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Construction on the hospital slowly progresses. Selvam continues to live with his parents but is busy with constructing the hospital. Old Granny dies alone in the street. She had no relatives to turn to and died of starvation. Ruku felt affected by Old Granny’s death since she had accepted the rupee from her for Ira’s son, Scarabani. It soon becomes clear that the hospital will not be able to meet the demands of the villagers as already they are lining up and it is nowhere near completed.The construction of the building continues for several years. Selvam began his medical training and soon treats some patients on his own. Ruku still wonders why people give and wonders if there will ever be enough money to finish the project.
Summary for chapter 22 Ira and Selvam form a bond even though there's a big age difference. Ruku feels that she doesn't understand her children anymore, and assumes that it is because they are more educated than she is.Even though his mother and his uncle Selvam accept him and treat him as a normal child, Scarabani cannot have a normal childhood. He's judged by his appearance and his weak skin and eyes limit his activities.One day, Sacrabani asks Ira, “What is a bastard?” Ira told him it is a child whose parents did not wish for his birth. Ruku sees the pain in Ira’s voice as she answers the question and remembers how Ira attempted to abort her pregnancy.Days later, Sacrabani asks his mother about his father. She lies and tells him his father is away and that he will understand when he is older. Ruku suggests Ira should have told the boy his father was dead. Ira is clearly upset; she wasn't for her son to ask such questions at such a young age. Ira leaves; Nathan later goes to comfort her and Ruku hears her daughter crying.
Ying Ying Zhen Period 3 Characters for chapters 21 and 22
Selvam: Ruku and Nathan’s fifth son. Selvam decides that despite his father’s wishes he cannot work as a farmer. Selvam goes to work with Kenny to build a clinic in the village and will care for his mother in her old age.
Kuti: Ruku and Nathan’s youngest son - As the youngest, Kuti is most affected by the family’s lack of food. Although his sister Ira becomes a prostitute to try to earn food to save him, Kuti dies, a victim of poverty and hunger.
Scarabani: Ira’s child that is doubly cursed. He is the bastard son of a prostitute (Ira) and an albino; despite this, Ira and her family love and accept him.
Kali: The village gossip. Kali helps Ruku after she is first married and serves as a good, although sometimes overly nosey, friend.
Old Granny: An old, unmarried woman who makes a living from buying and selling vegetables. She serves as matchmaker for Ira and later dies penniless and alone in the street.
Kenny: An English doctor who appears from time to time in Ruku’s village. When Ruku is unable to conceive, Kenny helps her. Later, Kenny mentors Ruku’s youngest son, Selvam. Over the years, Kenny and Ruku develop a friendship despite their cultural differences.
Ruku (Rukmani): Ruku is the protagonist and narrator; we watch her mature from a nervous, young bride of 12 to a wise and thoughtful woman of old age. Although she faces many hardships in her life and reluctantly faces numerous changes, Ruku’s spirit remains hopeful as she seeks to hold on to the small joys in life.
Nathan: Ruku’s loving husband, Nathan is a constant in Ruku’s uncertain life. Quiet and unassuming, Nathan works hard to provide for his family but eventually loses his battle to hold onto his land and his life.
Ira (Irawaddy): Ruku and Nathan’s eldest child and oldest daughter, Ira is an obedient child who turns into a beautiful young woman. Rejected by her husband for failing to have children, Ira returns home only to later become a mother through an encounter as a prostitute.
Angela Mendez Humanities Honors Period 2 Some corrections to Ying Ying's Glossary of Characters:
Kenny's real name is Kennington(23)
Kali is not a really good friend. Kali is the one who makes the comment about Scarabani which made people outcast him more (122). A good friend wouldn't have done that. Kali encourages people to not learn because to her, education is useless and bad so she disapproves Ruku's teachings to her (Ruku's) children about how to read and write (16). Kali also prefered that a cobra lived and not Ruku (20).
Nicole Cruz Period 2 Vocabulary for Chapter 21: setbacks: anything that hinders or impedes Mortar: Mixture of lime, sand and water for holding bricks and stones together Tedious: causing fatigue or boredom Gunny: Strong, coarse saacking made from Jute (fiber of certain plants used for rope, canvas ect.) Burden: anything difficult to bear conscience: sense of wrong or right governing peoples words or actions Crone: WitchLike old woman Ailing: Sickly Perception: understood Grants: Sum of money provided by the government or another source for a specific purpose
Nicole Cruz Period 2 Vocabulary for Chapter 22: Schism: Division Prejudiced: BIas, preconcieved opinion Albinism: Person with white skin and hair and pink eyes due to lack of pigment Forlorn: Desperate Bastard: Child born of unmarried parents Fringes: Edge, Limit
Summary chapter 21: A new hospital is being built, it took longer than it was supposed to because mishaps kept happening. A total of seven years were consumed by the building if the hospital. The chapter talks about the mishaps that made it last seven years and the misfortunes fallen on people, those that can be prevented if the hospital completion was faster.
Summary chapter 22 The chapter talks about a child with albinism and how unfair it has been for him. An excuse to explain to Ira's child why the child was like that is that his mother did not want him to be born. Ira feels bad about her efforts of abortion. Later on, the child ask his mother (Ira) where his father was and she replied that it wasn't time for him to know.
Colonization had a decent effect on the people. They brought advance studies and technology with them however sometimes they hinder the advance of natural occurrences.
Characters: Selvam:A son of Ruku that gets a job in the hospital with Kenny
Ira: Ruku's first daughter that was a barren
Kenny: A doctor, which people believe are British (British colonization over India)
Ruku: Narrator of the story who married Nathan because she was not as beautiful as her sisters.
Nathan: Husband of Ruku who is a tentant farmer. Does not own any land
Old Granny: A woman living in the streets and died because the hospital took longer than it should've to finish
Camphor: any substance having medicinal or aromatic characteristics Ribaldry: vulgar or indecent language
More about Ira's albino child, Scarabani Scarabani does not and cannot live like the other children. He is an albino, which is a person with pale skin, light hair, pinkish eyes, and visual abnormalities. He is treated differently and as an outcast because he is an albino, and he is a 'bastard child'. Rukmani's culture doesn't accept 'bastard children' or as Ying Ying said, a children of a prostitute. Ira had thought of aborting the child, but she has kept Scarabani and tells others that he is fair skinned, while he is really white as snow. Ira ignores what others have said about her. Her family continues to support Ira and Scarabani.
Historical context/information: Jennifer Garcia Honors Humanities 2
Albinism refers to a group of inherited conditions. People with albinism have little or no pigment(melanin) in their eyes, skin, or hair. A myth is that people with albinism have red eyes. Although some people with albinism have reddish or violet eyes, most of them have blue eyes ,hazel eyes or brown eyes.
The first British outpost in India was established in 1619. This led to the establishment of the British East India Company, which control all British trade within region. Industrially, India prospered under British rule. A railway network was set up, which increased trade. Also, hospitals, factories, and schools were set up.
Angela Mendez Humanities Honors Period 2 Answering Jennifer Gracia's questions: 1. No one helped the old lady because if they did, they would have been feeding another mouth. A lot of people didn't have enough food to eat because they didn't have a good harvest that year since there wasn't any rain in a long time to water the plants(Chapter 13-14). If these people don't have enough food to feed themselves, how can they feed another person? Also, people were already doing stuff they wouldn't normally do (Raja, Ruku's son stole a calfskin which is something he wouldn't do so he could sell it and buy food. Ira slept with a lot of men to feed herself and Kuti, Ruku's youngest son). It would have been a lot of work to feed the old lady. 2. The hospital doesn't get enough funds and grants to keep it working smoothly because people don't donate a lot of money. I mean, Kenny took a long time to gather all the money he has right now. It takes a long time to gather enough money to build a hospital, because as Ruku once said "such a construction will need I do not know how many hundreds of rupees"(115). Ruku knew that a construction like that costs a lot of money. 3. I am not sure why the abortion didn't work. I looked up the history of abortion and there were many methods people would do to have an abortion. People would do a lot of exercise like paddling and climing. People would also pour hot water in the abdomen. I also looked up abortion in India and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act came into effect in April 1, 1972. This date seems to stick out to me.
Waleed Yahya Vocab: Morose:gloomily or sullenly ill-humored, as a person or mood. Dejected:depressed in spirits; disheartened; low-spirited Enquire:to seek information by questioning Bier:a frame or stand on which a corpse or the coffin containing it is laid before burial. Unstinted: to get along, just making it by. Camphor: a whitish see through color Pyre:a pile or heap of wood or other combustible material. Exasperated:to irritate or provoke to a high degree Meshes:any knit, woven, or knotted fabric of open texture. Chowkidar: an official, of official or police. Contrive:to plan with ingenuity schism:division or disunion, especially into mutually opposed parties. albinism: the state of lacking color and unable to produce melanin and not good under the sun. forlorn:unhappy or miserable ribaldry: to be abusive and mocking speculatively: to be contemplating and aware. Noncommittally: not being committed. remnants: a small remainder and quantity.
Angela Mendez Humanities Honors Period 2 Making a comment to Waleed's comment: I find it sad as well. What seems more sad to me though is that she had no relatives or anybody she loved to take care of he body. By not having any family members or anyone to love, one could say she gave up on life. Maybe Old Granny didn't find any point in living anymore since she has no one to love and she blamed herself for the outcome of Ira (I think that's why she gave her single rupee to Ruku for Ira's son). I think she wanted to die.
Ira: she loves her brothers so much and treats them like the children she never had. She has grown closer and closer to them even though when she got married they were supposed to grow apart. Kenny: A man who attempts to help the indian people but always returns saddened because he feels there is nothing he can do but constantly tries. Nathan: loves his wife and daughter and tries to comfort them throughout all the hardships they are all facing. Selvam: the son of Nathan, continues to work Kenny trying to build them a hospital. Sacrabani: is struggling because everyone gives him a hard time because he is Albino and Ira almost had an abortion with him. Old Granny: a old woman with no relation to anyone but was well know. She lived on the street and died on the street.
In chapter 21, the hospital makes very slow progress and Kenny and Selvam continue to work desperately hoping Old Granny can be taken care of in the hospital but she dies of starvation on the street alone.
Chapter 22, Ira and her brother become closer during a hard time for her when her son continues t question her about his existence, The people continue to act cruelly towards him just because of his disability and appearance. Rukmani realizes her children will always be loving and close to one another.
The way the Indians are living is negative because they are not advanced and live off of farming and rely on Nature and whether it acts good or bad. A positive thing is the people are still together and prices for items don't increase.
On the other hand, because of imperialism, the people are developing a good place to live with buildings and not huts, also people make more money. The negative effects are prices increase and the people lose their original culture.
Angela Mendez Hunmanities Honors Period 2 CHAPTER 21 (Extra Vocabulary) Recurring- to happen or appear once again or repeatedly Mourners- people who express sadness at somebody’s death Ceased- to put an end or to put a stop to something Sandalwood- a pale yellow fragrant wood (used for furniture-making, carving, incense)
Angela Mendez Humanities Honors Period 2 CHAPTER 22 (Extra Vocabulary) Taunts- to provoke or ridicule somebody Wary- to be cautious and/or show suspicion Abortion- operation to end pregnancy Inescapable- impossible to avoid Intents- a plan or a purpose Shied- uncomfortable with others
Angela Mendez Humanities Honors Period 2 CHAPTER 21 SUMMARY Many unfortunate things are happening. Kenny and Selvam are building a hospital and they hope the hospital is completed quickly. Mean while the hospital is being built, Old Granny dies in the street from starvation. Old Granny had no family members to go to or anyone at all. Ruku had taken the death of Old Granny very hard on herself because Old Granny had given her a rupee which could have fed her for a few days. Old Granny had given the rupee to Ruku so Ruku could save that money for Sacrabani, Ira’s son. Nathan convinces Ruku that she shouldn’t blame Old Granny’s death on herself because even if Ruku didn’t accept the rupee, Old Granny would have died anyway because no one would have fed her. The hospital wouldn’t have fed her as well because a hospital is a place where doctors cure sick people, not to feed people. Time passes and sick people start to go to Kenny, Selvam, and even Ruku. The building of the hospital is slow since many unfortunate problems keep occurring. It takes seven years to build the hospital. Mean while this happens, Kenny trains Selvam and pretty soon Selvam is treating minor cases by himself. Kenny pays Selvam small wages once in a while and Ruku wonders how Kenny will get money to pay for workers because Kenny will need a lot of workers. Ruku asks him and Kenny is speechless and in the end Kenny says he will find ways and means.
- The construction of the hospital took way longer than expected (Seven Years). - The Old Granny dies after living on the streets for so long, without money or food (Starvation). -Ruku blames herself because she believes if the old woman had not given her the rupee for Ira’s Son, she would have had money to survive.
Mood
The mood in this chapter makes the reader feel the emotions being expressed. For example, as the chapter first starts off with the construction taking longer than it should have, the mood seems calm and the reader doesn’t feel as bothered by it because it was something that was not fully bad. In the end the hospital was completed so that is why it wasn’t that bad. Then when the chapter explains the old lady’s death, that causes a whole change in mood and the reader gets shocked and uncomfortable with this twisted tragedy in the chapter. As the chapter continues on, Ruku begins feeling guilty and this is the part that causes the reader to feel compassion for Ruku and bad for Ruku. The reason is mainly because it wasn’t Ruku’s fault. The old lady kindly gave it to her for Ira’s son out of her own will. It wasn’t like Ruku stole it from her? So she wasn’t guilty, her mind was just making her feel like it was all her fault.
Angela Mendez Humanities Honors Period 2 CHAPTER 22 SUMMARY Selvam and Ira have always been close. They even became closer when Selvam accepted Sacrabani just the way he is and treated him like a normal boy. Although Selvam treats Scarabani as a normal child, it isn’t enough for Scarabani because no one else really treated him as an equal. Scarabani has albinism so many children his age don’t want to be near him or play with him since they think Scarabani is abnormal. The children only play with Scarabani when they were short of a player. Older people just stare at him too like if Scarabani was abnormal. Soon after living like this, Scarabani asks Ira what a bastard is. Startled, Ira answers that a bastard is a child whose mother doesn’t want him. Scarabani starts questioning his mother more and Ira is forced to lie. Ira lies to Sarabani, telling him that his father is away and will come when his father can because he cannot see them. Ira also tells him that she will explain to Scarabani later when he is older. Ruku later exclaims she would have told him that Scarabani’s father is dead and Ira cries after that even when Nathan goes to comfort her.
Vocabulary for Chapeter 21 Mortar a receptacle of hard material, having a bowl-shaped cavityin which substances are reduced to powder with a pestle. Tediouslong and tiresome Gunnya strong, coarse material made commonly from jute Ailing unsound or troubled Bier such a stand together with the corpse or coffin. Pyre a pile or heap of wood or other combustible material Precariously exposed to or involving danger
Vocabulary for Chapter 22 Schism a formal division within, or separation from, a churchor religious body over some doctrinal difference. Forlorn desolate or dreary Fringe a decorative border of thread
- Ruku feels her children bond together more because they have been educated more. - Sacrabani is not a normal boy because he is sick and misunderstood by the rest of the world. - Ira can’t handle telling her own son what a bastard was because of her early desire for an abortion or telling him his father was dead.
Mood
The mood of the chapter at the beginning is calm at first and very interesting when Ira and Selvam’s relationship is being described. The reader after realizing that Selvam and Ira had been extremely close as siblings thinks of the scene to be happy and emotional in a positive way. When Ruku is feeling her children are closer because of their education, the reader can feel differently depending on their age. For example, a teen can suggest that it’s okay and that the kids haven’t changed at all, meanwhile an adult can suggest, they have lost their humbleness and become closer because they have more knowledge. That knowledge gave them more power in some ways. Sacrabani not being normal makes the reader have pity towards him and when Selvam is able to accept him for who he is, that shows a big sense of accomplishment and it is again completely emotional towards the reader in a positive way. When Ira can’t tell her son what a bastard is because she almost aborted him, and when she can’t tell him where his father is because his father is dead, it causes negative emotions towards the reader. When Ira is upset and depressed, the reader also has his heart touched by the words in the chapter because it is hard to hide things so huge from Sacrabani’s life.
Angela Mendez Humanities Honors Period 2 EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM for Chapter 21 The effects of colonialism are both postive and negative. One positive effect is how a hospital is being built. If a hospital is being built, sick people have a better chance of survival. Another positive effect is how some natives (Selvam) are learning new things from people who are from other places (Kenny). A negative effect is how hospitals cannot help everyone by feeding those who are hungry (Old Granny).
The second positive effect was positive because natives are expanding their knowledge. The negative effect is negative because those people will not be able to eat and will eventually die.
Angela Mendez Humanities Honors Period 2 EFFECTS OF PRE-COLONIAL LIFE for Chapter 21 The effects of pre-colonial life are both positive and negative. A positive effect is how dead people are respected (Old Granny's death). A negative effect is how people sometimes don't move foward in their lives (Ruku kept blaming herself for Old Granny's death instead of moving foward).
The positive effect is positive because dead people are respected which means the lives of the dead people will be remembered by some people. The negative effect is negative because people aren't moving foward which is bad because people won't be able to live in peace.
Angela Mendez Humanities Honors Period 2 EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM for Chapter 22 The effects of colonialism are mostly positive in chapter 22. A positive effect is how people from different places are influencing others (Kenny is influencing Selvam which makes Selvam notice that Ira's child is actually normal and he shouldn't care about appearances).
Angela Mendez Humanities Honors Period 2 EFFECTS OF PRE-COLONIAL LIFE for Chapter 22 The effect of pre-colonial life is mostly negative. The negative effect is how some natives don't change their views on people who are different than them (natives treating badly Sacrabani). This is negative since those people who are different than the natives won't be able to live in peace or live without someone bothering them.
Jennifer Garcia
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Vocabulary for chapter 21
Selvam: means wealth
Elated: very happy or proud; jubilant; in high spirits
Morose: characterized by or expressing gloom
Dejected: depressed in spirits; disheartened; low-spirited
Irked: to irritate, annoy, or exasperate
Bier: a platform or stand on which a corpse or a coffin containing a corpse rests before burial
Decencies: those things that are considered necessary for a decent life
Pyre: such a pile for burning a dead body, especially as part of a funeral rite, as in India
Twofold: a unit of stage scenery consisting of two flats hinged together
Precariously: dependent on another's will
Chowkidar: watchman, care taker; one who inhabits a "chowki", police station or guard house.
Jennifer Garcia
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Vocabulary for chapter 22
Submissive: of, tending towards, or indicating submission, humility, or servility
Ribaldry: ribald language or behavior
Vied: to strive in competition or rivalry with another; contend for superiority
Speculatively: pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by speculation, contemplation, conjecture, or abstract reasoning
Remnants: a small, unsold or unused piece of cloth, lace, etc., as at the end of a bolt.
Reddened: to make or cause to become red.
Jennifer Santamaria
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Summary for chapter 21
Construction on the hospital slowly progresses. Selvam continues to live with his parents but is busy with constructing the hospital. Old Granny dies alone in the street. She had no relatives to turn to and died of starvation. Ruku felt affected by Old Granny’s death since she had accepted the rupee from her for Ira’s son, Scarabani. It soon becomes clear that the hospital will not be able to meet the demands of the villagers as already they are lining up and it is nowhere near completed.The construction of the building continues for several years. Selvam began his medical training and soon treats some patients on his own. Ruku still wonders why people give and wonders if there will ever be enough money to finish the project.
Jennifer Santamaria
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Summary for chapter 22
Ira and Selvam form a bond even though there's a big age difference. Ruku feels that she doesn't understand her children anymore, and assumes that it is because they are more educated than she is.Even though his mother and his uncle Selvam accept him and treat him as a normal child, Scarabani cannot have a normal childhood. He's judged by his appearance and his weak skin and eyes limit his activities.One day, Sacrabani asks Ira, “What is a bastard?” Ira told him it is a child whose parents did not wish for his birth. Ruku sees the pain in Ira’s voice as she answers the question and remembers how Ira attempted to abort her pregnancy.Days later, Sacrabani asks his mother about his father. She lies and tells him his father is away and that he will understand when he is older. Ruku suggests Ira should have told the boy his father was dead. Ira is clearly upset; she wasn't for her son to ask such questions at such a young age. Ira leaves; Nathan later goes to comfort her and Ruku hears her daughter crying.
Ying Ying Zhen
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Characters for chapters 21 and 22
Selvam: Ruku and Nathan’s fifth son. Selvam decides that despite his father’s wishes he cannot work as a farmer. Selvam goes to work with Kenny to build a clinic in the village and will care for his mother in her old age.
Kuti: Ruku and Nathan’s youngest son - As the youngest, Kuti is most affected by the family’s lack of food. Although his sister Ira becomes a prostitute to try to earn food to save him, Kuti dies, a victim of poverty and hunger.
Scarabani: Ira’s child that is doubly cursed. He is the bastard son of a prostitute (Ira) and an albino; despite this, Ira and her family love and accept him.
Kali: The village gossip. Kali helps Ruku after she is first married and serves as a good, although sometimes overly nosey, friend.
Old Granny: An old, unmarried woman who makes a living from buying and selling vegetables. She serves as matchmaker for Ira and later dies penniless and alone in the street.
Kenny: An English doctor who appears from time to time in Ruku’s village. When Ruku is unable to conceive, Kenny helps her. Later, Kenny mentors Ruku’s youngest son, Selvam. Over the years, Kenny and Ruku develop a friendship despite their cultural differences.
Ruku (Rukmani): Ruku is the protagonist and narrator; we watch her mature from a nervous, young bride of 12 to a wise and thoughtful woman of old age. Although she faces many hardships in her life and reluctantly faces numerous changes, Ruku’s spirit remains hopeful as she seeks to hold on to the small joys in life.
Nathan: Ruku’s loving husband, Nathan is a constant in Ruku’s uncertain life. Quiet and unassuming, Nathan works hard to provide for his family but eventually loses his battle to hold onto his land and his life.
Ira (Irawaddy): Ruku and Nathan’s eldest child and oldest daughter, Ira is an obedient child who turns into a beautiful young woman. Rejected by her husband for failing to have children, Ira returns home only to later become a mother through an encounter as a prostitute.
Angela Mendez
DeleteHumanities Honors
Period 2
Some corrections to Ying Ying's Glossary of Characters:
Kenny's real name is Kennington(23)
Kali is not a really good friend. Kali is the one who makes the comment about Scarabani which made people outcast him more (122). A good friend wouldn't have done that. Kali encourages people to not learn because to her, education is useless and bad so she disapproves Ruku's teachings to her (Ruku's) children about how to read and write (16). Kali also prefered that a cobra lived and not Ruku (20).
Nicole Cruz Period 2
ReplyDeleteVocabulary for Chapter 21:
setbacks: anything that hinders or impedes
Mortar: Mixture of lime, sand and water for holding bricks and stones together
Tedious: causing fatigue or boredom
Gunny: Strong, coarse saacking made from Jute (fiber of certain plants used for rope, canvas ect.)
Burden: anything difficult to bear
conscience: sense of wrong or right governing peoples words or actions
Crone: WitchLike old woman
Ailing: Sickly
Perception: understood
Grants: Sum of money provided by the government or another source for a specific purpose
Nicole Cruz Period 2
ReplyDeleteVocabulary for Chapter 22:
Schism: Division
Prejudiced: BIas, preconcieved opinion
Albinism: Person with white skin and hair and pink eyes due to lack of pigment
Forlorn: Desperate
Bastard: Child born of unmarried parents
Fringes: Edge, Limit
Ying Ying Zhen
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Vocabulary:
Chapter 21
Reckoned: to count, compute, or calculate, as in number or amount.
Enquire: to seek information; ask
Rupee: a cupronickel coin and monetary unit of India, Nepal, and Pakistan, equal to 100 paise
Enthusiasm: absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit
Dispirited: discouraged; dejected; disheartened; gloomy.
Chapter 22
Nudged: to push slightly or gently, especially with the elbow, to get someone's attention, prod someone into action, etc.
Enlighten: to give intellectual or spiritual light to; instruct; impart knowledge to.
Lok Ting Hon
ReplyDeletePeriod 3
Summary chapter 21:
A new hospital is being built, it took longer than it was supposed to because
mishaps kept happening. A total of seven years were consumed by the building if
the hospital. The chapter talks about the mishaps that made it last seven years
and the misfortunes fallen on people, those that can be prevented if the
hospital completion was faster.
Summary chapter 22
The chapter talks about a child with albinism and how unfair it has been for
him. An excuse to explain to Ira's child why the child was like that is that his
mother did not want him to be born. Ira feels bad about her efforts of abortion.
Later on, the child ask his mother (Ira) where his father was and she replied
that it wasn't time for him to know.
Colonization had a decent effect on the people. They brought advance studies
and technology with them however sometimes they hinder the advance of natural
occurrences.
Characters:
Selvam:A son of Ruku that gets a job in the hospital with Kenny
Ira: Ruku's first daughter that was a barren
Kenny: A doctor, which people believe are British (British colonization over India)
Ruku: Narrator of the story who married Nathan because she was not as beautiful as her sisters.
Nathan: Husband of Ruku who is a tentant farmer. Does not own any land
Old Granny: A woman living in the streets and died because the hospital took longer than it should've to finish
Carol Lu
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
Chapter 21 and 22 Vocabulary
Camphor: any substance having medicinal or aromatic characteristics
Ribaldry: vulgar or indecent language
More about Ira's albino child, Scarabani
Scarabani does not and cannot live like the other children. He is an albino, which is a person with pale skin, light hair, pinkish eyes, and visual abnormalities. He is treated differently and as an outcast because he is an albino, and he is a 'bastard child'. Rukmani's culture doesn't accept 'bastard children' or as Ying Ying said, a children of a prostitute. Ira had thought of aborting the child, but she has kept Scarabani and tells others that he is fair skinned, while he is really white as snow. Ira ignores what others have said about her. Her family continues to support Ira and Scarabani.
Historical context/information:
ReplyDeleteJennifer Garcia
Honors Humanities 2
Albinism refers to a group of inherited conditions. People with albinism have little or no pigment(melanin) in their eyes, skin, or hair. A myth is that people with albinism have red eyes. Although some people with albinism have reddish or violet eyes, most of them have blue eyes ,hazel eyes or brown eyes.
The first British outpost in India was established in 1619. This led to the establishment of the British East India Company, which control all British trade within region. Industrially, India prospered under British rule. A railway network was set up, which increased trade. Also, hospitals, factories, and schools were set up.
But many didn't go get an education because they had to work for their families.
DeleteJennifer Garcia
ReplyDeleteHonor Humanities 2
Questions:
Why didn't anyone help the old lady?
Why dosen't the hospital get enough funds and grants to keep it working smoothly?
Why didn't the abortion work?
Angela Mendez
DeleteHumanities Honors
Period 2
Answering Jennifer Gracia's questions:
1. No one helped the old lady because if they did, they would have been feeding another mouth. A lot of people didn't have enough food to eat because they didn't have a good harvest that year since there wasn't any rain in a long time to water the plants(Chapter 13-14). If these people don't have enough food to feed themselves, how can they feed another person? Also, people were already doing stuff they wouldn't normally do (Raja, Ruku's son stole a calfskin which is something he wouldn't do so he could sell it and buy food. Ira slept with a lot of men to feed herself and Kuti, Ruku's youngest son). It would have been a lot of work to feed the old lady.
2. The hospital doesn't get enough funds and grants to keep it working smoothly because people don't donate a lot of money. I mean, Kenny took a long time to gather all the money he has right now. It takes a long time to gather enough money to build a hospital, because as Ruku once said "such a construction will need I do not know how many hundreds of rupees"(115). Ruku knew that a construction like that costs a lot of money.
3. I am not sure why the abortion didn't work. I looked up the history of abortion and there were many methods people would do to have an abortion. People would do a lot of exercise like paddling and climing. People would also pour hot water in the abdomen. I also looked up abortion in India and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act came into effect in April 1, 1972. This date seems to stick out to me.
Angela Mendez
DeleteHumanities Honors
Period 2
For the number 3, that is some historical context on abortion
Waleed Yahya
ReplyDeleteVocab:
Morose:gloomily or sullenly ill-humored, as a person or mood.
Dejected:depressed in spirits; disheartened; low-spirited
Enquire:to seek information by questioning
Bier:a frame or stand on which a corpse or the coffin containing it is laid before burial.
Unstinted: to get along, just making it by.
Camphor: a whitish see through color
Pyre:a pile or heap of wood or other combustible material.
Exasperated:to irritate or provoke to a high degree
Meshes:any knit, woven, or knotted fabric of open texture.
Chowkidar: an official, of official or police.
Contrive:to plan with ingenuity
schism:division or disunion, especially into mutually opposed parties.
albinism: the state of lacking color and unable to produce melanin and not good under the sun.
forlorn:unhappy or miserable
ribaldry: to be abusive and mocking
speculatively: to be contemplating and aware.
Noncommittally: not being committed.
remnants: a small remainder and quantity.
I find it so sad and disappointing that a beloved old woman died of starvation because no one could afford to feed them
ReplyDeleteAngela Mendez
DeleteHumanities Honors
Period 2
Making a comment to Waleed's comment:
I find it sad as well. What seems more sad to me though is that she had no relatives or anybody she loved to take care of he body. By not having any family members or anyone to love, one could say she gave up on life. Maybe Old Granny didn't find any point in living anymore since she has no one to love and she blamed herself for the outcome of Ira (I think that's why she gave her single rupee to Ruku for Ira's son). I think she wanted to die.
Ira: she loves her brothers so much and treats them like the children she never had. She has grown closer and closer to them even though when she got married they were supposed to grow apart.
ReplyDeleteKenny: A man who attempts to help the indian people but always returns saddened because he feels there is nothing he can do but constantly tries.
Nathan: loves his wife and daughter and tries to comfort them throughout all the hardships they are all facing.
Selvam: the son of Nathan, continues to work Kenny trying to build them a hospital.
Sacrabani: is struggling because everyone gives him a hard time because he is Albino and Ira almost had an abortion with him.
Old Granny: a old woman with no relation to anyone but was well know. She lived on the street and died on the street.
Waleed Yahya
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 21, the hospital makes very slow progress and Kenny and Selvam continue to work desperately hoping Old Granny can be taken care of in the hospital but she dies of starvation on the street alone.
Chapter 22, Ira and her brother become closer during a hard time for her when her son continues t question her about his existence, The people continue to act cruelly towards him just because of his disability and appearance. Rukmani realizes her children will always be loving and close to one another.
The way the Indians are living is negative because they are not advanced and live off of farming and rely on Nature and whether it acts good or bad. A positive thing is the people are still together and prices for items don't increase.
On the other hand, because of imperialism, the people are developing a good place to live with buildings and not huts, also people make more money. The negative effects are prices increase and the people lose their original culture.
Angela Mendez
ReplyDeleteHunmanities Honors
Period 2
CHAPTER 21 (Extra Vocabulary)
Recurring- to happen or appear once again or repeatedly
Mourners- people who express sadness at somebody’s death
Ceased- to put an end or to put a stop to something
Sandalwood- a pale yellow fragrant wood (used for furniture-making, carving, incense)
Angela Mendez
ReplyDeleteHumanities Honors
Period 2
CHAPTER 22 (Extra Vocabulary)
Taunts- to provoke or ridicule somebody
Wary- to be cautious and/or show suspicion
Abortion- operation to end pregnancy
Inescapable- impossible to avoid
Intents- a plan or a purpose
Shied- uncomfortable with others
Angela Mendez
ReplyDeleteHumanities Honors
Period 2
CHAPTER 21 SUMMARY
Many unfortunate things are happening. Kenny and Selvam are building a hospital and they hope the hospital is completed quickly. Mean while the hospital is being built, Old Granny dies in the street from starvation. Old Granny had no family members to go to or anyone at all. Ruku had taken the death of Old Granny very hard on herself because Old Granny had given her a rupee which could have fed her for a few days. Old Granny had given the rupee to Ruku so Ruku could save that money for Sacrabani, Ira’s son. Nathan convinces Ruku that she shouldn’t blame Old Granny’s death on herself because even if Ruku didn’t accept the rupee, Old Granny would have died anyway because no one would have fed her. The hospital wouldn’t have fed her as well because a hospital is a place where doctors cure sick people, not to feed people. Time passes and sick people start to go to Kenny, Selvam, and even Ruku. The building of the hospital is slow since many unfortunate problems keep occurring. It takes seven years to build the hospital. Mean while this happens, Kenny trains Selvam and pretty soon Selvam is treating minor cases by himself. Kenny pays Selvam small wages once in a while and Ruku wonders how Kenny will get money to pay for workers because Kenny will need a lot of workers. Ruku asks him and Kenny is speechless and in the end Kenny says he will find ways and means.
Mario Joya
ReplyDeleteHonors Humanities 3
Chapter 21
Conflicts
- The construction of the hospital took way longer than expected (Seven Years).
- The Old Granny dies after living on the streets for so long, without money or food (Starvation).
-Ruku blames herself because she believes if the old woman had not given her the rupee for Ira’s
Son, she would have had money to survive.
Mood
The mood in this chapter makes the reader feel the emotions being expressed. For example, as the chapter first starts off with the construction taking longer than it should have, the mood seems calm and the reader doesn’t feel as bothered by it because it was something that was not fully bad. In the end the hospital was completed so that is why it wasn’t that bad. Then when the chapter explains the old lady’s death, that causes a whole change in mood and the reader gets shocked and uncomfortable with this twisted tragedy in the chapter. As the chapter continues on, Ruku begins feeling guilty and this is the part that causes the reader to feel compassion for Ruku and bad for Ruku. The reason is mainly because it wasn’t Ruku’s fault. The old lady kindly gave it to her for Ira’s son out of her own will. It wasn’t like Ruku stole it from her? So she wasn’t guilty, her mind was just making her feel like it was all her fault.
Angela Mendez
ReplyDeleteHumanities Honors
Period 2
CHAPTER 22 SUMMARY
Selvam and Ira have always been close. They even became closer when Selvam accepted Sacrabani just the way he is and treated him like a normal boy. Although Selvam treats Scarabani as a normal child, it isn’t enough for Scarabani because no one else really treated him as an equal. Scarabani has albinism so many children his age don’t want to be near him or play with him since they think Scarabani is abnormal. The children only play with Scarabani when they were short of a player. Older people just stare at him too like if Scarabani was abnormal. Soon after living like this, Scarabani asks Ira what a bastard is. Startled, Ira answers that a bastard is a child whose mother doesn’t want him. Scarabani starts questioning his mother more and Ira is forced to lie. Ira lies to Sarabani, telling him that his father is away and will come when his father can because he cannot see them. Ira also tells him that she will explain to Scarabani later when he is older. Ruku later exclaims she would have told him that Scarabani’s father is dead and Ira cries after that even when Nathan goes to comfort her.
In parts where I wrote Scarabani or Sarabani, it should be Sacrabani.
DeleteVocabulary for Chapeter 21
ReplyDeleteMortar a receptacle of hard material, having a bowl-shaped cavityin which substances are reduced to powder with a pestle.
Tediouslong and tiresome
Gunnya strong, coarse material made commonly from jute
Ailing unsound or troubled
Bier such a stand together with the corpse or coffin.
Pyre a pile or heap of wood or other combustible material
Precariously exposed to or involving danger
Vocabulary for Chapter 22
ReplyDeleteSchism a formal division within, or separation from, a churchor religious body over some doctrinal difference.
Forlorn desolate or dreary
Fringe a decorative border of thread
Mario Joya
ReplyDeleteHonors Humanities 3
Chapter 22
Conflicts
- Ruku feels her children bond together more because they have been educated more.
- Sacrabani is not a normal boy because he is sick and misunderstood by the rest of the world.
- Ira can’t handle telling her own son what a bastard was because of her early desire for an abortion or telling him his father was dead.
Mood
The mood of the chapter at the beginning is calm at first and very interesting when Ira and Selvam’s relationship is being described. The reader after realizing that Selvam and Ira had been extremely close as siblings thinks of the scene to be happy and emotional in a positive way. When Ruku is feeling her children are closer because of their education, the reader can feel differently depending on their age. For example, a teen can suggest that it’s okay and that the kids haven’t changed at all, meanwhile an adult can suggest, they have lost their humbleness and become closer because they have more knowledge. That knowledge gave them more power in some ways. Sacrabani not being normal makes the reader have pity towards him and when Selvam is able to accept him for who he is, that shows a big sense of accomplishment and it is again completely emotional towards the reader in a positive way. When Ira can’t tell her son what a bastard is because she almost aborted him, and when she can’t tell him where his father is because his father is dead, it causes negative emotions towards the reader. When Ira is upset and depressed, the reader also has his heart touched by the words in the chapter because it is hard to hide things so huge from Sacrabani’s life.
Angela Mendez
ReplyDeleteHumanities Honors
Period 2
EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM for Chapter 21
The effects of colonialism are both postive and negative. One positive effect is how a hospital is being built. If a hospital is being built, sick people have a better chance of survival. Another positive effect is how some natives (Selvam) are learning new things from people who are from other places (Kenny). A negative effect is how hospitals cannot help everyone by feeding those who are hungry (Old Granny).
The second positive effect was positive because natives are expanding their knowledge. The negative effect is negative because those people will not be able to eat and will eventually die.
DeleteAngela Mendez
ReplyDeleteHumanities Honors
Period 2
EFFECTS OF PRE-COLONIAL LIFE for Chapter 21
The effects of pre-colonial life are both positive and negative. A positive effect is how dead people are respected (Old Granny's death). A negative effect is how people sometimes don't move foward in their lives (Ruku kept blaming herself for Old Granny's death instead of moving foward).
The positive effect is positive because dead people are respected which means the lives of the dead people will be remembered by some people. The negative effect is negative because people aren't moving foward which is bad because people won't be able to live in peace.
DeleteAngela Mendez
ReplyDeleteHumanities Honors
Period 2
EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM for Chapter 22
The effects of colonialism are mostly positive in chapter 22. A positive effect is how people from different places are influencing others (Kenny is influencing Selvam which makes Selvam notice that Ira's child is actually normal and he shouldn't care about appearances).
That is positive because Selvam doesn't care how Sacrabani looks like.
DeleteAngela Mendez
ReplyDeleteHumanities Honors
Period 2
EFFECTS OF PRE-COLONIAL LIFE for Chapter 22
The effect of pre-colonial life is mostly negative. The negative effect is how some natives don't change their views on people who are different than them (natives treating badly Sacrabani). This is negative since those people who are different than the natives won't be able to live in peace or live without someone bothering them.