Monday, March 31, 2003

Reading Response #7

Instructions

Choose one question and construct a 3-page essay based on that question. You do not need to answer every one of the questions under each number. Rather, use the questions to springboard your own thinking to create an argument about the novel and the specific passages or ideas.

Remember: an argument should be arguable, meaning that people should disagree with you. In an essay this small, you should state a very clear thesis near the beginning of your essay. Then you should back up your thesis with evidence from the text. Do not merely quote from the text but explain what the passages say and mean. Try to go beyond mere summary to really argue an important point about the text.

You do not need to include the question in your essay. Your thesis and evidence should be enough for me to know what question you are dealing with. Begin with your own introduction that leads into your thesis.

Questions

1. On page 131 Padma can’t believe that Saleem’s name is “not [his] own” (131). Why is she so horrified by this and what does she really mean? Make an argument about how Saleem’s name is or is not his own. Does it make a difference in his life?

2. What is the importance of Saleem’s not blinking (see 142)? Examine the implications of the fact and how it fits into the novel.

3. Make an argument about the place of Snakes and Ladders (160-161, and the entire chapter). What does Saleem mean by the metaphor, and how does it fit into the novel?