View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Nanda tell Raka the letter said about her mother?

2. Rama Lal tells Raka that a woman turned into what after looking at a churails feet?

3. What does Nanda tell Raka her father had at their home in Part II, Chapter 19?

4. What does Raka sneak out to see at the beginning of Part II, Chapter 10?

5. As the fire burns, Raka goes to the window at night to see if it is any closer to where?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Raka dismayed when Nanda says she will join her on her walk after tea in Part II, Chapter 7?

2. Who does Nanda tell Raka are destroying her quiet little place?

3. How does Raka feel about Carignano as described in Part II, Chapter 18?

4. When they reach Monkey Point, Nanda tells Raka to go up alone. How has Nanda’s mood changed once Raka returned from scaling Monkey Point?

5. How does Nanda respond when, after suggesting to Raka that she go to the club, Raka tells her grandmother that she does not go to the club?

6. In Part II, Chapter 15, what reason does Nanda give Raka for her wanting to move to Carignano to be alone?

7. What does Ram Lal tell Raka about churails in Part II, Chapter 13?

8. What is Raka’s reaction to the wild costume party she sees at the club when she sneaks out in Part II, Chapter 10 and 11? What does it make her think of?

9. What fantastical stories does Nanda tell her about the things her father kept at their home in Kashmir?

10. Even though Nanda prefers solitude, what does she continue to suggest to Raka as described in Part II, Chapter 9?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing Nanda’s relationship like with her daughter Asha. Use direct examples from the text to support your viewpoint.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing the theme of solitude in the novel. What events, characters or symbols does the author use to develop this theme.

Essay Topic 3

Though the majority of the novel is written from Nanda’s perspective, the author employs omniscient narration, showing the reader the thoughts of experience of another character. Write an essay about why Anita Desai may have chosen to do this and whether you think it is effective or not.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 728 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample