Anju
has a higher social status than her "sister" Sudha, loves books, known for speaking her mind and being stubborn, daughter of Gouri Ma and Bijoy , marries Sunil
Sudha
has a lower social status than her "sister" Anjy, is a storyteller and dreamer, is beautiful, loves Ashok, marries Ramesh, daughter on Singhji (Gopal) and Nalini
Gouri Ma
Anju's mother, runs the family bookstore until she has a heart attack
Nalini
Sudha's mother, is very strict with the children
Aunt Pishi
a widow, she joined her brother's (Bijoy) house and helps take care of Anju and Sudha, likes to tell the girls stories
Ramur Ma
a servant and chaperon to Anju and Sudha
Singhji
the chauffeur with a scarred face, ends up being Sudha's father and Nalini's husband
Gopal
Sudha's father and Nalini's husband, convinces Bijoy to go on a gem hunt that ends up costing Bijoy his life, same person as Singhji
Bijoy
Anju's father, Gouri's husband, and Pishi's brother, welcomes Gopal into the family
Ashok
meets Sudha at the movies, proposes to her many times but is rejected because of his lower social class
Sunil
Anju's husband, a computer scientist from the USA, loves both Anju and Sudha,
Ramesh
Sudha's husband, has a job building railroads and bridges
Aunt Tarini
Aunt-in-law to Sudha, always tries to one up Sudha's mother-in-law
Deepa
Aunt Tarini's daughter-in-law who is pregnant
Preem
Anju's baby who died before it was born
Dayita
Sudha's baby, caused Sudha to leave her husband because her mother-in-law wanted Sudha to have an abortion because she was a girl
setting
the particular place and time at which a story takes place
ex. Calcutta, India
flashback
when an author interrupts the plot to flash backward and tell what happened at an earlier
time
ex. when Pishi tells Sudha about the fathers
symbol
represents a bigger idea, significance
ex. the Ruby for bad luck or death
point of view
the perspective from which the author tells the story
ex. First Person (Sister of my Heart)
protagonist
the main character (hero or heroine) in a work of literature, deeply involved in the central conflict
ex. Sudha and Anju
antagonist
the person or force that opposes, struggles against, or competes with the protagonist
ex. Sudha's mother in law
major character
play a large role in the central conflict
ex. the Mothers
minor character
Re-emphasizes a theme/adds to the central conflict
ex. Aunt Tarini
dynamic character
any character who changes greatly over the course of a story
ex. Sudha
static character
undergoes almost no noticeable personality changes throughout a story
ex. Ashok
foreshadowing
the use of clues or hints to suggest events that will occur later in the plot; presenting an indication or a suggestion of something beforehand
ex. When Singhji gives the packet of money to Sudha with a note signed "-your father
conflict
takes place within a character's own mind; a struggle between one's own opposing needs, desires, or emotion
1) Person vs. themselves: ex. Sudha debates marrying Ashok
a character's struggle against some outside force; the force might be another character,
theme
a message about life, society, or human nature
ex. Tradition
bildungsroman
coming of age; a story in which the protagonist undergoes growth throughout the entire narrative, generally starting off by being removed or chased from their home. Their growth is often impeded by opposition of their desires by other characters.
exposition
when background information is presented
ex. when Sudha and Anju are talking to Pishi about the monster who eats the sweets
initial incident
the first hint of conflict (where the story will go)
ex. When Pishi tells Sudha about the fathers
rising action
the conflict is heightened and identified
ex. After the movies, when we find Sudha is getting an arranged marriage
conflict
most exciting part of the story
ex. the events following up to the wedding/after the wedding
falling action
the events that happen due to the conflict
ex. Sudha and her abortion/Anju and her miscarriage
resolution
conflict is over, and the character has changed
ex. When Sudha and Dayit come to the United States
Why is the setting important to the plot?
The setting is important to the plot because the story is set in India, where the girls have much less freedoms and the traditions are different than in America.
How is Foreshadowing used in this story regarding Singhji?
Foreshadowing is used in this story regarding Singhji because the major conflict revolves on Singhji and his secret. Foreshadowing is used to predict his secret.
1. This novel is titled Sister of My Heart. How does that title relate to the overall plot of the novel? Be sure to discuss who is narrating at each of the three times that the title is mentioned in the novel.
The title Sister of My Heart relates to the overall plot of the novel because the story is all about two "sisters", Anju and Sudha. Every time the title is mentioned in the story (3 times) Anju is our narrator and she is talking about Sudha. The first tim
2. Explain how Sister of My Heart is a novel of bildungsroman. Be sure to define the term and give specific examples from the novel.
This novel is a bildungsroman novel because this novel follow Sudha and Anju from age 8 to their marriage. So naturally it is a coming of age novel. Important events in the story that show this would be the girls' thirtheenth birthday [because they are vi
3. This is a novel where many characters are keeping secrets. Choose one person (besides Singhji) who is keeping a secret and discuss the consequences of keeping that secret and its implications for the person from whom the secret is kept.
Sudha is keeping a secret from Anju. That secret is what happened to their fathers on the Ruby Mission. The consequences of Sudha keeping this secret is that she sacrifices things in her life [like marrying Ashok, the first time he asks, because it would
4. Evaluate the ending to the story. Pick one of the following questions and answer it, giving examples from the novel.
� Did you find it believable? Why or why not?
� Did you feel like all of the conflicts were resolved? Why or why not?
� Did you like th
I liked the ending because most of the issues that were causing me anxiety were resolved. I also liked the fact that Sudha and Anju were together again, despite the fact that Anju was severely ill. The ending sparks curiosity in my mind about the sequel,
Anju
has a higher social status than her "sister" Sudha, loves books, known for speaking her mind and being stubborn, daughter of Gouri Ma and Bijoy , marries Sunil
Sudha
has a lower social status than her "sister" Anjy, is a storyteller and dreamer, is beautiful, loves Ashok, marries Ramesh, daughter on Singhji (Gopal) and Nalini
Gouri Ma
Anju's mother, runs the family bookstore until she has a heart attack
Nalini
Sudha's mother, is very strict with the children
Aunt Pishi
a widow, she joined her brother's (Bijoy) house and helps take care of Anju and Sudha, likes to tell the girls stories
Ramur Ma
a servant and chaperon to Anju and Sudha
Singhji
the chauffeur with a scarred face, ends up being Sudha's father and Nalini's husband
Gopal
Sudha's father and Nalini's husband, convinces Bijoy to go on a gem hunt that ends up costing Bijoy his life, same person as Singhji
Bijoy
Anju's father, Gouri's husband, and Pishi's brother, welcomes Gopal into the family
Ashok
meets Sudha at the movies, proposes to her many times but is rejected because of his lower social class
Sunil
Anju's husband, a computer scientist from the USA, loves both Anju and Sudha,
Ramesh
Sudha's husband, has a job building railroads and bridges
Aunt Tarini
Aunt-in-law to Sudha, always tries to one up Sudha's mother-in-law
Deepa
Aunt Tarini's daughter-in-law who is pregnant
Preem
Anju's baby who died before it was born
Dayita
Sudha's baby, caused Sudha to leave her husband because her mother-in-law wanted Sudha to have an abortion because she was a girl
setting
the particular place and time at which a story takes place
ex. Calcutta, India
flashback
when an author interrupts the plot to flash backward and tell what happened at an earlier
time
ex. when Pishi tells Sudha about the fathers
symbol
represents a bigger idea, significance
ex. the Ruby for bad luck or death
point of view
the perspective from which the author tells the story
ex. First Person (Sister of my Heart)
protagonist
the main character (hero or heroine) in a work of literature, deeply involved in the central conflict
ex. Sudha and Anju
antagonist
the person or force that opposes, struggles against, or competes with the protagonist
ex. Sudha's mother in law
major character
play a large role in the central conflict
ex. the Mothers
minor character
Re-emphasizes a theme/adds to the central conflict
ex. Aunt Tarini
dynamic character
any character who changes greatly over the course of a story
ex. Sudha
static character
undergoes almost no noticeable personality changes throughout a story
ex. Ashok
foreshadowing
the use of clues or hints to suggest events that will occur later in the plot; presenting an indication or a suggestion of something beforehand
ex. When Singhji gives the packet of money to Sudha with a note signed "-your father
conflict
takes place within a character's own mind; a struggle between one's own opposing needs, desires, or emotion
1) Person vs. themselves: ex. Sudha debates marrying Ashok
a character's struggle against some outside force; the force might be another character,
theme
a message about life, society, or human nature
ex. Tradition
bildungsroman
coming of age; a story in which the protagonist undergoes growth throughout the entire narrative, generally starting off by being removed or chased from their home. Their growth is often impeded by opposition of their desires by other characters.
exposition
when background information is presented
ex. when Sudha and Anju are talking to Pishi about the monster who eats the sweets
initial incident
the first hint of conflict (where the story will go)
ex. When Pishi tells Sudha about the fathers
rising action
the conflict is heightened and identified
ex. After the movies, when we find Sudha is getting an arranged marriage
conflict
most exciting part of the story
ex. the events following up to the wedding/after the wedding
falling action
the events that happen due to the conflict
ex. Sudha and her abortion/Anju and her miscarriage
resolution
conflict is over, and the character has changed
ex. When Sudha and Dayit come to the United States
Why is the setting important to the plot?
The setting is important to the plot because the story is set in India, where the girls have much less freedoms and the traditions are different than in America.
How is Foreshadowing used in this story regarding Singhji?
Foreshadowing is used in this story regarding Singhji because the major conflict revolves on Singhji and his secret. Foreshadowing is used to predict his secret.
1. This novel is titled Sister of My Heart. How does that title relate to the overall plot of the novel? Be sure to discuss who is narrating at each of the three times that the title is mentioned in the novel.
The title Sister of My Heart relates to the overall plot of the novel because the story is all about two "sisters", Anju and Sudha. Every time the title is mentioned in the story (3 times) Anju is our narrator and she is talking about Sudha. The first tim
2. Explain how Sister of My Heart is a novel of bildungsroman. Be sure to define the term and give specific examples from the novel.
This novel is a bildungsroman novel because this novel follow Sudha and Anju from age 8 to their marriage. So naturally it is a coming of age novel. Important events in the story that show this would be the girls' thirtheenth birthday [because they are vi
3. This is a novel where many characters are keeping secrets. Choose one person (besides Singhji) who is keeping a secret and discuss the consequences of keeping that secret and its implications for the person from whom the secret is kept.
Sudha is keeping a secret from Anju. That secret is what happened to their fathers on the Ruby Mission. The consequences of Sudha keeping this secret is that she sacrifices things in her life [like marrying Ashok, the first time he asks, because it would
4. Evaluate the ending to the story. Pick one of the following questions and answer it, giving examples from the novel.
� Did you find it believable? Why or why not?
� Did you feel like all of the conflicts were resolved? Why or why not?
� Did you like th
I liked the ending because most of the issues that were causing me anxiety were resolved. I also liked the fact that Sudha and Anju were together again, despite the fact that Anju was severely ill. The ending sparks curiosity in my mind about the sequel,