Group Discussions
Discussion #1
Chapters 1-8 Summary of Chapters 1-8: Chapter 1: - Settings is Ayemenem, India, 1993 = present time - Rahel is the twin sister of her twin brother Estha (Esthappen) · Born 18 minutes apart, dizygotic twins - Ammu = the twin’s mom, Baba = the twin’s dad - The twins regret that they weren’t born on a bus (like they might have) because they think they would have been entitled to free bus tickets for the rest of their lives if they had been - Baba and Ammu eventually divorce and Ammu moves back to Kerala with the kids=shameful - Flashbacks and memories of the twin’s cousin Sophie Mol’s funeral - Rahel imagines that Sophie Mol is awake in her coffin “shredding satin” and “shrieking”, the dome of church has been painted blueàRahel imagines Velutha painting it and then falling to his death “blood spilling from his skull like a secret”ßthis is a recurring image, a baby bat climbs on an oblivious Baby Kochamma’s sari - Rahel sees Sophie Mol do a cartwheel in her coffin and doesn’t believe Sophie is actually dead when she’s buried - Ammu and twins go to police station after the funeral and tells Inspector Thomas Matthew there’s been a mistake, she desires to speak with Velutha - Thomas Matthew tells her it’s to late and calls her “Veshya” with illegitimate children, this marks the first time the twins witness her crying - On bus, Ammu says “I’ve killed him”àreferring to Velutha - 2 weeks after, Ammu sends Estha back to live with Baba in Calcutta, this is referred to as the time Estha Returned - Comrade Pillai, lost his wife Kalyani to ovarian cancer, son Lenin lives in Delhi · Watched Rahel grow up - Mammachi is dead and Chacko lives in Canada - After Ammu died, Rahel went from school to school, go to Ayemenem for holidays, but ignored by family, Sophie Mol’s death lived on in the house - Rahel married and divorced Larry McCaslin - Estha and Rahel return to Aymenem - Baby Kochamma fell in love at 18 with Father Mulligan, young Irish monk, didn’t work out - 2 oil portraits in house, Rahel and Estha’s great-grandparents, they hang with their “backs” to the river, which we suspect is going to be significant later. - Paradise Pickles and Preserves = Mammachi’s pickle factory - Flashback: police find Velutha and handcuff him - Was Baby Kochamma’s idea for Estha to be Returned, days after Sophie Mol’s death and before he Returned, Margaret Kochamma slapped him every time she saw him - The chapter ends by posing two possibilities for how all of these events came to pass. Either everything began when Sophie Mol came to Ayemenem for the first time, or everything that happened to this family is a product of history. Chapter 2: - Flashback: War is happening in Vietnam, India is in peacetime - Estha and Rahel are going to The Sound of Music with Ammu, Chacko, Baby Kochamma - going to pick up Sophie Mol and Margaret Kochamma from Cochin Airport - Margaret Kochamma’s 2nd husband was killed in a car accident several months earlier - Pappachi thought it was unnecessary to spend money on woman to go to college, so Ammu lived with parents and waited to be married - Pappachi let Ammu go to Calcutta, met Baba at a wedding reception, 5 days later he proposed, and she accepted - October 1962, war broke out with China and people were evacuated, Ammu was 8 months pregnant and couldn’t travel - When 2 years old, Baba was drunk and his boss, Mr. Hollick said his job was in trouble and would help Baba if he let him sleep with Ammu - Baba punched her when she said she didn’t like the idea and passed out (drunk), and she beat him with a big book, after repeated times of this she took the kids and left - Pappachi didn’t believe her story because he thought an English gentleman wouldn’t act like that - Ammu’s wedding ring melt down into thin bangle for Rahel - Mammachi made pickles when Pappachi retired from government service, Pappachi wouldn’t help Mammachi because it was beneath him, became jealous of attention/fame Mammachi received, started beating her every night to keep her in place, Chacko discovered what was happening, Pappachi never touched/spoke to Mammachi again, tried making her look bad - Pappachi appointed Imperial Entomologist, thought he discovered a new breed of moth, but was wrong; 12 years later other lepidopterists decided it was a unique species, named it after someone that Pappachi didn’t like · That moth became responsible for his bad temper - Chacko starts explaining what the history house is. It’s a house they can’t enter, and when they try to listen to what’s happening inside they can’t hear more than a whisper because their minds are invaded by war. This war makes them love their conquerors and despise themselves. Ammu makes a crack that they don’t just love their conquerors – they marry them. - History House fascinates Estha and Rahel. The narrator gives us some foreshadowing: they don’t know that soon they’ll be there and history will be revealed to them - Chacko took over the pickle factory after Pappachi died and Ammu had no rights to company - Rahel and Estha are skilled readers, Miss Mitten bought them a kids’ book and they were offended and read it backwards to her - Communist Party is successful in Kerala - Came in power in 1957, won reelection in 1967, but divided into 2 factions: Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) - Chinese Communist Party supported the CPI(M) = Naxalites, organized peasants to terrorized middle class - Comrade E.M.S. Namboodiripad, CPI leader, expelled Naxalites from CPI - Rahel sees Velutha and tries to get his attention, and he freezes when he hears her and then disappears - Velutha’s dad, Vellya Paapen, brought him to Ayemenem House to deliver coconuts, Pappachi wouldn’t let them in the house because of their caste (lowest on totem pole/Untouchable caste) - Velutha’s grandfather converted to Christianity when British came to Malabar, family could escape discrimination under Hindu caste, weren’t entitled to any benefits from the government after Independence - Mammachi put Velutha in charge of maintenance of the factory, workers don’t’ like that because he’s a carpenter - Velutha is thought of as Rahel and Estha’s best friend Chapter 3: - Ayemenem house is broken down in 1993 - Estha is in the rain and comes back inside the house, Baby Kochamma tells Rahel what Estha is about to do · Says he’s going to wash his clothes – he does · Estha undreses and Rahel doesn’t know if he knows she’s there - Rahel is starting to resemble Ammu - She wipes a raindrop from Estha’s ear, he doesn’t look at her and starts washing his clothes Chapter 4: - At movie: Ammu, Rahel, & Baby Kochamma go to bathroom, Estha goes to men’s room - The man at the counter tells Estha he has to come behind the counter because he can’t give drinks out to intermission, he makes Estha hold his penis and starts masturbating, Estha tries not to think about this and starts thinking of Paradise Pickles and Preserves - When the man is done he wipes Estha’s hand off and he walks back into the theater - Estha tells Ammu he feels sick and he can’t throw up, she takes him to the refreshment counter and won’t take any drinks or candy from the man, but Ammu make him take some candy - The man tells Ammu he knows where the factory is, and Estha takes this as a warning not to say anything - Ammu makes Estha stay with the man so she can get Rahel and Baby Kochamma, the man offers Rahel some sweets and Estha tells her to just have his candy instead - Ammu says the man is sweet and Rahel says “Why don’t you marry him then?”, this was wrong thing to say to Ammu - Ammu tells Rahel that these mean words make her love Rahel less - Chacko hasn’t seen Sophie Mol since she was 3 years old, which was when Margaret asked for a divorce and told him about Joe - Comrade Pillai is interested in workers of Paradise Pickles and Preserves and wants them to unionize - Financially the factory has been struggling, Chacko promises the workers fair wages after things pick up again - Behind Chacko’s back, Comrade Pillai has gathered workers at the printing press to incense them against the factory, wants them to demand higher wages - Refers to Chacko as “The Management”, Comrade Pilli prints labels for Chacko - Velutha is putting a snag in Comrade Pillai’s plans, makes it harder for Comrade Pillai Chapter 5: · This chapter starts off talking about where there is a river that is unfit to swim in and has a nasty smell because generations have defecated and cleaned in it · There is a nearby hotel that calls the river “God’s Own Country” and manipulates the truth to attract tourists · Rachel runs into Commrade Pillai · They talk and Comrade Pillai remembers the sex scandal and death in her family · He says he doesn’t feel guilty but he did play a role in what happened afterwards · He shows Rachel photos of his son named Lenin and a photo of them together · Rachel flashes back and remembers when Lenin became real to her and Estha · They were in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, Rahel and Lenin both had objects lodged in their noses · Afraid of the doctor, Rahel tried one last time to blow the glass bead out of her nose–and succeeded · Meanwhile, Lenin must wait for the doctor to remove the object from his nose · Back in the present, Comrade Pillai shows Rahel a picture of herself, Estha, Lenin, and Sophie Mol · Rahel remembers that Sophie had made herself look silly for the picture and makes a funny face · Just before the picture was taken, she had explained to Estha and Rahel that there was a good chance they were all illegitimate children · The picture was taken days before she died Chapter 6: · Scene beings in the Cochin Airport when Sophie Mol is scheduled to arrive · Ammu helps Rahel get dressed in her new clothing · They hold welcome signs for Sophie Mol, they are introducing Sophie Mol to India · Awkward between Margaret Kochamma and Chacko because they are exes · Estha and Rahel sing a song in English to impress Sophie Chapter 7: · Ammu dies at the age of 31 · She was cremated because the church refused to bury her · Rahel never informed Estha of Ammu’s death · Chapter ends with the statement “Things can change in a day” Chapter 8: · Mammachi hates Margaret Kochamma because things did not work out between her and Chacko · Everyone is excited for Sophie Mol to be there · During the festivities, Ammu and Velutha (in a somewhat romantic way) notice each other for the first time · Ammu storms to her room because Margaret Kochamma insults hers · Ammu tells Rahel to not be as close with Velutha Questions Rahel’s watch symbolismàThe freezing of time Significance of the title à The little things are the things that can affect us the most (Estha movie theatre scene) -small things motivate our actions (especially when they aren’t good things) Quotes pg. 31 "Maybe a boy does need a Baba” -This quote can mean that Estha needs his father to help him grow and also early childhood experiences shape who you are in the future because the events you face when you are young can impact the choices you make when you begin to live life on your own. pg. 109 “Some things come with their own punishment -This scene shows a worldly lesson that oftentimes for some people, punishment can get rid of guilt, and that also requires owning up to the wrong you've committed Pg. 156 “Things can change in a day” -Small changes happen everyday but overtime it becomes a big change Creative Connector · Everyone has small things that affect them · Children aren’t affected by prejudice as much as adults are. Word Smith Spangled- cover with spangles or other small sparkling objects pg. 179 Plaiter- someone who plaits using hair or fabric pg. 180 Moorings- a place where a boat or ship is moored pg. 182 Pectin- A soluble gelatinous polysaccharide that is present in ripe fruits and is extracted for use as a setting agent in jams and jellies pg. 184 Laterite-a reddish clayey material, hard when dry pg. 195 Verandah- a roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor pg. 216 Callused- (of a part of the body) having an area of hardened skin pg. 318 |
Discussion #2
Chapters 9-21 Summary of Chapters 9-21: Chapter 9: · Ammu is impressed by the way Velutha treats the children · Both of the twins are not in good places in their lives · When Sophie Mol arrives, Estha thought Two Thoughts and hides a secret in a pickle jar Chapter 10: · Present day in 1969: day Sophie Mol arrives · Estha leaves excitement of her arrival and finds a place to Think o Estha thinks that the Orangedrink Lemondrink Man can find him in the factory and that Ammu would offer him tea Thinking about the concession man (Orangedrink Lemondrink Man) could find him in the factory and Ammu would probably just offer him tea and no one would help him o He thinks Two Thoughts (2 capital T’s)
o He has Thought Number Three § A boat § Gathering provisions and rowing across the river § Rahel tells Estha he’s going to Akkara to the History House, and when she asks why he says recites his Two Thoughts (Because Anything can Happen to Anyone, It’s Best to be Prepared) § Vellya Paapen claims to be the last person to go to the History House, told twins stories once about running into a ghost of Kari Saipu and pinned it to the trunk of a rubber tree § Learn more about the House from twin’s perspective, things Vellya Paapen doesn’t and won’t know about it § It will be Vellya Paapen’s actions that “set the Terror rolling” § Rahel ask Estha if they’ll become Communists if they move to the History House § Rahel and Estha find a boat under moss § Ammu will later use the boat cross the river to meet Velutha § First third of river is nice and calm, Chacko taught twins how to swim and Velutha showed them hose to fish: Second third of river is deep and current really picks up: Last third is calm and oozy § Middle part of river is not a good place, taking a boat will be hard § Clean the boat and take it to Velutha’s hut § Kuttapen (paralyzed brother of Velutha/brink of insanity) lays on back all day while brother and dad are gone, Velutha is not home right now § Kuttapen thinks of his dead mom and thinks he’ll be the next to die (*Narrator tells us that he’s basically wrong) § After showing him the boat, he warns the twins about the river and says it has British characteristics to show how evil it is secretly § Velutha loves the kids a lot § They ask him to fix the boat, and he says maybe but doesn’t want them playing on the river § When the twins leave, Kuttapen asks Velutha if they had talked about seeing him at the march, he says they know, but haven’t said anything. Chapter 11: · Ammu has a dream about a one-armed man with abs holds her close, surrounded by people watching her, and they go out to swim · The twins watch her as she’s dreaming · While she’s still sleeping, narrator asks if the one-armed man is the God of Loss or the God of Small Things? · Twins try not to wake her up rashly, when she wakes up Estha tells her she looked sad, but she was actually really happy · Ammu notices the twins are covered in dust, she knows they’ve been with Velutha and tells them it will only cause trouble so not to go there · Ammu realizes she knows who “The God of Loss, The God of Small Things” is · Ammu feels like her life is already been lived, she thinks of madness, death, fears her future, she tries to weep for herself, The God of Small Things, and her kids · Find out that Ammu will be locked in the bedroom after Sophie Mol’s death and Chacko will break down the door and throw her out of the house Chapter 12: · 1993 again, Rahel approaches the temple compound and sees Kochu Thomban, the elephant · Rahel is watching the a Kathakali performance · Kathakali Man = type of performer who lives out these epic stories · Rahel feels Estha’s presence their even though she can’t see him yet · Comrade Pillai was the first to introduce the twins to kathakali, he took them and his son, Lenin, to watch the performances · Estha and Rahel run into Comrade Pillai on their way out and he praises Rahel for still being interested in Indian culture Chapter 13 · (STARTS OFF IN THE PAST) Chapter starts with Sophie Mol waking up and looking at a wedding picture of her father (Chacko) and mother (Margaret Kockamma) · (FURTHER FLASH BACK)Margaret and Chacko met at a diner Margaret was working at and Chacko was her customer. Margaret told a joke about twins birthday where the pessimistic twin gets expensive gifts and isn’t happy and the optimistic twin gets a room filled with horse dung and shovels it out thinking there’s a pony inside his room. From there, they fall in love and get married. · Once married, they are unhappy and Margaret finds out she’s pregnant and falls in love with Joe. After Sophie Mol is born, Margaret asks for a divorce. · Chacko moves to India and Joe and Margaret get married. Chacko and Margaret become pen pals and start to be friends again. Chacko is living with his mother, Mammachi and while Mammachi is embarrassed by how out there and lazy he is, she still loves him especially since he stood up for her against Pappachi. · Joe dies and Margaret and Sophie are both very distraught about his death. Chacko offers for them to move back to India, so they do · (PRESENT DAY) Margaret is upset about Sophie dying and can’t get over thinking of her dead body. She can’t forgive herself for leaving Sophie alone while she went to get plane tickets for them. o (FLASH BACK) Sophie’s body was found in the river and that morning the twins and her never showed up for breakfast. Ammu remembers shouting at the twins the night before and blaming the twins for her being there and not being free. o (SLIGHT FLASH BACK) The afternoon before, Veliva Paapen tells Mammachi that Ammu and Velutha were having an affair. Mammachi pushes Veliva down the stairs with rage and disbelief. Baby Kochamma is secretly happy because she’s jealous of Ammu. They all decide to lock Ammu up in her room and go get Velutha. o (SLIGHT FLASH FORWARD) It goes on to talk about a fisherman finding the body of Sophie Mol. Then it goes to the police office where Baby Kochamma tells officers about Ammu and Velutha’s affair and says that Velutha raped Ammu. Ammu tries to set the record straight but doesn’t succeed (Remember it’s in one of the first chapters). o (SLIGHT FLASH FORWARD) Then the book describes a scene in the house where Margaret Kochamma sees Sophie’s corpse and blacks out the next few days. She has a feeling it was Estha’s idea to go out to the river so she slaps him but later sends an apology letter that only Rahel sees. o Margaret never finds out the Velutha was arrested. He is seen as “The God of Loss” or “The God of Small Things” he has left no memory or thing in this life o (FLASHES BACK TO SOPHIE MOL WAKING UP AGAIN) Sophie Mol is looking at the picture then goes to find the twins to give them gifts, this is her last time alive. Chapter 14 · (FLASH BACK) Chacko is visiting Comrade Pillai’s house but when he arrives Comrade Pillai isn’t home so Chacko waits awkwardly with his wife son and niece. Comrade arrives and speaks in English. Chacko asks Comrade to approve a new label for the factory’s new product. Comrade warns Chacko of Velutha because he is a Paravan, but Chacko defends him. · (FLASH FORWARD SLIGHTLY): Velutha is brought to Mammachi and Mammachi yells at him for the affair. She tells him to never come back and if he does she will have him killed. Velutha goes to Comrade Pillai’s house to ask for help but the Comrade refuses. Velutha feels helpless and like he is a slave to destiny. Chapter 15- The Crossing · (RIGHT BEFORE SOPHIE’S DEATH) In the middle of the night Velutha decides to swim across the river to the History house · No one can see him so he is “the God of small things” Chapter 16- A Few Hours Later · (SOPHIE’S DEATH) Estha, Rahel, and Sophie go out on the river and Sophie tells the twins that she has to run away to make the adults upset · They run into a log and tip the boat over · Rahel and Estha make it to shore but they can’t find Sophie · They search for her and finally fall over on the veranda of the History House with Velutha sleeping in the shadows out of their eyesight Chapter 17- Cochin Harbor Terminus · (CURRENT TIME) Estha irons Rahel and his clothes then sits on his bed in the dark · Baby Kochamma writes “I love you” to Father Mulligan in her diary and though he is dead and rejected her, she pretends like they’re dating in her diary · Estha sits beside Rahel in the bed and Estha thinks back to how Velutha was charged with kidnapping and murdering Sophie and that the pickle factory was taken by the Comrade Pillai who says that Velutha was being persecuted for his political beliefs Chapter 18- The History House · (RIGHT AFTER SOPHIE’S DEATH) the police cross the river after finding Sophie and Estha and Rahel missing · The police find Estha and Rahel with Velutha and beat Velutha really badly because he is an Untouchable · The children learn that blood doesn’t show up on a black man and that blood smells like roses Chapter 19 - Twins are at police station with Inspector Thomas Matthew - Baby Kochamma comes to station - Inspector Thomas Matthew tells Baby Kochamma that Ammu has to say Velutha raped her or that the kids say they were kidnapped by him · He will charge Baby Kochamma for filing a false statement if they kids and Ammu don't falsely confess - Baby Kochamma manipulates the kids and says that they are murderers and responsible for Sophie Mol’s death, and they will go to jail along with Ammu, and that Ammu will die . Baby Kochamma argues that Velutha is going to die no matter what so they might as well go along with what she says so they can at least save Ammu--all they have to say is yes to what the inspector asks - She sends Estha in with the Inspector because he’ll be more practical than Rahel - When Inspector asks Estha a question when he takes him to see Velutha, he said “yes” - Velutha doesn’t live past the night, when Ammu goes to the station to clear things up, his body has already been dumped - It worries Baby Kochamma when she hears Ammu went to the station, she knows she has to get her out of Ayemenem and turns Chacko against Ammu, it’s her idea to send Ammu away and Return Estha Chapter 20 - It’ll be years before the twins know they’re not wholly to blame for Ammu’s grief - Ammu tells Estha she’ll come for him when she gets a job, and tells the twins she’ll open a school and they can go there - Back in 1993: twins lying in dark with arms around one another, they have sex, but narrator says there’s noting to say to clarify what happened next - 1969: Ammu doesn’t like that everyone is acting like Sophie Mol and Margaret Kochamma are more important than everyone, Chacko is super smug - Ammu is missing Velutha Chapter 21 - Ammu goes out during the night and walks down to the river - Earlier that afternoon, the day Sophie Mol arrived, Velutha realized he loves Ammu - Velutha is in the river when Ammu is sitting their with her head in her arms - Velutha swims to Ammu and they put their arms around each other, and make love - He’s scared after because he knows it’s not a one time thing - For 2 weeks they meet, and stick to the “Small Things” because they know there’s no future together - Every night they check on their spider, Cappu Thamburan (Lord Rubbish), spider outlives Velutha - When Ammu leaves Velutha she says “Naaley” (tomorrow) Connnections: Everyone can connect to the theme of love The book continuously explains relationships and the struggles that many of these character have to endure. There is always something in the way such as in the book the “Love Laws” that they must abide. o Amu and Velutha’s love is forbidden (cast system) o Rahel and Estha at the end o Kochamma’s love with Father Mullogan o We can connect with this today, because even in our world there seems to always be some obstacle in love. There is always complication and seems to be even a confusing and nonunderstandable topic today. All of the faults and guilty actions that happen in the book may have happened for a reason. I think that everyone can relate to the idea that in the moment when something horrible happen you believe that things can not look up. I believe that Sophie Mol’s death, Estha being molested, and their family separating may have happened for a good reason. In the story it seems that all of these downfalls are pinned or blamed on someone. Kochamma blames Estha for Sophie Mol’s death Estha feels guilty for being molested by organdrink lemondrink man o All of these events are tragedies that happen throughout the course of our lives but in the end are what make us who we are and in a way shape all the characters in the novel to learn and develop into the people they are at the end of the book. Quotes: 1. “When you hurt people, they begin to love you less. That's what careless words do. They make people love you a little less.” (107) · When Rahel careless blurts out harsh words towards her mother, Ammu, her mother immediately retaliates by scaring Rahel a little by getting rid of the guarantee that a mother’s love is unconditional. 2. “This was the trouble with families. Like invidious doctors, they knew just where it hurt.” (68) · Chacko makes a cutting remark about Ammu being “washed up”. After he says this, this line explains how much this well-targeted comment hurts. This quote was chosen because it is exactly true—those who know you best know where it hits the hardest. Also, our family members are not reserved towards saying their true feelings towards us because with family, everything is very informal we aren’t held back by social etiquette with our family as much as with our friends or other members of society. 3. “Rahel had come to see her brother, Estha. They were two-egg twins. “Dizygotic” doctors called them. Born from separate but simultaneously fertilized eggs. Estha—Esthappen—was older by eighteen minutes.” (4) · In the introduction of the book, we know Estha and Rahel are twins. The fact that they are twins is important to the plot of the novel and the other characters. Additionally, it influences how we perceive them from the beginning of the novel. Words: -Marxism: the political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, later developed by their followers to form the basis for the theory and practice of communism. -Callous: showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others -Penchant: a strong habitual liking for something or a tendency to do something. -Moorings: a place where boats or ships are docked/moored. -Chakka Velaichathu: a type of Indian food made from coconut, jackfruit flesh, mustard seeds, curry leaves, etc. Discussion: · What is the significance of the title of the novel? o It is symbolic of the character Velutha. We also mentioned how the small things in life start piling up and eventually they result in a big event happening. Also, at the end of the book, Velutha is revealed to be the God of Small Things. To elaborate, Ammu and Velutha’s love cannot exist in society, so they never talk or think of the future or the “big things”; they just focus on the present and discuss the small things. The “small things” are what sustain Velutha and Ammu’s relationship. Additionally, the relationship between big and small things helps the plot to develop. Sophie Mol’s death isn’t random at all and the big moment of her death is all accounted for in the small things that occur (the small choices and events lead up to Sophie Mol coming on the boat with Estha and Rahel and eventually result in her death—as well as Velutha’s death). |