Select one question and post a respsonse by Wed. at 7:00 p.m.

1. Compare and contrast at least three of the many marital relationships Lahiri refers to in the first four short stories in her book.
What do you notice? What qualities do the relationships share? What distinguishes them from each other? In light of your comparison, in one sentence (two at the most), state what you think Lahiri is revealing about marriage through her short stories.

2.Why do you think Lahiri names the second story "When Mr. Pirzada
Came to Dine" instead of "Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine." Make an arugment defending your viewpoint please. Explain.


3.Is the monkey episode necessary to the story "Interpreter of Maladies"? If so, why? If not, why not? Is there anything the episode teaches or adds that is significant and/or necessary? What would the story be lacking without it?


4.Why is Boori Ma not a "real durwan" according to the story by the same name? Explain.


5. What is the central insight of the story "A Real Durwan"? If you were Lahiri, and someone asked you why you wrote this story, what would you say? What is the purpose of this story? How can we connect to this story today? Explain.

I will post a blog question by 7:00 p.m. Monday

You will have until 7:00 p.m on Wednesday to answer one question.

Instructions for Short Paper

View Syllabus for due date.

Select one passage from any text we are reading or have read that we have not discussed in class. Do a close reading of the passage, paying careful attention to
what the diction reveals about ethnicity and identity. If possible, connect the language of the passage to parallel or contrasting language elsewhere in the text that has thematic relevance. Please make sure all of the above is connected to a clear, arguable thesis that you have articulated in your opening paragraph. Proofread the paper. The paper will be graded on the quality of your idea, evidence, development of the concept, and, needless to say, clarity of writing.

I look forward to hearing what you have to say about ethnicity, identity, or both.
Make sure to extrapolate from the text to your own ideas for at least a few paragraphs somewhere in the essay. Do not fill your pages with needless quotations. Please follow the 7th edition MLA.

Little Maxine: Post due Monday at 9:00 p.m.

Select one of the following:

1. Read the chapter "At the Western Palace" carefully. Outline what you believe are the central issues of ethnicity that this chapter in Kingston highlights. In other words make a list of problems, ideas and concerns connected to the issue of ethnicity that this chapter raises, and note the incidents which raise these issues. You don't have to summarize the incidents, just mention them. This question is asking for a list as an answer.

2. Why do we need the chapter "Shaman"? Why is it important for the reader to know about the life of Maxine's mother in China? She is not the protagonist of the text, so why does Kingston spend so much time providing such detailed development of her character? Explain.

3. Explain the ending of "At the Western Palace," which deals with distinguishing between the stories of the insane and the stories of the sane people. Re-read the last few pages of the chapter, and put what Kingston is saying about story in your own words. Then tell me why it's important please.

4. What types of things does Little Maxine have to do that shame her? Why do these things shame her? Why can't she refuse to do them? What do you make of this?

5. What are Maxine's major feelings throughout most of the last chapter? How do you know? What evidence do you have? Please cite. Do her feelings change? From what to what? Why?
Do human feelings change just because we find out about anothers' intentions? Explain.