Week 6 Discussion (pages 169-202)

Happy Friday Scholars,

Second week of August, week six of The Namesake and for many of you one more week of summer school.  Great work everyone! Keep that forward motion.  Speaking of forward motion, the 33 pages you read this week of The Namesake reflect Nikhil's (Gogol) life redefined as he manages the unexpected loss of his father, his growing distance with Maxine and the possibility of new love. 

Whether you are reading along with us, or catching up to this point I am proud of each of you for taking the time to read, and hopefully enjoy, this novel.  Summer is a busy time so thank you again  for including this as part of your commitments.  As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns please reach out so we can make sure everything you are reading is clear.

Here are some questions to consider for the fifth section of the text (pages 169-202):

1.Why does Nikhil (Gogol) go to Cleveland? What does he do there?

2. What happens throughout the eleven-day mourning period? How do friends express their sympathy? What kind of diet do Ashima, Gogol, and Sonia follow? What happens on the eleventh day itself?

3.  How does Nikhil respond to Maxine when she suggests, "It might do you good ... To get away from all this"(182)?


4. How does Ashima explain to herself why Ashoke had accepted the one-year fellowship in Cleveland?

5.  In Gogol's thoughts on the train ride back to New York, what trip with his parents and Sonia does he remember? How does his memory of the walk to the lighthouse with his father remind him of his father's great value as a human being?


6. Why is Maxine no longer in Nikhil's life? What has he recently learned from her parents when he bumps into them in a gallery?

7. Why does Ashima want Nikhil (Gogol) to meet Moushumi Mazoomdar? What does he remember of her when his mother first mentions her name? What update does Ashima give Gogol on Moushumi's life?

8. Characterize the first meeting between Nikhil and Moushumi.

9.  Why is Nikhil "secretly pleased that [Moushumi] has seen the rooms [of his house on Pemberton Road], tasted his mother's cooking, washed her hands in the bathroom, however long ago" (200)?



Think about your responses. You do not need to answer all the questions here unless you would like to do so. Instead, use the questions to explore the themes of the reading.  Also remember to work on the summer reading organizer.  The organizer will be collected by your English 4 teacher when school starts in September.  If you misplaced it, here is the link: 12R Summer Reading.

Remember next week's reading includes pages 203-236.  Summer school people...good luck on your final projects and exams.  Enjoy the week ahead everyone!