Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala Plot Summary
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Questions and Answers

Who offers to perform an abortion for the narrator?

  • Nawab
  • Maji (correct)
  • Olivia
  • Douglas
  • Why does Olivia not return to Douglas after the hospital?

  • She wants to go into the mountains
  • She becomes ill
  • She decides to stay in India
  • She elopes with the Nawam (correct)
  • Where does the narrator decide to go following Olivia's footsteps?

  • Ashram
  • London
  • Palace
  • Mountains (correct)
  • Why did the narrator refuse the offer of an abortion?

    <p>She wanted to keep the child</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What led to Olivia fleeing to the palace instead of returning to Douglas?

    <p>Induced miscarriage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did the Nawam eventually leave Olivia behind to spend time?

    <p>London with Harry</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What made the narrator choose to stay in India?

    <p>Following in Olivia's footsteps</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the British doctor know about Olivia's miscarriage?

    <p>It was natural</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who eloped and was never seen again in the story?

    <p>Olivia and Nawam</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which film production company produced the film adaptation of 'Heat and Dust'?

    <p>Merchant Ivory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What prestigious award did the novel 'Heat and Dust' by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala win in 1975?

    <p>Man Booker Prize</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what era and setting does the part of the story set in the 1920s take place?

    <p>British Raj in India</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was Olivia's husband in the 1920s timeline of the novel 'Heat and Dust'?

    <p>Douglas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant change does Olivia make after moving to India with her husband?

    <p>Eloping with the Nawab</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does the narrator travel to India in the modern-day setting of the novel 'Heat and Dust'?

    <p>To learn more about Olivia, her grandfather's first wife</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which city does the narrator first arrive in India in the 1970s setting of 'Heat and Dust'?

    <p>Bombay</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the occupation of the woman who talks to the narrator about India's 'downfall' while staying at a hostel?

    <p>Long-term traveler</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the outcome when the narrator visits Olivia's old house in Satipur?

    <p>'Dead end' - it is a government building now</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What popular literary award did Ruth Prawer Jhabvala win for her novel 'Heat and Dust'?

    <p>Man Booker Prize</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who does Olivia meet at the Nawab's palace and bond with over their dislike of British officials?

    <p>Harry</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the mentally ill woman the Nawab is married to?

    <p>Sandy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What method is used to try and exorcise Ritu when her condition worsens?

    <p>Poking her with a hot iron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What leads Chid to suddenly reject his holy lifestyle and despise everything to do with India?

    <p>His doctor's diagnosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What annoys the British officials and their wives about the Nawab?

    <p>His involvement in criminal activity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what location does Olivia start an affair with Inder Dal?

    <p>Baba Firdau</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who does Olivia want to start a family with?

    <p>The Nawab</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do the people of Satipur think of Chid before his true nature is revealed?

    <p>He is a spiritual guru on a holy journey</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes Ritu's condition to worsen and leads to the attempt of exorcism?

    <p>The screaming during sleep and subsequent lockdown</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What surprises Olivia about Sandy, the Nawab's wife?

    <p>Sandy's mental illness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Plot Summary of Heat and Dust

    • The novel won the Booker Prize in 1975 and takes place within two separate timelines, the 1920s during the British Raj and the 1970s.
    • In the 1920s, Olivia moves to India with her husband, Douglas, but feels stifled by the strict British society.
    • In the 1970s, an unnamed narrator journeys to India to learn more about Olivia, her grandfather's first wife.

    Olivia's Story

    • Olivia elopes with the Nawab, the local prince, after being captivated by the pomp and splendor of the palace.
    • She meets Harry, a close friend of the Nawab's, and they bond over their dislike of the British officials.
    • Olivia becomes fascinated with the Nawab, who seems interested in her.
    • She continues to see him in secret, aided by Harry, despite Douglas's disapproval.

    The Narrator's Journey

    • The narrator travels to India, following in Olivia's footsteps, and stays in a hostel in Bombay.
    • She meets Inder Lal and his family, including his wife Ritu, who is mentally unstable.
    • The narrator develops a daily routine, dresses in saris, and learns enough Hindi to converse.
    • She becomes friends with Inder Lal and his mother, who teaches her about local customs and traditions.

    Themes and Events

    • The narrator becomes acquainted with a man called Chid, who claims to be on a spiritual journey.
    • Ritu's condition worsens, and the family tries to exorcise her, which the narrator disapproves of.
    • Maji, the leader of the local group of matronly widows, suggests a pilgrimage to cure Ritu.
    • Olivia becomes torn between her husband and the Nawab, and eventually becomes pregnant.
    • The narrator refuses an abortion and decides to stay in India, following in Olivia's footsteps.
    • Olivia refuses an abortion as well, and she and the Nawab elope, never to be seen again.

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    Description

    Explore the plot of the Booker Prize-winning novel 'Heat and Dust' by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, which alternates between the 1920s British Raj era and the 1970s. Follow the stories of Olivia and an unnamed narrator as they navigate through different timelines in India.

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