Comment on the relationship shared by Mammachi and Pappachi.
How does Mammachi stand out as an independent and resilient woman in the text?
Why does John Ipe consider retirement to be dishonour?
What was the underlying reason for John Ipe’s disgust with the world?
Discuss in pairs
Chacko’s firmness in dealing with the irrational behaviour of his father.
The contrast between the outward elegance of a person and his private behaviour.
Approval from the outside world and approval within the family.
How does the author succeed in raising crucial social issues not through open criticism but through subtle suggestion?
Within a few pages, the author has packed the important events in the lives of John Ipe and his wife. Discuss how conciseness and economy of expression can achieve effective portrayal of entire lives.
Identify instances of ironical comment in the story.
Entomologist and lepidopterist are mentioned in the text and you must have guessed the meanings of these words or found them out from the dictionary.
Now match the kinds of scientists given below with the work they do:
A short report announcing the death of a person in a newspaper is called an ‘obituary’. Where would you find the following
A citation:
An epitaph:
A glossary:
An abstract:
