Leela’s Friend

Quotation Quiz a.‘It looked as though Leela would keep him there pinned to his seat until his stiff, inflexible wrist cracked.’ b.‘”Why should not Sidda sit in our ____________, Mother?’ Mother didn’t answer the question. c.‘”He has taken away your gold chain.’” ‘”___________ __________. I will have a new chain,’ Leela said.” d. ‘”I have not taken it,’ Sidda said feebly, looking at the ____________. “ e. ‘”She clung to Sidda’s hand. He looked at her mutely, like an __________ ‘

The first quotation is a direct comment from R.K. Narayan showing Sidda’s patient devotion to Leela. He endures humiliation and physical discomfort of the school game and allows Leela to boss him about without a word of complaint. Narayan’s characterisation of him here as noble and long suffering makes the later treatment of him appear even more cruel and unfair.

At which moment in the story do you think Narayan brings out the following themes very strongly: Poverty & class divisions Unfairness The cruelty of officials Prejudice Family relationships Choose two other stories that also bring out this theme. Mark them on your comparison chart.

Look at the following extract and try to explain as fully as possible how the language Khan has chosen to use brings out some of the stories central ideas. Use key terms ‘ She shuddered to think what a villain she had been harboring all these days. It was God’s mercy that he hadn’t killed the girl for the chain…’Sleep, Leela, sleep,’ she cajoled. ‘Can’t you tell the story of the elephant?’ Leela asked. ‘No.’’ Lines 112-7