for Mon: Michael Ondaatje, the most commercially successful author we've read, writes a character study. How does this presentation of a character and a life seem typical of storytelling that comes out of South Asian traditions? How does Lalla represent an "Eastern" life, an example of "Eastern" values? In what ways does this story echo books we've read? How does this concept of a life differ from that found in what Roy calls the "Great Novels"? As always, use examples from the story.
for Wed: Bharati Mukherjee writes an allegory of being Indian and away from home. This story of the aftermath of a tragedy, although similar in some ways to The Sweet Hereafter, aims to describe the experience of being a stranger - a Hindu - away from one's home country. It has in common with the books we've read a theme of death and the many rituals through which we try to cope with it. However, the tone is different than anything we've read, I believe. Comment on these things or whatever strikes you, but you may use these responses as an opportunity to start exploring your theme for the final essay - on South Asian Diasporic literature generally.
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