World Literature – Summer Reading (Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri)
Due Date
AUGUST 1st, emailed before midnight to your teacher. This is regardless of which term you start
World Lit. We will be going through your essays during the first week of class, but in order to receive
credit you need to have it turned in by AUGUST 1st. Submit your essay to Mr. Weber at
jweber@kenoshatjoseph.com.
Text
Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
*Students are not required to turn in an annotated copy of the text
How to Begin
As you read, write margin notes and mark up your book. Will this be collected? No. Your main
concern is: What is the proper way to assimilate reading and aid understanding? A well
annotated text is a very helpful aid. Relying on memory alone is always a poor strategy.
As you read Namesake, summarize for yourself each chapter before moving on to the next. Seeing as
this novel deals with a culture you may not be familiar with, ask yourself the following for each of the
chapters:
a) What is going on?
b) Do I understand every reference? Have I looked up any foreign language phrases?
c) Can I explain all of the cultural references?
Read with Subject in Mind
As you read look for references in Namesake that relate to the subject of Dissatisfaction. You will
eventually be narrowing down this broad subject to something specific. The more specific you are the
less you will ramble in your essay. In a short essay like this you need to be able to get to the point
quickly. To help you with this you will use quotes from the novel to help you argue for or against the
author.
Write Your Essay
Your essay should reflect on the following questions; think of these questions as 1 prompt:
How do the various characters throughout the story view happiness? Is there a common form
of happiness? What gets in the way of the characters achieving the same or similar
happiness?
________________________________________________________________________________
Here is an example from Shmoop on how to discuss Dissatisfaction in Namesake:
“Happiness is elusive for the characters in The Namesake. Often, the characters' discontent is caused
by the difference between their dreams and the reality they live in. For some, like Ashima, the primary
source of unhappiness is homesickness, as they constantly compare life in the United States to life back
in India. For others, like Gogol, unhappiness stems from not fitting in, about the cultural differences that
set them apart from everybody else. These characters feel isolated, and alienated from both Indian and
mainstream American cultures. These feelings of alienation seep into their relationships with their family
and their lovers and cause all kinds of dissatisfaction” (Shmoop Editorial Team).
Tips and Writing Mechanics
A common error in essays is to simply retell or summarize the storyline. Summarizing is not an essay and
your grade will reflect this. Go beyond summarization and the book report format. Your instructor
knows the story and he assumes you do too. Only bring up key passages as referential points as you
defend or argue against the author’s points made in the novel. Make the essay your own with your
insights and your analysis.
Lastly, type a Titled, 2­3 full­page critical essay critiquing Lahiri’s Namesake in MLA format. This is
not a book report and you do not need to summarize the book. Again, assume that we’ve all read it.
Title the Essay: titles are not afterthoughts. Work with your title. Superb titles usually evidence superb
writing.
For MLA Formatting, the Purdue OWL Website is the most recognized and up to date:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Short excerpts (less than 3 lines) of key passages are to be cited as “..…” (Lahiri 24). Quotes should
neither play a minor nor a major part of your overall essay, but they should be present.
If you have questions, each teacher will periodically check his/her email throughout the summer. If you
are unsure which teacher to send your essay to contact Mr. Weber at jweber@kenoshastjoseph.com.
There will be a test on this text during the first weeks of class.
Your essay should have the following elements:
● Header
● Page numbers
● A purposeful, well­thought out title
● An introduction paragraph that introduces your analysis rather than a summary of the book
● A thesis statement at the end of your introduction
● Several body paragraphs that showcase your interpretation of the prompt
● A conclusion paragraph
● Quotes from the book included in your essay
● A Works Cited page
● Times New Roman, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins