The Reluctant Fundamentalist thread

[Penguuu]

My predictions are the American or identity or nostalgia.

[speedy]

My predictions are the American or identity or nostalgia.

Do you think there will be a structural question?

[walkec]

Possible ideas for topics

• one about Jim/Wainwright/Juan
• identity
  • a structural one - maybe to do with how Hamid creates divisions between people or his ambiguity in writing?
  • something along the lines of 'Erica and Changez's relationship is the most important plot in the novel. Do you agree?'
  something about what is the most crucial moments in the text'

[Penguuu]

Possible ideas for topics

• one about Jim/Wainwright/Juan
• identity
  • a structural one - maybe to do with how Hamid creates divisions between people or his ambiguity in writing?
  • something along the lines of 'Erica and Changez's relationship is the most important plot in the novel. Do you agree?'
  something about what is the most crucial moments in the text'

HM i like that structure one. Seeing as though it's the last year, and identity is such a big theme which hasn't been done before, i really think its going to be there. (Hopefully!)

[walkec]

HM i like that structure one. Seeing as though it's the last year, and identity is such a big theme which hasn't been done before, i really think its going to be there. (Hopefully!)

I thought identity had been done before??

[speedy]

I thought identity had been done before??

You could include identity in a response to both of these:

         

ii. Why does Changez feel out of place in both America and Pakistan?

         

i. ‘The personal and political are deeply intertwined.’ Is this true of Changez?

But they don't solely revolve around identity.

Btw have you guys been doing VCAA prompts? Is it a good idea? Like obviously you wouldn't expect something the same but...


I wanted to discuss Lauren's prompt from her second exam:

i.Changez’s disillusionment was more a problem with his unrealistic expectations than a flawed American society. Discuss.

Disillusionment: There are a few stages/forms of Changez's disillusionment in my mind.
First on a more superficial level - this being his disillusionment with the American people, which is evident in Greece where he labels his companions "devoid of refinement" and also throughout when he references general American attitudes. Likewise, his disillusionment with the grandeur of Princeton's buildings.
Next, his major disillusionment with America's actions in the world, and his true feelings toward the nation in a political sense being revealed during 9/11 and following this when deep anger and fury is evoked due to their invasion of Afghanistan and tactical un-involvement with the India/Pakistan conflict. That being said, he was clearly quite resentful of America before it comes to the forefront of his story, due to his reaction to 9/11. Following this is his anger at Pakistan's weakness; however he had already fully realised their declining position in the world.
Lastly, you could argue that he is disenchanted with the reality of his situation with Erica, due to his initial perceived perfection of their life/future together falling through... but ehh, I wouldn't really argue this.

Now unrealistic expectations:
I would suggest that the first one is equally his unrealistic expectations as a flawed American society.
Second one would be entirely a flawed American society.

And now I'm halted... not sure where to go from here... Any input? Also sorry if this is incoherent, it was just a quick brainstorm

[walkec]

Btw have you guys been doing VCAA prompts? Is it a good idea? Like obviously you wouldn't expect something the same but...

I am planning to save VCAA topics for the weekend. However, after Friday, I do not plan to write any more full pieces. Mainly because I want to keep my ideas fresh and doing thorough plans over the weekend will allow me to expose myself to more topics than writing full pieces.
I may also practice my opening paragraphs for the more structure based topics because I feel like that is a weakness for me 

[speedy]

I am planning to save VCAA topics for the weekend. However, after Friday, I do not plan to write any more full pieces. Mainly because I want to keep my ideas fresh and doing thorough plans over the weekend will allow me to expose myself to more topics than writing full pieces.
I may also practice my opening paragraphs for the more structure based topics because I feel like that is a weakness for me 

Alright. What is your reason for doing them though? I would have thought it may be a waste of time since they won't come up again? Is it because they have complex intricacies you don't find in other prompts? Oh wait, you're not actually going to write full essays on them?

But yeah I definitely need to practice planning too! And I haven't looked at any structural ones Better start!

[walkec]

Alright. What is your reason for doing them though? I would have thought it may be a waste of time since they won't come up again? Is it because they have complex intricacies you don't find in other prompts? Oh wait, you're not actually going to write full essays on them?

But yeah I definitely need to practice planning too! And I haven't looked at any structural ones Better start!

The majority of topics I have been writing on for exam prep have been structural. This is because my last English SAC was on TRF and any pieces I did were all on theme ones, so I thought I should balance it out a bit. I just finished writing an identity/theme based on now

[speedy]

Need some help interpreting this quote, really doesn't make sense to me:

"I wondered what manner of host would sally forth from so grand a castle" [pg. 90]

The majority of topics I have been writing on for exam prep have been structural. This is because my last English SAC was on TRF and any pieces I did were all on theme ones, so I thought I should balance it out a bit. I just finished writing an identity/theme based on now

Also HMU if you would like to compare essays, I did one on identity the other day which my teacher thought was A⁺ standard

[walkec]

Need some help interpreting this quote, really doesn't make sense to me:

"I wondered what manner of host would sally forth from so grand a castle" [pg. 90]

Also HMU if you would like to compare essays, I did one on identity the other day which my teacher thought was A⁺ standard

I would but I have handwritten all my responses. I only have one scanned one because my teacher emailed it back to me yesterday with feedback

[Penguuu]

I was thinking about prompts, has there been anything on fundamentalism?

[speedy]

I was thinking about prompts, has there been anything on fundamentalism?

Here are all the VCAA prompts:

2013
i. ‘The personal and political are deeply intertwined.’
Is this true of Changez?
OR
ii. To what extent does Changez’s relationship with Erica affect him and his later choices?
2012
i. ‘Changez is gradually revealed as an unreliable narrator.’
Discuss.
OR
ii. Why does Changez feel out of place in both America and Pakistan?
2011
i. Is Changez ‘reluctant’ as the title suggests?
OR
ii. ‘Hamid’s use of an extended monologue makes this story engaging but leaves the reader with many unanswered questions.’
Discuss.


So nothing really on fundamentalism, 2011 i) could be swung to talk about it though.

[walkec]

Here are all the VCAA prompts:

2013
i. ‘The personal and political are deeply intertwined.’
Is this true of Changez?
OR
ii. To what extent does Changez’s relationship with Erica affect him and his later choices?
2012
i. ‘Changez is gradually revealed as an unreliable narrator.’
Discuss.
OR
ii. Why does Changez feel out of place in both America and Pakistan?
2011
i. Is Changez ‘reluctant’ as the title suggests?
OR
ii. ‘Hamid’s use of an extended monologue makes this story engaging but leaves the reader with many unanswered questions.’
Discuss.


So nothing really on fundamentalism, 2011 i) could be swung to talk about it though.

Yeah I tend to think that topic i from 2011 is directing you to discuss fundamentalism and how Changez does embrace some but refuses to adopt others.

Just re reading bits of the text. On page 146, Changez's mother touches his stubble and says "it makes you look like a mouse". I was just wondering if you had an opinion on this quote? It seems pretty unusual to say.

Like this might be a bit of a stretch but mice are generally trapped and killed. So maybe she is alluding to the danger that still having a beard to symbolise his Pakistani heritage could have upon his return in wake of the tensions that were present between America and Pakistan/India at the time? What do you think?

[speedy]

Yeah I tend to think that topic i from 2011 is directing you to discuss fundamentalism and how Changez does embrace some but refuses to adopt others.

Just re reading bits of the text. On page 146, Changez's mother touches his stubble and says "it makes you look like a mouse". I was just wondering if you had an opinion on this quote? It seems pretty unusual to say.

Like this might be a bit of a stretch but mice are generally trapped and killed. So maybe she is alluding to the danger that still having a beard to symbolise his Pakistani heritage could have upon his return in wake of the tensions that were present between America and Pakistan/India at the time? What do you think?

I definitely agree with your interpretation. The idea of a mouse symbolises weakness (prey). Thus retaining his beard is putting him out in the firing line to face the wrath of America. Good pick up!

Interestingly, Hamid actually draws the connection with mice and prey earlier on, where Changez torments the American by saying "And you—to jump as though you were a mouse suddenly under the shadow of a hawk!".