This day was different. It was Sunday, so my old man was sober because of his gurudwara. He pretends to be so religious but if you were in my position you would recognize the truth. He is such an alcoholic and normally really aggressive. But not today.
He wanted to persuade me again to marry this girl from India. The daughter of some uncle in India. He can´t let off. I think he will never realize that I don´t want to get married at seventeen to an unknown girl.
As I said it he kind of freaked out and told me something about honor and duty or so. It felt like I couldn´t change anything. Everything was sorted out, they said every time.
The situation reminded me of my brothers. They were in the same situation and my parents convinced them. Now they are married and it will be the same with me.
But I have to fight against their will. It´s my life.
Sonntag, 20. Dezember 2009
Muslim, Hindu and modernized weddings
Muslim wedding customs
-boy´s family takes the first step ( ask for the girl)
-family of girl must have tha same status
-choose a relative or friend who checks the girl out
-the couple meets
->arranged marriage
-the boy has to give a present to the girl
->financally indipendent
Hindu wedding customs
-the girl´s family has to make the first step
-the girls marry with 18 years
-the boys marry with 20-25 years
-the women have to pay for their men (doury)
Modernized wedding customs
-(only for middle class)
-first advertisements
-coffee or meal on their owm either at home / restaurant (before deciding to commit)
-allowed to reject suitors
-engagements can last 6 months
-call out what is most oppressive in the traditional system
-boy´s family takes the first step ( ask for the girl)
-family of girl must have tha same status
-choose a relative or friend who checks the girl out
-the couple meets
->arranged marriage
-the boy has to give a present to the girl
->financally indipendent
Hindu wedding customs
-the girl´s family has to make the first step
-the girls marry with 18 years
-the boys marry with 20-25 years
-the women have to pay for their men (doury)
Modernized wedding customs
-(only for middle class)
-first advertisements
-coffee or meal on their owm either at home / restaurant (before deciding to commit)
-allowed to reject suitors
-engagements can last 6 months
-call out what is most oppressive in the traditional system
arranged marriages, cons
-children should manage on their own
-don´t want it
-have no choice
-too young to marry
-shouldn´t be forced, it´s a decision for life
-don´t know each other
-must take responsibility weather they have other duties
-no love, maybe don´t understand each other (->no harmony)
-emotional blackmail
-against the way of life in the 21st century
-don´t want it
-have no choice
-too young to marry
-shouldn´t be forced, it´s a decision for life
-don´t know each other
-must take responsibility weather they have other duties
-no love, maybe don´t understand each other (->no harmony)
-emotional blackmail
-against the way of life in the 21st century
Quotations from chapter eight
1) "My dad was sober."(p.41, l.9)
->double meaning ->normally drunk (now not agressive)
->clear ->able to talk
-religion
"sober"->the sentence underlines the unnormal family situation
2) "Like a lot of Punjabi men, he didn´t drink or eat meat on Sundays. It was like some kind of religious fashion statement that he was making, only he tended to get even more plastered on Saturdaay nights to make up for it."(p. 41, ll. 10-14)
->he just pretends to be religious ->hypocrite
->climax / hyperbole
3) "I knew it had to be about marriage because it had been exactly the same when he had told Harry" (p. 42, ll.27-29)
->comparison (traditions are repeated)
4) "It was all a con really" (p.42, l.40)
->genelisation / exaggeration (blackmail)
5) "Thing is, I was totally different to Harry. Totally" (p.43, l.5)
->comparison / repitition (->emphasises the word)
6) "My dad obviously saw my reaction because he changed his lecture to one about how it was my duty to uphold his honour, his izzat. To protect the family name and all that." (p.44, ll.35-37)
->repitition (his) / ->paralellism / ->ellipsis
7) "I already knew that she was gonna do it -knew that she was just putting on an act to scare me into accepting their way of doing things." (p.44, ll.36-38)
->repitition (to know) / paralellism, similar structure
8) "I felt like I was stuck. Like I had no choice. I mean, how could Ibecome the cause of so much grief and sadness for my parents ? How could I ?" (p.45, ll.2-5)
->rhetorical question ->sadness, no idea what to do / Yes, how could / can he achieve that ?
->what can he do ? ->plan ?!
->repitition of the pronoun "I" ->focus
->comparison / ellipsis
->double meaning ->normally drunk (now not agressive)
->clear ->able to talk
-religion
"sober"->the sentence underlines the unnormal family situation
2) "Like a lot of Punjabi men, he didn´t drink or eat meat on Sundays. It was like some kind of religious fashion statement that he was making, only he tended to get even more plastered on Saturdaay nights to make up for it."(p. 41, ll. 10-14)
->he just pretends to be religious ->hypocrite
->climax / hyperbole
3) "I knew it had to be about marriage because it had been exactly the same when he had told Harry" (p. 42, ll.27-29)
->comparison (traditions are repeated)
4) "It was all a con really" (p.42, l.40)
->genelisation / exaggeration (blackmail)
5) "Thing is, I was totally different to Harry. Totally" (p.43, l.5)
->comparison / repitition (->emphasises the word)
6) "My dad obviously saw my reaction because he changed his lecture to one about how it was my duty to uphold his honour, his izzat. To protect the family name and all that." (p.44, ll.35-37)
->repitition (his) / ->paralellism / ->ellipsis
7) "I already knew that she was gonna do it -knew that she was just putting on an act to scare me into accepting their way of doing things." (p.44, ll.36-38)
->repitition (to know) / paralellism, similar structure
8) "I felt like I was stuck. Like I had no choice. I mean, how could Ibecome the cause of so much grief and sadness for my parents ? How could I ?" (p.45, ll.2-5)
->rhetorical question ->sadness, no idea what to do / Yes, how could / can he achieve that ?
->what can he do ? ->plan ?!
->repitition of the pronoun "I" ->focus
->comparison / ellipsis
Vocabulary
Chapter | Vocabulary | |
English | German | |
Prologue | -Disgrace -Genuine -wayward | -Blamage -wahr, authentisch -eigensinnig |
Chapter One | - at sb´s expense - exertion - hazard -(to) nick -(to) smirk | - auf Kosten von - Anstrengung - Gefahr - klauen - grinsen |
Chapter Two | -merciless -posse -(to) banish -conch | -erbarmungslos -Gruppe, Trupp -ausweisen -Horn |
Chapter Three | -dumbbell -(to) slag sth/sb off -posh -toddler -(to) gawp | -Hantel -etw/jdn niedermachen -schick -Kleinkind -glotzen |
Chapter Four | -stopgap -to go haywire | -Notlösung -drunter und drüber gehen |
Chapter Five | -swot -aloof -leer | -Streber -abgehoben -anzüglich grinsen |
Chapter Six | -plain sailing -wary | -einfach -misstrauisch |
Chapter Seven | -to nab -dress-rehearsal | -jdn. Erwischen -Generalprobe |
Chapter Eight | -booze -eventually -paddy field -con -emotional blackmail | -Alkohol -schließlich -Reisfeld -der Schwindel -emotionale Erpressung |
Chapter Nine | -deputy head -to suspend -to trip | -Konrektor -ausschließen -abschalten, high sein |
Chapter Ten | -generation gap -peck -to reassure | -Generationsproblem -Küsschen -beruhigen |
Chapter Eleven | -to sneak around -to skip lessons -to vomit | -herumschleichen -schwänzen -sich übergeben |
Chapter Twelve | -hangover | -Kater |
Chapter Thirteen | -tosser | -Vollidiot |
Chapter Fourteen | -spliff -weed | -Joint -Marihuana |
Chapter Fifteen | -benefits -to glare -to grunt -to grind -to wail -to bolt | -Unterstützungsleistungen -strahlen -grunzen -abschleifen -klagen -abriegeln |
Sonntag, 13. Dezember 2009
opinion of Manny´s dad of British and Punjabi ctitzens (p.18, l.11 - p.19, l.20)
British citizens
-"not bloody goreh" (l.26)
->they are not good
-"put their own mothers in homes" (l.31)
-"being careful not to become white" (l30)
-"saving Punjabi culture from the grips of the white man" (l.27)
-impure girls
->When talking about British citizens many negations and words which have a negative connotation are used
Punjabi citizens
-"brother, cousin, it´s all the same to us. We are Punjabi" (l.25) ->Punjabi are a union
-"...married to a lovely girl" (l.35)
-"beautiful and pure" (l.37)
-"we look after our families" (l.31) ->take care
-"saving Punjabi culture from the grips of the white man" (l.29)
->Punjabi culture is important, does not like the British people
-"working and getting married" (l.35)
-"Good Jat Sikhs" (l.34) ->religious
-"getting married at the age of seventeen" (l.17)
->positive word fields / words with positive connotations are used
-"not bloody goreh" (l.26)
->they are not good
-"put their own mothers in homes" (l.31)
-"being careful not to become white" (l30)
-"saving Punjabi culture from the grips of the white man" (l.27)
-impure girls
->When talking about British citizens many negations and words which have a negative connotation are used
Punjabi citizens
-"brother, cousin, it´s all the same to us. We are Punjabi" (l.25) ->Punjabi are a union
-"...married to a lovely girl" (l.35)
-"beautiful and pure" (l.37)
-"we look after our families" (l.31) ->take care
-"saving Punjabi culture from the grips of the white man" (l.29)
->Punjabi culture is important, does not like the British people
-"working and getting married" (l.35)
-"Good Jat Sikhs" (l.34) ->religious
-"getting married at the age of seventeen" (l.17)
->positive word fields / words with positive connotations are used
analyse of language (p.18, l.11 - p.19, l.20)
Father:
-"not bloody goreh" (p.18, l.26) ->is a racist
-"we are Punjabis and proud of it" (p.18, l.33-37)
-line 40 -> father isn´t interested in Manny´s wishes or his opinion; he is dominant
-vocabulary: proud (l.34); duty (l.10); pride (l.11); honour (l.11)
-hangover (l.16)->alcoholic, real bender (l.40)
-all Punjabi are same (l.25)
-picking his ear with a forefinger (l.19) ->disgusting
->not interested in his son; impolite; conservative / pride; bad manners; alcoholic
Manny:
-"yes daddy-ji" (l.13)
->indicated respect
-"I was extra polite to him" (l.13)
->seems to be polite but does not mean it
->represented as good son, tries to avoid to arguement with his father
-"not bloody goreh" (p.18, l.26) ->is a racist
-"we are Punjabis and proud of it" (p.18, l.33-37)
-line 40 -> father isn´t interested in Manny´s wishes or his opinion; he is dominant
-vocabulary: proud (l.34); duty (l.10); pride (l.11); honour (l.11)
-hangover (l.16)->alcoholic, real bender (l.40)
-all Punjabi are same (l.25)
-picking his ear with a forefinger (l.19) ->disgusting
->not interested in his son; impolite; conservative / pride; bad manners; alcoholic
Manny:
-"yes daddy-ji" (l.13)
->indicated respect
-"I was extra polite to him" (l.13)
->seems to be polite but does not mean it
->represented as good son, tries to avoid to arguement with his father
Which generation immigrants are Manny´s parents, brothers and he
Manny´s parents:
-typical 1st gen. immigrant
-keep traditions
-do not accept British people / the British culture / don´t want to adapt
-proud of their origin
-came to Britain in order to work ->plan to go back
-don´t feel at home in Britain
-fear children would become more British
-religion
-think education is waste of time ->better earn money
Manny´s brothers:
-2nd gen. immigrants but they do not behave like that
->position between the typical 1st and 2nd generation
->pride (parents, origin, tradition)
->identify with Punjabi culture
Manny:
-2nd gen. immigrant
-does not want to adapt Punjabi traditions
-never went to the Punjab
-no Asian friends
-strongly influenced by Western culture (eg. music)
->he is not a typical representative of a 2nd generation either
-typical 1st gen. immigrant
-keep traditions
-do not accept British people / the British culture / don´t want to adapt
-proud of their origin
-came to Britain in order to work ->plan to go back
-don´t feel at home in Britain
-fear children would become more British
-religion
-think education is waste of time ->better earn money
Manny´s brothers:
-2nd gen. immigrants but they do not behave like that
->position between the typical 1st and 2nd generation
->pride (parents, origin, tradition)
->identify with Punjabi culture
Manny:
-2nd gen. immigrant
-does not want to adapt Punjabi traditions
-never went to the Punjab
-no Asian friends
-strongly influenced by Western culture (eg. music)
->he is not a typical representative of a 2nd generation either
different generation immigrants
first generation immigrants
-they emigrated
-feel home where thay were born
-identify with their home culture, traditions, customs
-came to the UK in the 1960s, often encouraged by the British government to need demand for unskilled workers
-> they came to work
-aim: going back !
second generation immigrants
-grown up in a working class environment
-like the British people
-want to be British
-want to get a more exciting life for themselves
-not feel confident about their identity
-try to live in the British culture
-not fully accepted
third generation immigrants
-most successful in integrating
-become absorbed into British culture -> identification
-no connection to their homecountry
-melt entirely into society
-new confidence
-difficult to become commited citizens without forgetting their past
-better chances on the job / working market
-they emigrated
-feel home where thay were born
-identify with their home culture, traditions, customs
-came to the UK in the 1960s, often encouraged by the British government to need demand for unskilled workers
-> they came to work
-aim: going back !
second generation immigrants
-grown up in a working class environment
-like the British people
-want to be British
-want to get a more exciting life for themselves
-not feel confident about their identity
-try to live in the British culture
-not fully accepted
third generation immigrants
-most successful in integrating
-become absorbed into British culture -> identification
-no connection to their homecountry
-melt entirely into society
-new confidence
-difficult to become commited citizens without forgetting their past
-better chances on the job / working market
poem: First and second generation immigrants
I hold my roots
While I shed my leaves.
Itry to keep my face in place.
...
But sometimes it goes,
And my true colour shows.
At home I am foreign
In school I am foreign.
...
What is there, is what I see,
I can only be ... me!
.
Nadani Chandramohan
.
.
What is the author trying to convey ? / Discuss and / or write about her feelings about coming from two cultures. / Why does she feel foreing everywhere ? / How successful is she in making her feelings clear ?
.
-two cultures = people from two cultures are "between the chairs" -> don´t feel at home in one country
-consider themselves as foreigners -> they are considered as foreigners
-she = tree
-the roots (parents home country) are often not visible, out they are indispensable for the tree´s life
-leaves = visible, can fall down, change their colour
-she says that although she tries to keep up her image (adapt to the British way of life) sometimes her "true colour" shows -> so people only rarely recognize her for who she really is -> she tries to conceal her cultural identity / her ethnicity (colour)
-she can neither identify with her schoolmates nor with her family
-> she feels foreign and pretends to be somebody she is not (she has two different personas)
.
her message:
-> she wants to be accepted and free. She demands freedom from the conflicting pressures she is exposed to and wants to be herself
reading diary: part two (short summaries)
part two: a year later
Chapter Seven
December
Chapter seven takes place in December. Manny is caught by steeling an empty CD case and waits in an interview room for Ranjit to come and pick him up. His brothers are really angry and forbid Manny to go out any more. Manny sais that he is not getting married at 17 even if his dad would kill him.
Chapter Eight
May
Manny´s dad is angry and sais that Manny has to think about his future. He talked to a friend of him in India about his daughter and has already sorted everything out. Because Manny doesn´t want to marry he is in trouble. Manny thinks of his brothers´ situations and the emotional blackmail they were set to. He doesn´t know what to do.
Chapter Nine
June
Manny is in Year 10 at school and is over a year together with Lisa now. He has a strong discussion with his Indian teacher, Sandhu, about his behavior at school, because he writes bad marks and skips lessons. His teacher also addresses the relationship to Lisa and what his parents think of that.
Chapter Ten
June
Lisa is very shocked when Manny tells her about his discussion with Mr. Sandhu and asks him out about what they talked about. Manny hasn´t seen Ady for a while and misses him. Lisa tries to lead Manny to say no to the marriage and Manny wants to unarrange the marriage. He hates the way he has to sneak around in order to be with the girl that he loves.
Chapter Eleven
November
Manny spends time with Lisa´s family instead of his and skips lessons to see Ady, who left school. Manny also is endangered to leave school and is kicked out of the football team. Ady rings up and reminds Manny of being a bad boy so they go to a disco at night and nobody noticed a thing.
Chapter Twelve
End of November
Manny has a hangover from the last night and continues to write down his ideal way of living. At his birthday on Saturday he goes to a pub with his dad and his brothers but feels so bored that he goes home. His brothers and all their friends laugh about him because Harry teases him. Manny phones Lisa and walks to her house.
Chapter Thirteen
December
Manny talks to Lisa and her parents about his problems and Lisa wishes she could change it all for him. She really supports him and they talk about their relationship and the marriage. Lisa invites Manny to come over on Saturday night because her parents want to talk to them. Ady helps Manny to muck Ranjit so Manny can go to Lisa´s house. Just before he goes to Lisa he gets to know that Ady is going to be a father. Later Lisa´s family welcomes him and her parents talk to them about having sex. Then they have the house for themselves.
Chapter Fourteen
March
The night cements their relationship and Manny spends a few more nights with Lisa. His live was all about evenings he spends with Lisa and sneaking out of his house. Manny has no hope of doing well at his GCSEs and is one skive away from being expelled. He also forgets Ady´s birthday but celebrates it in a bar with him later. When he sneaks back into school, his teacher wonders where he comes from and he pukes and passed out. At home he couldn´t remember where he was and then Ranjit says that his education is over.
Chapter Fifteen
April-May
Harry tells Manny that he will go to India with his family. He didn´t see Lisa or Ady all that time. His family forces him to go with emotional blackmail at its worst. Manny is stuck in the situation and very angry. Ranjit´s wife Jas talks to Manny and creates a friendly level. She promises it will only be holiday, but Manny misses Lisa and Ady. Then he gets a letter from Lisa who also misses him but goes to Australia. Manny feels as if she drops him so he says that he will go to India. He thinks about what he is going to do with his live, without Lisa and Ady.
Chapter Seven
December
Chapter seven takes place in December. Manny is caught by steeling an empty CD case and waits in an interview room for Ranjit to come and pick him up. His brothers are really angry and forbid Manny to go out any more. Manny sais that he is not getting married at 17 even if his dad would kill him.
Chapter Eight
May
Manny´s dad is angry and sais that Manny has to think about his future. He talked to a friend of him in India about his daughter and has already sorted everything out. Because Manny doesn´t want to marry he is in trouble. Manny thinks of his brothers´ situations and the emotional blackmail they were set to. He doesn´t know what to do.
Chapter Nine
June
Manny is in Year 10 at school and is over a year together with Lisa now. He has a strong discussion with his Indian teacher, Sandhu, about his behavior at school, because he writes bad marks and skips lessons. His teacher also addresses the relationship to Lisa and what his parents think of that.
Chapter Ten
June
Lisa is very shocked when Manny tells her about his discussion with Mr. Sandhu and asks him out about what they talked about. Manny hasn´t seen Ady for a while and misses him. Lisa tries to lead Manny to say no to the marriage and Manny wants to unarrange the marriage. He hates the way he has to sneak around in order to be with the girl that he loves.
Chapter Eleven
November
Manny spends time with Lisa´s family instead of his and skips lessons to see Ady, who left school. Manny also is endangered to leave school and is kicked out of the football team. Ady rings up and reminds Manny of being a bad boy so they go to a disco at night and nobody noticed a thing.
Chapter Twelve
End of November
Manny has a hangover from the last night and continues to write down his ideal way of living. At his birthday on Saturday he goes to a pub with his dad and his brothers but feels so bored that he goes home. His brothers and all their friends laugh about him because Harry teases him. Manny phones Lisa and walks to her house.
Chapter Thirteen
December
Manny talks to Lisa and her parents about his problems and Lisa wishes she could change it all for him. She really supports him and they talk about their relationship and the marriage. Lisa invites Manny to come over on Saturday night because her parents want to talk to them. Ady helps Manny to muck Ranjit so Manny can go to Lisa´s house. Just before he goes to Lisa he gets to know that Ady is going to be a father. Later Lisa´s family welcomes him and her parents talk to them about having sex. Then they have the house for themselves.
Chapter Fourteen
March
The night cements their relationship and Manny spends a few more nights with Lisa. His live was all about evenings he spends with Lisa and sneaking out of his house. Manny has no hope of doing well at his GCSEs and is one skive away from being expelled. He also forgets Ady´s birthday but celebrates it in a bar with him later. When he sneaks back into school, his teacher wonders where he comes from and he pukes and passed out. At home he couldn´t remember where he was and then Ranjit says that his education is over.
Chapter Fifteen
April-May
Harry tells Manny that he will go to India with his family. He didn´t see Lisa or Ady all that time. His family forces him to go with emotional blackmail at its worst. Manny is stuck in the situation and very angry. Ranjit´s wife Jas talks to Manny and creates a friendly level. She promises it will only be holiday, but Manny misses Lisa and Ady. Then he gets a letter from Lisa who also misses him but goes to Australia. Manny feels as if she drops him so he says that he will go to India. He thinks about what he is going to do with his live, without Lisa and Ady.
Dienstag, 24. November 2009
homework: discuss why there might be such huge difference between the family members regarding identity
I thinkthe family thinks and lives weigh more traditional as Manny does. He was born in Britain and experienced a life which is really different from that one his family experienced in India. He goes to a school with lots of children who does not live like their parents and he also wants to be as free as they are. Ady for example is his best friend and he leads him into doing or living as he wants. But the main reason i think is the fact where he was born in. The Society influences him a lot.
Manny and his friends
relationship to Adrian (Ady)
-best friends, good relationship
-do a lot together
-knows about Manny´s family-situation / his problems
-talk about everything
-know each other since junior school
-Manny leads Ady astray ->shoplifting
-Ady=Manny´s future?!
-helps him to get to know Lisa
-Ady: key to western life
-"friendship first" ->spending time with Ady is a distraction from Manny´s problems
->will help him to break free / free himself from his family
relationship with Lisa
-Manny´s first girlfriend
-knows about his family situation / the arranged marriage
->supports him / wants to help him
-talk about Manny´s future
->how to escape
-Lisa: very open minded + understanding
-respect Manny + his family
->now support, help, guidance, love
will help him to break free
->Manny´s friends are a counterbalance to his family / his problems
->They make a difference in Manny´s life!
-best friends, good relationship
-do a lot together
-knows about Manny´s family-situation / his problems
-talk about everything
-know each other since junior school
-Manny leads Ady astray ->shoplifting
-Ady=Manny´s future?!
-helps him to get to know Lisa
-Ady: key to western life
-"friendship first" ->spending time with Ady is a distraction from Manny´s problems
->will help him to break free / free himself from his family
relationship with Lisa
-Manny´s first girlfriend
-knows about his family situation / the arranged marriage
->supports him / wants to help him
-talk about Manny´s future
->how to escape
-Lisa: very open minded + understanding
-respect Manny + his family
->now support, help, guidance, love
will help him to break free
->Manny´s friends are a counterbalance to his family / his problems
->They make a difference in Manny´s life!
homework: characterisation of Manny´s mother / attitude towards the identity and how presented in the novel
Manny´s mother was born in India. She speaks Punjabi and a little bit of bad English. She spends all time long in the kitchen, cooking and watching Asian TV-channels. She is a good Punjabi-wife but she is not like a real mother. She doesn´t listen to Manny and never speaks to him. Only to shout at him or to ask what he wants to eat for dinner. She never helps Manny with his homework or even watches for him to do them. Maybe it is because she never went to school herself. She is introduced as "odd", like a stranger. All in all she does not really like her son Manny because he does not follow the traditions she lives for.
Manny´s mother behaves like she is described. She shouts at Manny if he does not follow the traditions and she is very strict with him. She wants to do everything very well so she does not get in trouble with her husband. Her identity and how she is presented in the novel is just the same.
Manny´s mother behaves like she is described. She shouts at Manny if he does not follow the traditions and she is very strict with him. She wants to do everything very well so she does not get in trouble with her husband. Her identity and how she is presented in the novel is just the same.
Ekbal´s father and Manny´s father
Ekbal´s father
profession:
-doctor
character/beliefs:
-forward thinking
-chilled out
-doesn´t mind what colour Ekbal´s friends are
education:
-very important
-went to university
-> a good example of succesful integration
Manny´s father
profession:
-works in a factory for plastic
character/beliefs:
-conserves punjabi traditions
-strict, agressive, racist
education:
-doesn´t matter about it
-uneducated
-work is more important than education
->an example of failed integration
->there isn´t "the Punjabi" (degree of integration is very different)
profession:
-doctor
character/beliefs:
-forward thinking
-chilled out
-doesn´t mind what colour Ekbal´s friends are
education:
-very important
-went to university
-> a good example of succesful integration
Manny´s father
profession:
-works in a factory for plastic
character/beliefs:
-conserves punjabi traditions
-strict, agressive, racist
education:
-doesn´t matter about it
-uneducated
-work is more important than education
->an example of failed integration
->there isn´t "the Punjabi" (degree of integration is very different)
homework: research on Leichester, especially Evington Road
-Bali Rai, the author of the novel "(un)arranged marriage" comes from Leicester. He went to London for a short period of time but then returned to Leicester, where he still lives.
-In the Evington Road there is the office of the Democratic Party. Since 2004 an Indian is in the house, who fights against racism.
-In the Evington Road there is the office of the Democratic Party. Since 2004 an Indian is in the house, who fights against racism.
reading diary: part one (short summaries)
Prologue
November 30th
The scene in the prologue takes place at November 30th in the toilet of a motorway service station at Leicester Forest East. It´s shortly before Manny´s wedding and he escapes into the stations toilet to think about the marriage, his old man and the new live he would get. His two brothers Harry and Ranjit are waiting for him. Manny feels angry and upset but also determined.
Part One: Four years earlier
Chapter One
Manny just turned 13 and hates being called Manjit, because it is a girl´s name. He also feels like an outsider. In this chapter the characters are introduced and the parents are introduced as "odd" because his mum is like a stranger and his dad either works or is drunk. He hits Manny and is called a racist. And what even is worse, Manny´s brothers are turning into newer versions of him. Manny has to share a room with Harry so they are often in trouble. Although his family doesn´t sees education as important Manny gets high grades at school. His best made is Adrian and they are always together. They even go shoplifting together because they want to be rebels.
Chapter Two
May
This chapter takes place in May and Manny is in year 8 at school. His father works in a plastic factory and saves every penny. His mum´s nephew Ekbal is allowed to do what he wants; his dad is a doctor and the exact opposite of Manny´s dad. He sees education as important and studied himelf. So Ekbal (Eky) is very lucky in contrast to Manny who is far away from happy.
He writes a plan of his future life and gets again in trouble with his brother Harry who gets married so the family drives away except of Manny who stays at home and watches TV as a Liverpool FC fan. His dad invites him to come with his family for the next wedding but Manny doesn´t want so his dad gets angry again. Manny thinks about the horror of getting married in four years and realizes that it is a serious plan.
Chapter Three
July
Chapter three takes place in July in the summer break between year 8 and 9. The shock keeps on playing in Manny´s head so he spends more and more time out with his friend Ady to detract from what is going on in his head. Manny gets angry of Harry so he bothers him as he always does with him. When Manny is out with Ady he describes his and Ady´s multicultural England. Ady says that a girl named Sahra wants to go out with him so Manny is jealous but they meet Sahra and her girlfriend, Lisa, in town. Manny sees her for the first time but is sure he wants Lisa as a girlfriend now.
Chapter Four
August
It is August. Manny can´t get Lisa out of his mind and can´t wait for the day that he is old enough to leave home. He is out with Ady again, who stole some pencils and Manny mentions the friendship first deal. Ady always changes the accent of his language. They meet the girls again in a shopping center and talk a bit before they invite them for a drink. Manny is fascinated of Lisa.
Chapter Five
October
This chapter takes place in October and year 9 in school begins. Ady helps Manny to meet Lisa but Manny can´t ask her out because he has his parents in his mind. If he ever brings a girl home he´d be dead. Manny dreams of being adopted so his parents aren´t his real parents. Later Ady and he go to Sahra´s house and just talked until Manny leaves them alone. Ady and Sahra think that Manny and Lisa would be good together. After that Manny asks Ady out about what has happened. He gets home late so his father is angry again and he gets trouble with Harry, who destroys a cassette from Ady. Ranjit comes in and calms the situation.
Chapter Six
December
Lisa and Manny are having a coffee in an Italian bar in town in December. It is their tenth date now. Their conversation is all about books and Manny gets to know that she is a Liverpool fan, too. They talk about their parents and Manny tells her about his family situation and she holds his hand. Manny comes home late again and his old man is really upset as usual. Lisa changed his life and makes a difference. Two weeks later Ekbal´s family comes and Ekbal and Manny talk about the marriage again. He tells him that it is meant deadly serious, so Manny is in big trouble. The only way not to get married is to make himself as unsuitable as possible, he thinks.
November 30th
The scene in the prologue takes place at November 30th in the toilet of a motorway service station at Leicester Forest East. It´s shortly before Manny´s wedding and he escapes into the stations toilet to think about the marriage, his old man and the new live he would get. His two brothers Harry and Ranjit are waiting for him. Manny feels angry and upset but also determined.
Part One: Four years earlier
Chapter One
Manny just turned 13 and hates being called Manjit, because it is a girl´s name. He also feels like an outsider. In this chapter the characters are introduced and the parents are introduced as "odd" because his mum is like a stranger and his dad either works or is drunk. He hits Manny and is called a racist. And what even is worse, Manny´s brothers are turning into newer versions of him. Manny has to share a room with Harry so they are often in trouble. Although his family doesn´t sees education as important Manny gets high grades at school. His best made is Adrian and they are always together. They even go shoplifting together because they want to be rebels.
Chapter Two
May
This chapter takes place in May and Manny is in year 8 at school. His father works in a plastic factory and saves every penny. His mum´s nephew Ekbal is allowed to do what he wants; his dad is a doctor and the exact opposite of Manny´s dad. He sees education as important and studied himelf. So Ekbal (Eky) is very lucky in contrast to Manny who is far away from happy.
He writes a plan of his future life and gets again in trouble with his brother Harry who gets married so the family drives away except of Manny who stays at home and watches TV as a Liverpool FC fan. His dad invites him to come with his family for the next wedding but Manny doesn´t want so his dad gets angry again. Manny thinks about the horror of getting married in four years and realizes that it is a serious plan.
Chapter Three
July
Chapter three takes place in July in the summer break between year 8 and 9. The shock keeps on playing in Manny´s head so he spends more and more time out with his friend Ady to detract from what is going on in his head. Manny gets angry of Harry so he bothers him as he always does with him. When Manny is out with Ady he describes his and Ady´s multicultural England. Ady says that a girl named Sahra wants to go out with him so Manny is jealous but they meet Sahra and her girlfriend, Lisa, in town. Manny sees her for the first time but is sure he wants Lisa as a girlfriend now.
Chapter Four
August
It is August. Manny can´t get Lisa out of his mind and can´t wait for the day that he is old enough to leave home. He is out with Ady again, who stole some pencils and Manny mentions the friendship first deal. Ady always changes the accent of his language. They meet the girls again in a shopping center and talk a bit before they invite them for a drink. Manny is fascinated of Lisa.
Chapter Five
October
This chapter takes place in October and year 9 in school begins. Ady helps Manny to meet Lisa but Manny can´t ask her out because he has his parents in his mind. If he ever brings a girl home he´d be dead. Manny dreams of being adopted so his parents aren´t his real parents. Later Ady and he go to Sahra´s house and just talked until Manny leaves them alone. Ady and Sahra think that Manny and Lisa would be good together. After that Manny asks Ady out about what has happened. He gets home late so his father is angry again and he gets trouble with Harry, who destroys a cassette from Ady. Ranjit comes in and calms the situation.
Chapter Six
December
Lisa and Manny are having a coffee in an Italian bar in town in December. It is their tenth date now. Their conversation is all about books and Manny gets to know that she is a Liverpool fan, too. They talk about their parents and Manny tells her about his family situation and she holds his hand. Manny comes home late again and his old man is really upset as usual. Lisa changed his life and makes a difference. Two weeks later Ekbal´s family comes and Ekbal and Manny talk about the marriage again. He tells him that it is meant deadly serious, so Manny is in big trouble. The only way not to get married is to make himself as unsuitable as possible, he thinks.
Sonntag, 22. November 2009
the characters
Manny
language:
- colloquial English, a bit Punjabi
- language of young people
education/ job:
- high grades at school
- wants to be good at school
religion:
- belongs to the Sikhs
ethnicity:
- his family want him to be a Punjabi boy
- he wants to be a Britain
friends:
- Adrian (Ady) is his best friend
- Lisa is his girlfriend later
philosophy of life:
- wants to live his own live
- wants to get a great education
role in family:
- black sheep
- only one who doesn´t like Punjabi traditions
attitude towards Britain:
- likes Britain
- behaves like a British
- has got British clothes
Harry
language:
- informal/ colloquial English and Punjabi
education/ job:
- works in a factory
religion:
- belongs to the Sikhs
ethnicity:
- proud to be a Punjabi
friends:
- only Punjabi ones
philosophy of life:
- wants to keep the traditions
role in family:
- wants to be like his father
attitude towards Britain:
- doesn´t like it
- lives there only because of the money
Ranjit
language:
- bad English but good Punjabi
education/ job:
- educated in traditional way of life
- works in a factory
religion:
- belongs to the Sikhs
friends:
- only Punjabi ones
ethnicity:
- from India, lives in Britain
philosophy of life:
- wants to be a typical Indian
role in family:
- wants to be like his father
- oldest son
attitude towards Britain:
- doesn´t like white
Father
language:
- Punjabi, bad English (difficult to understand)
education/ job:
- works in a factory
- education is not important for him
religion:
- belongs to the Sikhs (pretends to be religious but isn´t really)
ethnicity:
- from Punjab
friends:
- only friends in a bar he often drinks in
philosophy of life:
- keep traditions / culture
role in family:
- head of family
- alcoholic racist, dominant
- often hits sb
attitude towards Britain:
- against British culture
- not open for them
Mother
language:
- Punjabi, bad English
education / job:
- probably never went to school
- no job, but housewife
religion:
- belongs to the Sikhs
ethnicity:
- from India, Punjab
friends:
- no real friends, only in family
philosophy of life:
- follow the traditions
role in family:
- good Punjabi housewife
attitude towards Britain:
- doesn´t really like it but is happy about the money the family is earning there
language:
- colloquial English, a bit Punjabi
- language of young people
education/ job:
- high grades at school
- wants to be good at school
religion:
- belongs to the Sikhs
ethnicity:
- his family want him to be a Punjabi boy
- he wants to be a Britain
friends:
- Adrian (Ady) is his best friend
- Lisa is his girlfriend later
philosophy of life:
- wants to live his own live
- wants to get a great education
role in family:
- black sheep
- only one who doesn´t like Punjabi traditions
attitude towards Britain:
- likes Britain
- behaves like a British
- has got British clothes
Harry
language:
- informal/ colloquial English and Punjabi
education/ job:
- works in a factory
religion:
- belongs to the Sikhs
ethnicity:
- proud to be a Punjabi
friends:
- only Punjabi ones
philosophy of life:
- wants to keep the traditions
role in family:
- wants to be like his father
attitude towards Britain:
- doesn´t like it
- lives there only because of the money
Ranjit
language:
- bad English but good Punjabi
education/ job:
- educated in traditional way of life
- works in a factory
religion:
- belongs to the Sikhs
friends:
- only Punjabi ones
ethnicity:
- from India, lives in Britain
philosophy of life:
- wants to be a typical Indian
role in family:
- wants to be like his father
- oldest son
attitude towards Britain:
- doesn´t like white
Father
language:
- Punjabi, bad English (difficult to understand)
education/ job:
- works in a factory
- education is not important for him
religion:
- belongs to the Sikhs (pretends to be religious but isn´t really)
ethnicity:
- from Punjab
friends:
- only friends in a bar he often drinks in
philosophy of life:
- keep traditions / culture
role in family:
- head of family
- alcoholic racist, dominant
- often hits sb
attitude towards Britain:
- against British culture
- not open for them
Mother
language:
- Punjabi, bad English
education / job:
- probably never went to school
- no job, but housewife
religion:
- belongs to the Sikhs
ethnicity:
- from India, Punjab
friends:
- no real friends, only in family
philosophy of life:
- follow the traditions
role in family:
- good Punjabi housewife
attitude towards Britain:
- doesn´t really like it but is happy about the money the family is earning there
Mittwoch, 18. November 2009
general information
The author
Bali Rai was born in 1971 in Leicester, England. He is an author of books for young people. Bali Rai is British but is the Son of an Indian immigrant. He studied political science and jobbed after he finished. While doing so he wrote his first book "(un)arranged marriage".
The narrator
First person narrator (Manny):
-> the presentation of the characters is therefore subjective and one sided
tone:
-negative, condescending because his family (parents + brothers) is different
-> because their cultural + personal identity is different
language:
-colloquial, slang, disrespectful
-> The members of Manny´s family see themselves differently from the way Manny depicts them!
preamble
This will be a website about the Book
"(un)arranged marriage by Bali Rai".
We discuss it in our English lesson and this will be a list of what we talked about and the exercises we had to do.
ENJOY reading =)
"(un)arranged marriage by Bali Rai".
We discuss it in our English lesson and this will be a list of what we talked about and the exercises we had to do.
ENJOY reading =)
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