The God of Small Things

Lesson 33
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ELA

Unit 3

12th Grade

Lesson 33 of 37

Objective


Analyze the impact of this scene on the development of the characters and themes of the text.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy  pp. 288 – 296

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Target Task


Multiple Choice

The narrator describes the policemen as “history’s henchmen” mainly to emphasize that their actions toward Velutha are

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It can be reasonably inferred from the passage that Rahel declares it was Velutha’s twin who was beaten mainly because

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Writing Prompt

How do the events of chapter 18 add to your understanding of the twins and of their relationship in 1993? Explain using evidence from the text.

How do the events of chapter 18 add to your understanding of Velutha’s and Ammu’s fates? Explain using evidence.

Key Questions


  • Note the setting. How does the setting connect to the end of chapter 18?
  • What tone is established at the beginning of the chapter? How?
  • What is the impact of the phrase “Dark of Heart” to describe the police?
  • Reread the narrator’s description of Velutha’s arrival at the History House on p. 274. How does it compare to the description of the policemen’s arrival on p. 289?
  • The author uses many phrases and techniques to convey her tone toward the policemen on pp. 289–290. Which technique and/or moment in the text best conveys this to you?
  • What is the impact of the phrase “Toy History” on p. 290? How does it compare to the phrase “the Terror”?
  • Continue to track the characterization of the policemen. 
  • How does the use of “Touchable” to refer to the policemen add to the tension and conflict?
  • Why does the author point out the policemen’s absence of anger as they savagely beat Velutha? What is their motivation if not anger? What does she mean that they are “history’s henchmen”?
  • What does the narrator mean that this was “History in live performance”?
  • What is the impact on you, the reader, of the graphic description of the damage done to Velutha on p. 294? What is the impact on the twins?
  • Why does Rahel say, on p. 295, that it must be Velutha’s twin? How does Estha react to this suggestion? 
  • What do the policemen do with the toys? How does this add to their characterization? To the mood of the scene?
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Lesson 32

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Lesson 34

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