Author and context
Where was Mohsin Hamid born?
Lahore, Pakistan
In which city does the entire novel take place?
Lahore
What is the literary term for a story within a story?
Frame narrative
What is the name of the American whom Changez speaks to throughout the novel?
Never revealed
Which U.S. university did Hamid attend?
Princeton University
What U.S. city does Changez live in during his job at Underwood Samson?
New York City
A ______ where one person speaks and the other is silent?
Dramatic monologue
What is the name of Erica’s deceased boyfriend?
Chris
What major global event influences the novel’s tension?
9/11
What does Princeton represent in Changez’s life?
Opportunity, elite status, admiration of America
Who is Changez speaking to throughout the novel?
An unnamed American
What object or detail makes Changez suspect the American might be carrying a weapon?
shoulder holster
Name one other novel by Hamid besides The Reluctant Fundamentalist.
Exit West or Moth Smoke
Which setting gives Changez the most narrative power?
The café in Lahore
What effect does this structure have on the reader?
Creates tension, mystery, and involvement
What body part does Changez compare himself to?(think at his time in Princeton)
Breasts
What real-world issue does Changez’s beard symbolize?
Post-9/11 Islamophobia / racial profiling
Why is setting important to understanding Changez’s identity conflict?
Each setting reflects a different stage of his identity and how he sees himself
What effect does the american never speaking have?
Gives Changez control, creates suspense and places the reader in the americans positions
In which two situations does Changez nearly get into a physical altercation in the novel?
Once in the Philippines with a local man staring at him, and once in New York when someone insults him after 9/11