Author: Matthew McDonald

IoM: Culture and Identity; A Temporary Matter

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Culture and Identity

Culture is one of the most important unifying themes in Jhumpa Lahiri’s stories. Work through each of these questions in order to explore what culture means, why it is important and how it can impact upon people’s lives:

1. How do you define yourself?
                a) Culturally
                b) Socially
                c) Religiously
                d) Linguistically

2. How do you maintain or show your cultural connections?

3. Is it important for others to know your cultural identity?

4. What parts of your cultural identity are you proud of?

5. What parts would you discard? Why?

6. Do you think you can reinvent yourself in a new country? If so how?

7. What opportunities are there for new immigrants?

8. How does the physical and natural world influence your idea of where you come from?

9. Do you think your peer group share the same beliefs? Why / why not?

 

 

‘A Temporary Matter’

How do each of the following objects/things reflect the deteriorating nature of Shoba’s and Shukumar’s relationship? Incorporate quotes into each answer:

  1. Darkness
  2. Candles
  3. The house
  4. Food
  5. Shoba’s make-up
  6. Dialogue between Shoba and Shukumar

See below for answers.

 

Read ‘A Temporary Matter’ carefully and, at the end, answer the following questions:

  1. Can you find any connections between culture and the couple’s marital problems?
  2. How does the baby symbolise Shukumar and Shoba’s relationship?
  3. What is the role of the role of communication and secrets in Shukumar and Shoba’s relationship?
  4. Why has the ending been left so ambiguous? What do you think happens to the couple?
  5. Discuss the significance of the quote: “Shoba stood waving good-bye in her robe, with one arm resting on the mount of her belly as if it were a perfectly natural part of her body.”
  6. Find 2 other important or enlightening quotes and discuss their significance.
  7. What connections can you find with other stories?

 

 

‘A Temporary Matter’ TEEL Paragraph

Write a detailed TEEL-structured paragraph of at least 8 to 10 sentences on the following topic:

Jhumpa Lahiri has said: “the characters I’m drawn to all face some barrier of communication.” How are communication barriers explored in ‘A Temporary Matter’?

Remember that you are providing an analysis of the story – you are not just retelling the story or providing an outline of the plot. There must be a clear argument that you are presenting, and this should be outlined in your topic sentence. You will also need to incorporate multiple quotes from the story as evidence to support your argument.

 

 

Imagery and Symbolism in ‘A Temporary Matter’

4. Food

“If it weren’t for him, he knew, Shoba would eat a bowl of cereal for her dinner.”

“…he didn’t feel like cooking anymore. It wasn’t the same, he thought, knowing that the lights wouldn’t go out.” …”Still, he bought them.”

Shoba used to prepare all the food, and could be called a typical Indian housewife. But after the baby was stillborn, Shukumar took over the responsibility

Shoba became more of an American working woman, while Shukumar was the one who kept them connected to their culture through food

 

 

 

 

 

Future Worlds: Eugenics and the Culture of Surveillance

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Remember to be looking for any news articles, opinion pieces, videos or other commentary that relates to our ‘future world’. This can be anything to do with how our world is changed, the new possibilities which are opening up, the risks and dangers that they bring with them, and where our society could end up.

If you come across anything useful, please email them to me and I’ll add them to the blog.

 

Here are a few websites to help get you started. This first lot is to do with designer babies and genetic engineering:

 

Here are a few more articles on the ‘Culture of Surveillance’ that has emerged in the West:

 

 

‘A Temporary Matter’ Responses

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Here you can find the best responses for each of the question on ‘A Temporary Matter’ which were posted around the room. They are in no particular order, but they will give you an indication of some of the ideas that the story explores, so read them carefully.

 

Questions from Year 11 Transition:

  1. In Shoba and Shukumar’s world the lights have gone out. Describe the reasons behind the darkness in their lives.
  2. What indications are there that neither Shoba nor Shukumar are coping effectively with their individual grief?
  3. As the darkness provides a shield for their emotions, how do Shoba and Shukumar’s revelations oscillate between intimacy and betrayal?
  4. The small candles seem to offer a flicker of hope, but what evidence is there that hope lingers in the marriage of Shoba and Shukumar?
  5. “They wept together for the things they now knew.” What is the significance of the story’s final line?
  6. Is the disconnection of Shoba and Shukumar likely to be “a temporary matter”? Explain your point of view by providing evidence from the text.
  7. Consider Shoba’s approach to life before the loss of her baby. How do these behaviours alter after the loss? Can you explain why she may now feel disillusioned with her ability to control her life and create security?
  8. Consider the title of this short story collection: ‘Interpreter of Madalies’. What is a malady? Can you identify the malady in this story? Why are interpreters needed? What problem is there with communication in this story?