Heading: Section 4
Name: Swati Sharma
Book: Homeless Bird
Author: Gloria Whelan
Pages Discussed: Chapter 10-11
The next morning, the rich lady comes and picks Koly up in a car. The car is luxurious; Koly is not familiar with and must ask about. The lady speaks of a story of how her father tried searching for his widowed mother who'd been abandoned by his uncles. While searching for her, the lady's father showed a man how to improve his drill and made a lot of money with this new design. Then the lady's father started the widow's house for women like his mother, whom he never found. The lady continues the widow's home in his memory. Then when they reached Mr.Das' shop, Koly was amazed at the kindness he had and he took her into his shop for her new job. Koly starts to think of Raji and thinks to herself she hasn't seen him for quite some time. Koly soon makes friends and then came the Shrew who strongly disliked her work of embroidering. One of the women named Mala, would be scolded because of the Shrew from being jealous. Koly longed to visit her room, but Maa Kamala declined the request from koly, since she knew all about Mala. But, Koly sneaked to her house with Tanu's help. Mala's room was filled with men and women. Mala stole the weddinmg veil from Mr. Das and was very bad. Koly then was fooled by a man who had given her Bhaang. She retutrned home and Tanu lied for her. The next day, Raji returned. Koly told the truth to Raji of her night at Mala's and Raji asked Koly to marry him and come with him to her village. Koly asked for some time foe her to decide. Days pass by and finally Koly has agreed to marry Raji and live in his village! Hence, "...the homeless bird flying at last to its home" (pg.182, last sentence).
Overall, this book was completely detailed and descriptive. The point of view was of the main character, Koly and how her life became. She starts off being married to an ill boy who soon dies to a rickshaw driver. From working along with Sass to embroidering Saris. From her being a widow to having a happy married life with Raji. Koly overcame her fears and problems. Can one's problems dissappear one day? Will Koly come with more problems still, even with Raji? We realize these answers through the theme: Life is full of problems, but one day you will overcome them and live life to the fullest. Life will always have problems, but it doesn't mean your life is over or we should stop living. Life has its ups and downs, but that's all part of human nature.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Heading: Section 3
Name: Swati Sharma
Book: Homeless Bird
Author: Gloria Whelan
Pages Discussed: Chapter 7-9
Chandra comes home for the funeral of Sassur and tells Koly all about her successful marriage. Chandra is very happy with her new marriage. Koly tells Chandra she wants to run away and Chandra pleads her not to since there will be no one to take care of Sass. Chandra goes home and life returns to normal for Koly and Sass. Sass has trouble with so little money and often sells Koly's belongings. One day, Sass tries to sell the Tagore book. Koly stops her by giving her the silver earrings in exchange for the book. Now Koly's only hope of escaping is gone. Suddenly, a letter comes from Sass' younger brother teeling her to come to Delhi to look after his children. Sass brings Koly along with her and they sell the house to pay for the trip. They reached Vrindavan and Sass gives 50 rupees to koly and leaves her. Koly walks through the streets of the city and watches the other widows find sleeping places on the street. An elderly woman calls to her from the steps of a house and tells her she will share the spot for the night. The people in the house are kind and do not make them leave, she says, and sometimes they hand out food. The old woman tells Koly that her husband's brothers brought her here, that widows are abandoned here every day. The rickshaw driver, Raji takes her to a place to live, where she meets a lady named Maa Kamala. She geta a job of stringing marigolds with Tanu (another widow). Raji doesn't know how to read ans so Koly decides to teach him.
The novel is based on the burden that India has on teenage girls. This main theme develops throughout the novel. Like girls in India, thirteen-year-old Koly must marry a man her parents choose. Her parents prepare Koly's dowry, and find a groom in the Mehta family. Koly then discovers that her husband-to-be is a sick and ill boy. His parents want her dowry for money only to save their son's life. When Koly's new husband, Hari dies, Koly knows that, in Indian culture, returning home as a widow would disgrace her family. Therefore, she must live with her in-laws. She is then forced to work for a living. After Sassur dies and Sass leaves Koly on her own, Koly has nowhere to go. There are new characters introduced in these three chapter, Raji (the rickshaw driver), Maa Kamala (owns the house widows live in), and Tanu (another widow, who soon becomes her friend). These characters will hopefully help and guide Koly through. I think that Raji and Koly might become more than just friends.
Name: Swati Sharma
Book: Homeless Bird
Author: Gloria Whelan
Pages Discussed: Chapter 7-9
Chandra comes home for the funeral of Sassur and tells Koly all about her successful marriage. Chandra is very happy with her new marriage. Koly tells Chandra she wants to run away and Chandra pleads her not to since there will be no one to take care of Sass. Chandra goes home and life returns to normal for Koly and Sass. Sass has trouble with so little money and often sells Koly's belongings. One day, Sass tries to sell the Tagore book. Koly stops her by giving her the silver earrings in exchange for the book. Now Koly's only hope of escaping is gone. Suddenly, a letter comes from Sass' younger brother teeling her to come to Delhi to look after his children. Sass brings Koly along with her and they sell the house to pay for the trip. They reached Vrindavan and Sass gives 50 rupees to koly and leaves her. Koly walks through the streets of the city and watches the other widows find sleeping places on the street. An elderly woman calls to her from the steps of a house and tells her she will share the spot for the night. The people in the house are kind and do not make them leave, she says, and sometimes they hand out food. The old woman tells Koly that her husband's brothers brought her here, that widows are abandoned here every day. The rickshaw driver, Raji takes her to a place to live, where she meets a lady named Maa Kamala. She geta a job of stringing marigolds with Tanu (another widow). Raji doesn't know how to read ans so Koly decides to teach him.
The novel is based on the burden that India has on teenage girls. This main theme develops throughout the novel. Like girls in India, thirteen-year-old Koly must marry a man her parents choose. Her parents prepare Koly's dowry, and find a groom in the Mehta family. Koly then discovers that her husband-to-be is a sick and ill boy. His parents want her dowry for money only to save their son's life. When Koly's new husband, Hari dies, Koly knows that, in Indian culture, returning home as a widow would disgrace her family. Therefore, she must live with her in-laws. She is then forced to work for a living. After Sassur dies and Sass leaves Koly on her own, Koly has nowhere to go. There are new characters introduced in these three chapter, Raji (the rickshaw driver), Maa Kamala (owns the house widows live in), and Tanu (another widow, who soon becomes her friend). These characters will hopefully help and guide Koly through. I think that Raji and Koly might become more than just friends.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Heading: Section 2
Name: Swati Sharma
Book: Homeless Bird
Author: Gloria Whelan
Pages Discussed: Chapter 4-6
A week after Hari's death, Sass takes Koly into the village. They go to a government office and tell a man that she is a widow. The man has them sign some papers that Koly and Sass cannot read. Sass will not tell Koly what the papers are for. However, after an envelope comes for Koly every month that Sass takes away from her. Sass grows very bitter toward Koly, now that they now have another mouth to feed. Chandra's wedding is scheduled and the preparations begin. Chandra's husband has attended mission school and is going to get a job working with computers. Koly is concerned that Chandra's husband will not be a good match for her, but Chandra believes that he will be if she is a good wife. Sass tells Koly that they have no money for a sari for Chandra and will have to use Koly's wedding sari. Koly is not happy with this but for Chandra's sake she agrees. Sass then demands that Koly give Chandra her silver earrings. Koly lies and says she has lost them. Koly hopes to one day use the earrings to run away from Sass. One day, when Koly is in the village,she goes to the government office to find out if she can pick up her pension there, but they will only mail it. Koly has no friend she then makes friends with stray dogs to keep her company. Sassur would never eat anything and slowly, slowly he passed away.
I personally think that in these three chapters, Koly is depressed with no one to talk to. Chandra left, married. Sassur dies. Now it's just her and Sass. There aren't many characters left now. We now know that Chandra is married off to a boy who is nineteen ans works with computers and Sassur has now died. What dissapoints me is that everytime Koly feels a little bit of happiness, something always has to come in the way and destroy it. Like when Chandra and her became friends, but then she is now married and living in her in-laws`house. Koly has her silver earrings, but Sass wants them for Chandra. Well, Chandra was going to get married someday, but eberything is happening so soon and all at once. The motif developped in these three chapters might be lonliness. The way Koly is alone making friends with dogs and Sassur`s death causes Sass more depressed and angry.
Name: Swati Sharma
Book: Homeless Bird
Author: Gloria Whelan
Pages Discussed: Chapter 4-6
A week after Hari's death, Sass takes Koly into the village. They go to a government office and tell a man that she is a widow. The man has them sign some papers that Koly and Sass cannot read. Sass will not tell Koly what the papers are for. However, after an envelope comes for Koly every month that Sass takes away from her. Sass grows very bitter toward Koly, now that they now have another mouth to feed. Chandra's wedding is scheduled and the preparations begin. Chandra's husband has attended mission school and is going to get a job working with computers. Koly is concerned that Chandra's husband will not be a good match for her, but Chandra believes that he will be if she is a good wife. Sass tells Koly that they have no money for a sari for Chandra and will have to use Koly's wedding sari. Koly is not happy with this but for Chandra's sake she agrees. Sass then demands that Koly give Chandra her silver earrings. Koly lies and says she has lost them. Koly hopes to one day use the earrings to run away from Sass. One day, when Koly is in the village,she goes to the government office to find out if she can pick up her pension there, but they will only mail it. Koly has no friend she then makes friends with stray dogs to keep her company. Sassur would never eat anything and slowly, slowly he passed away.
I personally think that in these three chapters, Koly is depressed with no one to talk to. Chandra left, married. Sassur dies. Now it's just her and Sass. There aren't many characters left now. We now know that Chandra is married off to a boy who is nineteen ans works with computers and Sassur has now died. What dissapoints me is that everytime Koly feels a little bit of happiness, something always has to come in the way and destroy it. Like when Chandra and her became friends, but then she is now married and living in her in-laws`house. Koly has her silver earrings, but Sass wants them for Chandra. Well, Chandra was going to get married someday, but eberything is happening so soon and all at once. The motif developped in these three chapters might be lonliness. The way Koly is alone making friends with dogs and Sassur`s death causes Sass more depressed and angry.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Summary on Chapters 1-3
Heading: Section 1
Name: Swati Sharma
Book: Homeless Bird
Author: Gloria Whelan
Pages Discussed: Chapter 1-3
A 13 year old indian girl, named Koly. Koly's father is a scribe who writes letters for people in the market place. She is forced to marry an ill boy named Hari. To marry him, she first has to pay a dowry to his parents. They did so by selling their only cow. Koly has never met Hari till' she finaly took a glimpse of him at the wedding. Hari's parents had lied to Koly's parents by telling them Hari is 16 and just has a simple flu. They also find out that they only married Hari to Koly to get the Dowry to pay for the medicines for Hari. When Koly and Hari first meet, Hari tells her that he will die soon. He must go to the Ganges river to feel better. They stayed at their old friend's place. Koly was never introduced as Hari's wife, she felt as if they didn't want their friends to know she was his wife. When Hari came out from the river his coughing had gotten worse, the doctor said there was nothing else to be done, he is extremely ill. Hari dies and his father tells Koly and feels guilt, he then says she is now his daughter. Koly filled with tears, finds she is now a widow. Hari's father buys a white saree for Koly, she must wear it now that she is a widow.
I personally think the story so far is heartbreaking. Koly is not known as anyone anymore, she is just a widow. She was forced to marry an ill boy named Hari and has now lost him. She can't turn back to her family and her in-laws don't really care about her. She is the "Homeless Bird". I now know why the author named this book as the "Homeless Bird". She now has to live the rest of her life being scolded and ordered by her sass (Hari's Mom) and wear only white sarees. She has no one anymore. I think Koly is a very loving and push-over, by her surroundings. Hari's parents are very demading and always want everything to be perfect. Koly is facing being a widow and living on her own now. She has no one to turn to. I think that the main motif in these few chapters which are being developed is lonliness. Though, people can relate to this novel. Everyone has to get married once and you never know, it could be an arranged marriage. You also never know whether or not you may become a widow one day. So, you can really put yourself in the character of Koly.
Name: Swati Sharma
Book: Homeless Bird
Author: Gloria Whelan
Pages Discussed: Chapter 1-3
A 13 year old indian girl, named Koly. Koly's father is a scribe who writes letters for people in the market place. She is forced to marry an ill boy named Hari. To marry him, she first has to pay a dowry to his parents. They did so by selling their only cow. Koly has never met Hari till' she finaly took a glimpse of him at the wedding. Hari's parents had lied to Koly's parents by telling them Hari is 16 and just has a simple flu. They also find out that they only married Hari to Koly to get the Dowry to pay for the medicines for Hari. When Koly and Hari first meet, Hari tells her that he will die soon. He must go to the Ganges river to feel better. They stayed at their old friend's place. Koly was never introduced as Hari's wife, she felt as if they didn't want their friends to know she was his wife. When Hari came out from the river his coughing had gotten worse, the doctor said there was nothing else to be done, he is extremely ill. Hari dies and his father tells Koly and feels guilt, he then says she is now his daughter. Koly filled with tears, finds she is now a widow. Hari's father buys a white saree for Koly, she must wear it now that she is a widow.
I personally think the story so far is heartbreaking. Koly is not known as anyone anymore, she is just a widow. She was forced to marry an ill boy named Hari and has now lost him. She can't turn back to her family and her in-laws don't really care about her. She is the "Homeless Bird". I now know why the author named this book as the "Homeless Bird". She now has to live the rest of her life being scolded and ordered by her sass (Hari's Mom) and wear only white sarees. She has no one anymore. I think Koly is a very loving and push-over, by her surroundings. Hari's parents are very demading and always want everything to be perfect. Koly is facing being a widow and living on her own now. She has no one to turn to. I think that the main motif in these few chapters which are being developed is lonliness. Though, people can relate to this novel. Everyone has to get married once and you never know, it could be an arranged marriage. You also never know whether or not you may become a widow one day. So, you can really put yourself in the character of Koly.
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