Quote Search (Part One)

Find the quotes/references on the following pages that you think are/could be relevant in your response writing. Think about how you could use them to answer a question. Perhaps you could even practice?

• p. 38 - Ashima on Relationships 
• p. 79 - Gogol on Place
• p. 80 - Gogol on Family
• p. 82 - Gogol & Sonia on Identity
• p. 85 - Gogol on Place
• p. 88 - Gogol on Time
• p. 106 - Gogol on Identity
• p. 107 - Gogol on Place
• p. 108 - Gogol on Place
• p. 137 - Gogol on Relationships

With thanks to Ms. Brame and her Year 12 class of 2013 for helping us with this activity. Remember that you're only as strong as those around you! Work in pairs or small groups and talk through your responses!

P.E.E.R. Example

Source: Elith & Edwards: The Namesake Excel Study Guide (p. 186).

In what ways do some texts encourage reflection about what it means to belong?

The actions of others are essential catalysts for an individual to belong. These may be small or large gestures that show that the individual is cared for, included and wanted. In The Namesake, Gogol's parents demonstrate love for their son in a variety of ways. Ashima's actions in the early years of Gogol's life mean that he continues to associate her with the fulfilment of basic needs and a deep and long lasting love. Lahiri constructs a series of sentences using the active voice to show the reliance and dependent nature of Ashima and Gogol's relationship in its early years. Phrases such as 'she takes him out' and 'she gives Gogol a bath' as well as 'she sings him the Bengali songs' reflect the way in which the primary carer for a child forges the bond between themselves and the baby in an active and long lasting way. Ashoke and Gogol also build a strong relationship through the experiences they had together and the sharing of values and culture. By naming his son Gogol, Ashoke is passing on a range of beliefs and values to his son and creating a metaphorical link between his own life experiences (the train accident in particular) and Gogol's. Both of these examples reflect the importance of small and large gestures in bringing about a bond between two people.  

Find the following quotes and use them to structure a paragraph response to the same question above:

Ashima never truly feels she belongs in America: Throughout the experience, in spite of her growing discomfort, she'd been astonished by her body's ability to make life ... That it was happening so far from home ... made it more miraculous still. (p. 6)

Ashoke's tragic accident is a catalyst to belonging to the book of short stories by Nikolai Gogol: Instead of thanking God he thanks Gogol, the Russian writer who had saved his life. (p. 21)

Your New Best Friend?

Here's a good source of background information about The Namesake that can be used to SUPPLEMENT the work that we do in class. Better still it is affordable and accessible anywhere. 

http://www.shmoop.com/namesake/

In particular, have a look at the summaries for the chapters that we have already covered in class. You may even wish to have a look at the chapters that we WILL look at in the future? 

The Namesake - Quiz

The plan today is to test your knowledge of our work from the past week. As a summation of this; as well as a lead in to next week's work, I've created a quiz that also gives you a preview of the film adaptation of the text.

Let's see how you go!

http://ed.ted.com/on/kF1LchIs

Do your best. Test yourself and try to not rely on your notes, at least the first time around. Remember that these definitions and techniques will form a strong foundation for your extended writing in your AOS task/s.

Good luck!

Section I & II

Read the short story The River That Wasn't Ours. You can access the story by clicking on the link HERE.

This story was written by a high school student during her HSC year.

Compare it to your own story. Are there any similarities? What are the differences?

Identify three techniques used by the author in her story. Use them to answer the following question. 

How does Reynolds convey the relationship between identity and belonging in her short story The River That Wasn't Ours?

An Overview: Definitions & Techniques - The Namesake

There a lot of material in The Namesake that can be used in our compilation of material for our AOS study.  

Create a mind map that summarises the information contained in the following files.

Definitions One (.pdf) 

Definitions Two (.pdf) 

Definitions Three (.pdf) 

Definitions Four (.pdf) 

You may wish to use an online mind mapping tool (such as that found at https://bubbl.us) to create your learning notes.    

Alienation (Not Belonging) - A Creative Writing Exercise

Read an example of a short story with the theme of alienation HERE. 

After you have completed your reading, identify how the story follows (or does not follow) Paul Reuben's scaffold.

Can you think of an idea for your own composition? Use the scaffold to draft your own story.