Building life in America
In the beginning of Chapter 3, we know that Ashoke gets a job. What does he do?
What is a university professor?
Unlike Gogol, Sonia adapts more easily to American culture and is even described by a guest at her rice ceremony as this.
What is a "true American"?
What is Sonia's 'good name'?
What is Sonali?
What did Ashoke and Ashima decide to be Gogol's 'good name'?
Nikhil
This is Gogol’s reaction when his teacher first tries to call him Nikhil in kindergarten.
What is he refuses to respond and insists he is Gogol?
True/False: Ashima and Ashoke prefer living in the suburbs to living in the city.
What is False?
Ashima often feels isolated because she lacks this in America, which she had easily in India.
What is family and a strong community network?
At her rice ceremony, Sonia refuses to eat the rice and instead does this.
What is "play with dirt from the yard and try to put a dollar bill in her mouth"?
True/False: In kindergarten, Gogol prefers being called by his good name.
True
During a school field trip to this place, Gogol begins thinking more deeply about the meaning of names.
What is a cemetery (graveyard)?
Name a Bengali family that the Gangulis meet in America.
What are the Nandis? (Maya and Dilip Nandi)
The difference between Gogol and Sonia’s reactions to Bengali traditions shows this broader theme of the novel.
What is the tension between assimilation and cultural heritage?
What month is Sonia born in?
What is May?
Gogol’s fear of becoming “Nikhil” comes from this realization. (Hint: Think back to the passage)
What is that the name feels like it belongs to someone he doesn’t know?
Seeing names on gravestones during the field trip makes Gogol realize this about names.
What is that names represent a person’s life and legacy?