ESL 098The Namesake

The Namesake #2: pp. 97 - 187Jhumpa Lahiri

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 5: 1986

  1. What has Gogol decided to do in spite of his parents’ disapproval? ______
  2. On p. 100, “…his father wanted to know, lifting his fingers from his plate…” shows what about Ashoke?______
  3. Ashoke doesn’t agree with Gogol’s decision, but how does he end the conversation?______
  4. What are the four employment areas that Gogol is expected to pursue at college?______
  5. Gogol and Nikhil treat people, especially his family, in the same manner.TRUEFALSE
  6. Sonia seems to be giving her parents less trouble than Gogol did in high school.TRUEFALSE
  7. What is different about the way Gogol and Ashima think of ‘home’?______
  8. Who does Gogol meet on the train? Describe their relationship.______
  9. Ashima and Ashoke have never met Ruth, but Sonia has.TRUEFALSE
  10. What’s an ABCD? ______
  11. “He pities his parents when they speak to him this way, for having no experience of being young and in love.” What does this line show about Gogol’s understanding of his parents’ relationship? ______
  12. What happens after Ruth returns from Oxford?______
  13. What slows down Gogol’s train on the way back home for Thanksgiving? ______
  14. In the car, sitting in the driveway of Pemberton Road, what does Ashoke finally tell Gogol about? ______
  15. At first, Gogol is worried that Ashoke might associate his trauma with Gogol’s name, but what does his father say to him that shows this is not the case? (7 words) ______

Chapter 6: 1994

  1. Where is Gogol living and what kind of job does he have?______
  2. Gogol goes to a party at the invitation of a friend. Whom does he meet?With whom does she live? ______
  3. Describe the Ratliffs.How do they treat Gogol? ______
  4. Gogol seems to prefer Maxine’s life to his own.TRUEFALSE
  5. Why does Ashima ask Gogol to come home?______
  6. Maxine is awkward with Ashima and Ashoke.TRUEFALSE
  7. Ashima has been preparing food for their lunch for a few days. What does this show about Ashima?______
  8. How does Gogol feel about Ashima’s effort?______
  9. Ashima asks Gogol to call upon arrival, which Gogol does not intend to do. TRUEFALSE
  10. Why does Gogol feel free, the night of his birthday? ______

Chapter 7

  1. Ashima enjoys the solitude of living alone on Pemberton Road while Ashoke is in Ohio?TRUEFALSE
  2. In how many houses has Ashima lived in her life?______
  3. What happens to Ashoke in Cleveland?______
  4. Why does Gogol go to Ohio?______
  5. Gogol has to rent a moving van to bring Ashoke’s belongings back.TRUEFALSE
  6. What is the custom for a Bengali son when a parent dies? Does Gogol do this?______
  7. Gogol can’t wait to get back to New York and his life with MaxineTRUEFALSE
  8. (10 point question!!!!) On p. 187, after Gogol and Ashoke hadwalked as far as they could at the ocean, Ashoke says to Gogol, “Remember that you and I made this journey, that we went together to a place where there was nowhere left to go.” What does this mean in Gogol’s life?______