English "By Any Other Name"1. What conflict do the sisters experience with the headmistress?
3. Based on the last paragraph, explain how Santha views the conflict with the headmistress. How does this view fit the author's purpose for writing this coming-of-age memoir?
- Author's purpose: to reveal what really went on"behind the scenes" of this colonization during her childhood - Santha views the conflict with the headmistress as confusing. She doesn't fully understand what was happening. - kickstarter for the creation of her dual identity "Cynthia" and her assimilation into British society - "What is your name?" "I don't know"
2. What does the mother mean when she makes the remark in paragraph 6 about burying a dog's tail? So her daughters' experiences in school prove she is right or wrong? Explain.
- The mother's analogy means that even if you try to bury a dogs tail it is still wagging - It won't cease to exist, it will still be covered but it doesn't mean it isn't there - Nalini is a prime example of this idea - she puts on this facade, similar to Premila, but she adorns Indian jewelry, revealing the Indian heritage despite her traditional English cotton dress - Premila tries to blend into the schools society but once the "Indians are cheaters" remark is made she leaves - Santha's dual personality Cynthia is basically a switch, at school she is Cynthia and covers her Indian heritage, but once she gets home she becomes Santha again, a personality hidden under a facade for society
3. Why are Santha and Premila sent to the English school?
- Their mother was too ill to teach them - Indian schools are invalid
1. What do the headmistress's gestures and expressions tell you about her motivation for changing the girls' names?
- When she uses the phrase "pretty english names" it is hinting at the idea that she believes English names are superior along with the English culture - When she changes their names it provides insight on what the school is going to do to them - slowly changing their culture to fit into their society
2. Why is this short story called a memoir?
- a memoir is a historical biography or account written with past experience - this story is about the author's experience as a child; therefore, its a memoir
1.What is the setting of the story?
India during the British Raj (Britain's colonization of India)
theme
Never get rid of your origin, despite society's standards
4. Many ideas are passed from generation to generation. How might Premila's teacher have passed on a prejudice to her students? In her response to Premila's decision to leave school, what values did Santha's mother pass on to her children? What theme or ideas might be expressed in the contrast between these ideas?
- children are impressionable and the headmistress is interlacing her ideals into the young English children - Pretty english names, wouldn't that be jolly, it creates an idea of superiority of Britain to India, passing on this idea to the future generation - Indians CHEAT, passing on prejudice, generation to generation - Indian children are not to be trusted - Indian children are put in the back of the class in general, English children turn to laugh at Santha without teacher intervention ------------------------------------------- - You can never truly hide your culture - She doesn't like the British people and calls them insular, meaning they don't care or value anything but their own
Name two ways in which the Indian girls who have been at the school for a while imitate the English girls. How do these examples reflect the historical context of the memoir? historical context: the social conditions or historical events that inspire or influence the creation of a literary work
- sandwiches and cotton dresses - instead of traditional Indian cuisine the Indian children bring the standard English sandwiches, to fit into the school's miniature society, integrating the English ideals into the children early one - Cotton dresses are a normal way of dress in England, Indian kids at school wear the cotton dresses instead of their normal attire - at this time the British were colonizing India - Their culture was being infused into the English culture, certain areas of Indian culture were being replaced similar as to how these children's' names and normals are being replaced
4. Why does Premila take Santha out of school in the middle of the day?
- the teacher put the Indians in the back separated because "Indians cheat"
2. Part B Select the excerpt that best supports the answer to Part A.
A "My sister was always less easily intimidated than I was, and while she kept a stubborn silence, I said, 'Thank you,' in a very tiny voice." (paragraph 4) B "'You won't have them in your class for donkey's years.' She had learned the expression that day and was using it for the first time." (paragraph 25) C "Even at that age, it was apparent to all of us that friendship with the English or Anglo-Indian children was out of the question." (paragraph 27) D "Mother looked very startled and very concerned and asked Premila what had happened." (paragraph 36)
2. Part A What inference can you make about the author's sister, Premila?
A Premila worries about their mother's health. B Premila is jealous of the other children at school. C Premila thinks her sister is a burden. D Premila tries to fit in at school.
1. What conflict do the sisters experience with the headmistress?
A She disapproves of their Indian clothing and food. B She changes their names to make them easier for her to pronounce. C She refuses to allow them to take their usual siesta. D She does not want them to interact with the English children.
