God of Small Things - Chapter 1 Flashcards
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Questions and Answers

When and where does the story take place?

Summer of 1992 in small town, Ayemenem of Kerala, India

Who is Rahel?

Spent her childhood in Ayemenem, but returned to Ipe family at 31

When is Rahel most flooded with memories?

During the funeral and burial of Sophie Mol, the twin's cousin who died while visiting the family

What is the present setting like?

<p>Family home is decaying. Only Baby Kochamma (Rahel's great aunt) lives there, along with Kochu Maria (housekeeper). They spend all day watching TV.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Estha like?

<p>Keeps to himself, not speaking, taking up very little space in the world. Spends all day walking in Ayemenem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do Rahel and Estha respond to traumatic events differently?

<p>Rahel rebelled, whereas Estha kept quiet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Baby Kochamma like when she was younger?

<p>Fell in love with a priest, tried to join a convent. Failed and became a gardener for the Ayemenem house.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What couples have been divorced?

<p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the title?

<p>The family used to run a factory, built on the land between the house and the river, where 'pickles, squashes, jams, curry powders and canned pineapples' were made. It fits with Roy's way of revealing the picture by clue by clue.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the small things?

Signup and view all the answers

What other significant narrative elements are present in the story?

<p>A Big God and a Small God dictate the actions of the people. When the twins are thinking or expressing an idea, they appear in capital letters ('Thing One'). Complete thoughts are expressed in short sentences to show the most important parts ('Thirty-one. Not old. Not young'). Chapter titles only make sense after the chapter is read.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the other info regarding the novel?

<p>The novel is like an investigation into an unsolved mystery. The reader has to use individual memories of events to figure out the story.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Setting

  • Takes place during the summer of 1992 in Ayemenem, Kerala, India.
  • The family home is in decay, symbolizing the generational decline and lost opportunities.

Rahel

  • Childhood spent in Ayemenem, returning to the Ipe family at the age of 31.
  • Experiences an emotional flood during the events surrounding Sophie Mol's funeral.

Sophie Mol

  • Cousin of Rahel and Estha, whose death becomes a pivotal moment in their lives.

Estha

  • Characterized by his silence and introversion; tries to minimize his presence.
  • Spends his days walking in Ayemenem, reflecting his internal struggle.

Family Dynamics

  • Baby Kochamma, Rahel's great aunt, and Kochu Maria, the housekeeper, are the only inhabitants of the dilapidated home.
  • Rahel and Estha exhibit different coping mechanisms for trauma; Rahel rebels, while Estha withdraws.

Baby Kochamma

  • In her youth, she fell in love with a priest and attempted to join a convent but ultimately ended up as the caretaker of the family's estate.

Divorced Couples

  • Ammu and Baba, Chacko and Margaret Kochamma (parents of Sophie Mol), and Rahel and Larry McCaslin are noted for their divorces, highlighting themes of familial strife.

Narrative Structure

  • The novel functions as a detective story, encouraging readers to piece together events through characters' memories.
  • Uses letters and capitalized phrases to signify importance and emphasize characters' internal thoughts.

Title Significance

  • The title refers to a family-run factory producing various food items, symbolizing the connection between everyday life and deeper truths revealed gradually throughout the narrative.

The Concept of "Small Things"

  • Small things refer to seemingly trivial details that, collectively, reveal essential truths about life, relationships, and the characters' experiences.

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Test your knowledge on Chapter 1 of 'The God of Small Things' through these flashcards. Explore important events, characters, and settings that shape the narrative. Perfect for a quick review or deeper understanding of the text.

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