The Village By The Sea - Elements of the novel
SETTING – the time and location in which the story takes place
20th century rural India - a village called Thul and the major commercial city Bombay (Mumbai)
CHARACTERS – the story will include a few or many characters, each with a different role or purpose.
Regardless, almost always, there will be a protagonist and an antagonist.
Central characters – Hari, Leela, Bela, Kamal, mother, father, Mr. Panwallah, Jagu, the De Silvas, Sayiid
Ali, Hira Lal, Biju, Meena, Hari’s friends, Hira Lal, other villagers and people Hari meets on his journey to
Bombay and in Bombay
Protagonist – the main character – Hari / Lila
Antagonist – circumstances in which they live – poverty, scarcity and lack of education
PLOT – the sequence of events that connect the audience to the protagonist and their ultimate goal
In the face of dire family circumstances, Hari, one of the protagonists of the story, aims to earn a living
for his family by moving to Bombay, while his older sister keeps the family fires burning at home.
CONFLICT – this is what drives the story. It’s what creates tension and builds suspense, which are the
elements that make a story interesting.
Living in abject poverty, the siblings, Hari and Lila, try desperately to make ends meet by various means,
since they get no support from an alcoholic father and sick and bed ridden mother. With no help from
any friends or family, and growing problems in the home front, Hari runs away to Bombay…….
THEME – the theme is what the story is about. It is the main idea or underlying meaning. Often, it is
the storyteller’s personal opinion on the subject matter. A story may have a major theme and minor
theme.
Major themes
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Poverty and scarcity
Lack of education
Lost childhood
Alcoholism
Industrialization – threat to the natural environment
Ignorance
Change and adaption
Illness and lack of proper infrastructure (healthcare)
Kindness and compassion shown by others / strangers -
Minor themes
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Social class distinction
Marriage in India
Gender roles in the city and rural areas
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Religion
Customs and rituals in India
Domestic violence
Natural disasters
NARRATIVE ARC – a strong story plot has a narrative arc that has four required elements of its
own.
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Setup – The world in which the protagonist/s exists prior to the journey. The set up
usually ends with the conflict being revealed.
The poverty stricken home front / the struggle for survival with hardly any solution in sight
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Rising tension – The series of obstacles the protagonist must overcome.
Abject poverty, mother’s debilitating illness, father’s chronic alcoholism, problems from his
father’s drunken associates, not having any employment opportunities in Thul
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Climax – the point of highest tension, and the major decisive turning point for the
protagonist.
Hari runs away to Bombay when he learns that their dog has been poisoned by the Khanekar
brother due to their father’s rising debts and irresponsibility
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Resolution – this is where the protagonist finally overcomes the conflict, learns to accept
it, or is ultimately defeated by it.
Hari returns to Thul, more mature, wise and also with sufficient savings to invest in some venture
that will support his family
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The Village by the Sea – questions from chapter 10 – 13
deprived of an education - a deprivation
Write brief answers
Chapter 10
1. Why had Mr. Panwallah brought Hari to the Worli seaface? How did Hari enjoy himself that evening?
Vendors –
Kiosks 2. In what ways did the heavy rain in Bombay make life miserable for Hari?
3. Why did Jagu take Hari to where he lived? What type of a house was it?
4. Although Hari found Jagu’s wife to be sharp tongued, he felt he was able to identify with her. How
and why?
Chronic alcoholic – Hari’s father
Poverty 5. What happens in the village of Thul as a result of the terrible storm?
6. Why were the fishermen compelled to go to sea despite Biju’s warnings? Which theme of the novel
does this illustrate?
7. How does Biju’s reputation in the village change after the storm?
Chapter 11
The most important conversation happens here
Hari took a bold and courageous step in leaving Thul and coming to Bombay because he was able to
become independent, earn money, meet new people.
The most important word in this chapter is
CHANGE.
Adapt to CHANGE
…..you have to be willing to LEARN – to CHANGE - to GROW (becoming mature, developing
your character, your perception of the world) – fatherly advice
Optimistic(ADJ) person – optimist (Common N) - optimism (abstract N)
Pessimistic person - pessimist (Common N) - pessimism (Abstract N)
Mr. P changes Hari’s mind to think innovatively. He’s teaching Hari to think out of the box – how to
look at the bright side.
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Metaphorically speaking it’s as if Mr P is shining a torch into a dark room –he is teaching Hari to
explore opportunities he never noticed / look at the bigger picture.
Mr. P has planted the seed of interest in Hari / gives him
HOPE (optimism)
Mr. P – biggest change agent / catalyst / mentor / advisor / teacher / trainer
Mr P has instilled in Hari an interest to learn…
Mr. Panwallah has started the process of changing Hari’s mindset. (attitudes, your perceptions, how
you view the world around you)
Mr. P is teaching Hari to be optimistic. – to look at the bright side.
Hidden opportunities as a result of the factory complex.
Hari is ready to face the future with a lot of courage and determination.
1. Give examples from the text to show the optimistic nature of Mr. Panwallah
2. How does Mr. Panwallah inspire Hari to look at the positive side of the factory complex?
4. “You are young. You can change and learn and grow…” Discuss this statement in relation to Hari’s
progress in life.
5. “The wheel turns and turns and turns. It never stops and stands still.” What does Mr. Panwallah mean
by this?
6. Why didn’t Jagu mind Hari spending less time at the eating house?
7. Describe the coconut festival. What changes did Mr. Panwallah notice in Hari that day?
When Hari first came to Bombay he was timid, confused, frightened and lacked
self confidence. He was overwhelmed by what he felt, saw and heard in Bombay.
Hari transforms into a different person >>>> He has become very self-assured
and confident and independent.
Chronic alcoholic – incurable alcoholic
Chapter 12 – Hari returns home!
Notice the descriptive language and techniques.
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1. Copy lines from the novel to illustrate that Hari’s departure from Bombay was an emotional one. How
long had he been in Bombay?
2. What signs of industrialization did Hari notice on his way
home?
3. Hari sees the sea in Bombay and in Thul differently. Why?
4. What signs were there to indicate that industrialization was beginning in the areas between Rewas and
Alibagh?
Their house was in a dilapidated
5. What was Hari’s homecoming like?
6. Give an example from the text to illustrate the happiness that the children in this family are enjoying
for the first time in many years
The feelings of despair and hopelessness have vanished after Hari
came home.
Hope springs eternal in the human heart.
Lila and Hari are STILL playing the role of the mother and father. They are
deprived of a childhood. Theme – lost childhood.
7. What does the brilliant evening star symbolize? – symbol of hope
and happiness
It is a symbol of hope / there is light at the end of the tunnel / that
their dark days are coming to an end / that they are going to have a
better life.
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What is the most valuable experience Hari gained while in Bombay? How is that going to be useful for
Hari when he returns home?
4. How does the writer paint a picture of hope and happiness in the little family that lives beside the sea?
5. Who had helped Lila and her sisters while Hari was away in Bombay?
At the beginning of the novel – sad / gloomy/ dismal/ despair /fear /worry / anxiety / unhappy
Chapter 12 – almost the end of the novel – happy / hopeful of a new life /joyful / positive / confident /
cheerful
Is Hari and Lila aware that they are deprived of their childhood and a
basic education?
Survial mode
Chapter 13 – the family re-unites!
1. Give an example from this chapter that shows that money had given Hari confidence and pride about
himself.
2. For how long had Hari’s mother been in the hospital? 7 months
3. Why did the children’s father start crying when the mother was brought home?
For the first time the father feels remorse for failing as a father. He regrets his past actions.
It is as if the little dog had to pay with his life for the sins committed by the father.
4. Write a few sentences about how the family celebrates Diwali.
5. Give examples from the story to show how Lila has taken on the role of the mother.
6. In what way are Mr. Panwallah and Sayyid Ali similar?
ADAPT – we have to adapt to survive in an uncertain future
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We have to change to face an ever changing world.
7. The location / setting in which the story begins and ends is
the same. However, there are some significant differences.
What are they and what does that signify?
Closely examine how Hari’s life changes as he moves from Thul
to Bombay.
Thul
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Bombay
Introductory para- Introduction – to convey the background of
the story to the reader of your answer
First – he meets a lot of people –
Second – he finds work – the eating house and the Dingdong
watch works – training, money, confidence,
Third – his personality changes - he learns the ability to think
differently, to think with confidence,
Conclusion
 People - the bullock cart driver, beggar, coconut seller, ice
cream seller, the butler, Hira Lal, Jagu, the policeman, the
old gentleman, Mr. Panwallah
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 Environment – the sights, the sounds, the smells, the large
numbers of people – he appreciates his own village even
more
 Employment – which enabled him to earn money for
himself
The introduction
Hari is one of the main characters in the novel ‘The Village By The Sea’
written by the acclaimed Indian writer Anita Desai. Hari lives with his family
in a small fishing village called Thul in the western coast of India. Since they
are having major financial difficulties at home, Hari decides to come to
Bombay in search of work. This is the very first time that Hari ventures out
of their village and we see that his life changes in many ways during his stay
in Bombay.
 The experiences through the environment in which he
spent his time – survival skills
 Work – employment
 The different nature of people he sees and meets and
how he is positively influenced by them
Conclusion
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Becomes forward / understands how to think for himself
His mind / the way he thinks changes
Perceive life
Conclusion
 The busy roads, buildings, congestion, crowds, pollution,
poverty, slums, smelt
 Work – in the kitchen, learns how to repair watches>> the
opportunity to earn money for himself
 People he meets – the bullock cart driver, beggar, coconut
seller, ice cream seller, the butler, Hira Lal, Jagu, the
policeman, the old gentleman, Mr. Panwallah,
 How his personality changes especially after he meets Mr.
P
 Conclusion
Do not answer the following question. To be answered later.
A. In this world, change and evolution is inevitable. Justify this statement with examples from the
novel.
B. Hope springs eternal in the human heart. Discuss this statement in the light of Hari’s return to
Thul.
C. Lila was not used to being rich, even for a day. Why does the writer say this?
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10 | P a g e
11 | P a g e
12 | P a g e
Goddess Lakshmi
Rangoli of Lights
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Jalebi, soan papdi, gulab jamun etc…
adapt and change
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He is feeling remorse and regret. He feels sorry for
all his past mistakes.
15 | P a g e