in which people handle their grief
- Allows you to focus on the idea of “managing” grief and what that means!
2. Summarize the major event in the story, who was all affected and how does our main character, Shaila, seem to be dealing? Then compare and contrast the different ways characters react.
3. Going back to plot, what is happening in the first scene of the story, and why might Mukherjee start the story with this scene? What details help us in those first introduction paragraphs allow us to understand Shaila’s mindset?
4. Discuss the differences and similarities amongst how Shaila, Kusum and Dr. Sharma
5. Describe the different cultural reactions that are taking place in the story. What is a thematic significance of these differences?
6. For above, how do the Irish treat the victims? How do the Canadians? Dissect some of the different parts where we see the interaction of two cultures, and how does that help us understand the story’s themes more clearly?
7. How does Shaila change by the stories end, and what causes her change? Explain how that affects how we read the title of the story – the thematic importance of the title?
8. If we haven’t, dissect some of the language used.
9. What about the scene where Shaila is helping out and reflects on her Indian culture?
10. What else do we need to discuss? What did we miss?
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