Swimming Lessons by Rohinton Mistry
1. Based upon the first story, "Auspicious Occasion," describe in detail the FirozshaBaag apartment complex and its inhabitants. What are the apartments like? How do the tenants interact?
2. In what ways are Mehroo and her husband, Rustomji, different from one another? Cite examples that show these differences and explore their personality traits.
3. Explain why, in the story "One Sunday," Kersi becomes so upset at the thought of using his cricket bat to commit violence on a person? Visit other parts of the story that involve the use of the bat to explain your answer.
4. In "The Ghost of FirozshaBaag," examine the relationship between the ayah and the bai. Relate their relationship to the social caste system in India.
5. Explain the ways in which Daulat, from "Condolence Visit," begins to move away from the traditional ways of dealing with death. Examine what makes her methods of dealing with the loss of her husband difficult to deal with, for both herself and others.
6. Considering the character, Naramjai in the story, "Condolence Visit," explain what her motives are for interfering with Daulat's grieving period.
7. By the end of "The Collectors," Dr. Mody's stamps lay in a trunk under Jehangir's bed, being eaten and destroyed by cockroaches and vermin. What does the trunk full of worthless stamps symbolize? Why does Jehangir feel a sense of relief at the discovery of the stamps' demise?
8. What theme does the story, "The Collectors," revolve around? Explain using quotes from the story to back up your theory.
9. What is the general tone of the story, "Of White Hairs and Cricket?" How does the author convey this tone and why?
10. In the story "Of White Hairs and Cricket", the character, Kersi, has difficulty showing some of his emotions. What lesson is there to be learned by the reader by the end of the story? What does the author attempt to convey through Kersi's character?
11. In "The Paying Guests," how does Khorshedbai prove that "...no one will peck me to pieces?" Why does she use this metaphor to explain her anguished response to being pushed around?
12.Compare and contrast the two couples from "The Paying Guest." Delve into their personalities and main characteristics.
13. How is "Squatter" considered to be a story-within-a-story? What are the elements of this story that belie its complexities?
14. What more is learned about Nariman in the story, "Squatter?" Is Nariman as popular in FirozshaBaag as Dr. Mody once was? Why?
15. In the story, "Lend Me Your Light," Kersi wonders, "What would it take to light the lantern in (Jamshed's)...soul?" Explain the meaning of his musing.
16. What does the murder of Navjeet symbolize to Percy, Kersi and Jamshed, respectively?
17. Write a summation of Jehangir's relationship with his mother and hers with him. Is Behroze correct about the "apron strings" showing on Jehangir? Explain.
18. What is Jehangir's interest in the exercisers on the nighttime playground? How does he relate this voyeurism to his youth?
19. Within the story, "Swimming Lessons," Father tells Mother not to confuse fact with fiction or vice versa. What is his point? How does madness become a result of this?
20. Throughout the book, the author has characters which overlap in the stories. What is the main theme that is embedded within all of the stories? Does the main theme encourage the reader to care about the characters in the FirozshaBaag?