mohsin hamid, the reluctant fundamentalist, reclams universal-bibliothek nr. 19876, © 2013 philipp...

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Mohsin Hamid, THE RELU TANT FUNDAMENTALIST Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, RECLAMS UNIVERSAL-BIBLIOTHEK Nr. 19876, © 2013 Philipp Reclam jun. Liceo Scientifico “Albert Einstein”, Cervignano del Friuli Grando Leonardo, Pavoni Francesco, Puppo Simone 5^ALS

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  • Slide 1
  • Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, RECLAMS UNIVERSAL-BIBLIOTHEK Nr. 19876, 2013 Philipp Reclam jun. Liceo Scientifico Albert Einstein, Cervignano del Friuli Grando Leonardo, Pavoni Francesco, Puppo Simone 5^ALS
  • Slide 2
  • OBJECTIVESSUBJECTS INVOLVED To identify the structure of the novel To single out relevant intercultural themes To select linguistic phrases, expressions, key words for the intercultural analysis of the novel 1. English language and literature 2. Italian language 3. IRC (teaching Catholic religion)
  • Slide 3
  • 1. To compare linguistic phrases, expressions and key words in different languages 2. To do etymological research about relevant words 3. To make hypothesis about different interpretations of the same quotation 4. To draw conclusions about the way languages make meaning 5. To learn about similarities and dissimilarities between different cultures 6. To learn about similarities and dissimilarities Christianity and Islam
  • Slide 4
  • Knowledge and skills related to intercultural dialogue Language and learning awareness Project skills and project work Documentation of learning process Effective communication in a multilingual context Semantic research in language learning Cultural features and stereotypes The way languages make meaning
  • Slide 5
  • Discuss structure in Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, RECLAMS UNIVERSAL-BIBLIOTHEK Nr. 19876, 2013 Philipp Reclam jun. Single out the main function of each chapter with reference to message Find out key words and expressions to convey different linguistic and cultural perspectives Carry out relevant textual analysis with reference to character, setting, narrative strategy, use of language Draw personal conclusion and argumentation supported by textual reference Relationship signifier-signified
  • Slide 6
  • Chapters 1-4 : introduction Changezs American dream comes true: education, love, job Chapter 5: first turning point World Trade Center bombing Chapters 5-9 : development Twin Towersattack consequences on Changezs life: identity crisis and nostalgia for native country Chapter 10 : second turning point Juan Bautistas words Chapters 10-12: conclusion Changezs new perspective about his Western experience
  • Slide 7
  • TOPIC: Changezs biography: childhood, graduation, job interview FUNCTION: introduction to the dramatic monologue with an unknown American THEMES: Cultures meeting: the colour of your skin, your dress, yourhair, power, non Americans, hungry; Kashmiri tea, jalebis, Punjab (Pakistan), Twenty Questions, Star Trek (West) Prejudice: type, bearing, seat, that, mental state Social classes: wealth, elite, BMW SUVs, aristocracy, bourgeoisie, middle-class
  • Slide 8
  • type (p. 6): it refers to stereotypes given by different cultures meeting as there are certain type of Americans, there are certain type of Pakistani too was (p.7): it implies there was a past not only in Princeton, but all around America judgmental (p.11): it generally refers to someone giving an opinion, or maybe a first stereotyped impression on the cultural point of view; in this case it implies someone professionally appraising during a job interview hungry (p.16): it generally refers to a physical condition typical of the Third World; here it hints at a professional hunger, a thirst of successfull career
  • Slide 9
  • TOPIC: Princetonians holiday in Greece first meeting with Erica FUNCTION: Ericas presentation THEMES: Love relationship: tiara, navel, breath, magnetism, topless, small breasts, lower back, sight Economy: courtesy gifts, dividends, funds, money, cash Cultures meeting: jeans speckled with paint, traditional dress, thirst for the improper, beard, NationalCollege of Arts Social classes meeting: refined, anachronistic, child, finite and depleting reserve of cash, traditional sense of deference, Chairman Mao
  • Slide 10
  • are (p.21): it gives the idea of an objective point the girls are attractive both from the perspective of an American and the one of Pakistani (Similarity) magnetism (p.27): it is meant as the ability to attract people, not with a scientific connotation European women were sunbathing topless, a practice I whole- heartedly supported (p.29): a Pakistani hedonistically appreciates a European womans body; but would an European like a Pakistani girl all the same? Not boring polite, respectful polite (p.30): paradoxically politeness is sometimes seen as an affected form of behaviour in the west ; in this case it is an unusual ability to give people their space, typical of Eastern culture
  • Slide 11
  • TOPIC: Changezs working life FUNCTION: introduction to theme of job-economy THEMES: American strangers prejudices: locals, us, glance, lair, predator or prey, foreigners, beggar Financial world and its opportunities: power, trainee, meritocracy, rank, bonuses, analysts, routine, seminar, chief financial officer, systematic pragmatism, professionalism, efficiency, objective, high finance, possibilities, competitive Multiculturalism in New York: urban, home, Pak-PunjabDeli, skin, immediately, possibilities, proud, accomplishment Cultures meeting: urban, Urdu, civilization, resentful, ashamed, diverse, indistinguable, food, mannerism, out of place, warrior, non-white Social classes meeting: expense accounts, cash, spend, vintage champagne, wealth and power
  • Slide 12
  • power (p.39): it refers to a metaphorical form of energy, authority, given by the view from a New Yorker skyscrapers lobby; it is not meant as physical strenght. efficiency (p.43): it generally refers to profit in productivity; here its the company trainees to be efficient: they have to produce. non-white (p.44): the use of litote from a Pakistani underlines how the majority of the group was composed by Western-white people, while the minority was represented by him and Wainwright (we dont know his origins) The Great Gatsby (p.49): the narrator mentions the novel from the American writer S. Fitzgerald to underline the lavishness of Western aristocracy, the lite of society
  • Slide 13
  • TOPIC: Erica and Changezs relationship FUNCTION: gradual adjusting to American life THEMES: American strangers prejudices: your, plenty, unfamiliar, beard, overacting, wallet, mouse Love relationship: Erica, stunning, kiss, intimate, deepening relationship, cheek, scent, softness, mouth, skin, cool, smooth Ericas introspection: dent, broken, Chris, gravity, inside,, hospital, crack Cultures meeting: smiles, theatrical,, hello, never drank, annoyed, Economys falling,Corruption, dictatorship,fundamentalism, bridle, upset, we understand one another Social classes meeting: wealthy, dress, elegant, impressive, twice the size, lived-in, home, important man, chic hearth
  • Slide 14
  • your (p.53): we dont know if the adjective is adressed only to the American listener or to the reader too. The narrators attitude is quite ambiguous here cosmopolitan (p.55): it refers to New Yorks nature; its inhabited by people of different cultures, it accomodates everyone, it is rich in providing ever new opportunities So of course he drinks (p.60): expression pronounced by Ericas mother to her husband as he took for granted a Pakistani never drinks to respect a cultural commitment gravity (p.63): it recalls magnetism (p.27) as the quality to attract people by oneselfs attitude
  • Slide 15
  • TOPIC: business trip to Manila. World Trade Center bombing FUNCTION: turning point THEMES: Financial world: outsourcing, lucrative, majors, financial model, permutations, powerful Adherence to American thought: first class, clad, better paid, self-satisfaction, prodigious, changes, American, respect, we, shark Self-awareness: comparison, wealthy, ashamed, hostility, intimate, hungry, foreign, play-acting, savor, belong, longing, nostalgia, smiled, symbolism, uncomfortable American patriotism: disgust, fist, war, angered, surprised
  • Slide 16
  • creepy (p.69): its interesting here to point out the different shades of meaning; in its own signified it creates disgust, so a sensation linked to mind; on the other hand in the Italian translation it refers to thrills, a physical perception foreign (p.74): it is linked to extraneousness; Changez is a Pakistani and he will be never considered an American, but he will always be seen as a foreigner smiled (p.79): the narrators reaction to the WTC bombing might create a feeling of abhorrence in the Western reader symbolism (p.80): the speaking voice confesses he was not caught up by the attacks victim, but by its symbolism, something particularly close to Islamic (or Eastern ones ) religion; here there is also an indirect link to Americas economical power, finally brought to her knees
  • Slide 17
  • TOPIC: approaching difficulties FUNCTION: first consequences on Changezs life THEMES: Love relationship: gravity, booty, bra, other,emotion, my, importance, protectivness Cultures meeting: uncharitable, inhumane, reproach, flag, alive, meant, prevented Americas self-supremacy:We are America the mightiest civilization the world has ever known; you have slighted us; beware our wrath
  • Slide 18
  • purpose (p.84): the narrator hints at a deeper explanation of the American strangers visit, underlining Western societies pragmatism We are America (p.86): it highlights American patriottism which came to surface after WTC bombing intertextual reference to poetry I, too by L. Hughes alive (p.88): it generally refers to the action of living, but in this case it might be metaphorically meant as someone who becomes sentimental after a sensory perception which forsters a mental process gravity (p.95): the word occurs again; the first two times it was intended as Ericas capacity to attract people; in this case it strengthens her relationship with Changez: here it is only referred to their bond
  • Slide 19
  • TOPIC: first night of love with Erica FUNCTION: first signs of Changezs crisis THEMES: Love relationship: us, pretend I am him, possessed, him, flesh, satiated, ashamed Cultural conflict: FBI, Muslim, American dream, Talibans treaths Financial world: assignment, firm,broadband provides, acquisition, client, growth Economy: Power comes from becoming change, Focus on the fundamentals
  • Slide 20
  • wanted (p.100): Changez does not want to acknowledge the gradual crumbling of his American dream, even if his doubts are going to be disillusioned so soon. Focus on the fundamentals (p.105): it is generally linked to Islamic religion; in this case it acquires an economical connotation, as the Underwood Samsons motto we (p.109): the anaphoric repetition reinforces the compactness of the group of Pakistani who built Lahore; it makes clear the narrator becomes sentimental whenever he talks about his city Pretend I am him (p.112): here Changez sacrifices his identity to satisfy a physical pleasure; all the reliability he had barely acquired is here thrown away
  • Slide 21
  • TOPIC: detachment from Erica, Changezs nostalgia FUNCTION: further consequences of WTC bombing THEMES: Nostalgia: retro, past, duty, honor, Pakistani side Discrimination: tribe, akhala-malakhala, khalapal-khalapala, Fucking Arab!, coward, Muslims discrimination Ericas inner conflict: sick girl, how, pale Financial power: personal efficacy, project, fundamentals, analyzing data, maximum productivity progress,rescinded, ranked
  • Slide 22
  • hope (p.120): it refers to Changez who never surrenders in finding Erica; it maybe connected to the same sense of optimism he felt during the period of his American dream Fucking Arab (p.123): such horrible expression highlights how Western people tend to judge at first sight whoever does not conform to their ordinary standards of physical appearance fashionable (p.125): it refers to something objectively pretty under a Western or Eastern eye without any difference
  • Slide 23
  • TOPIC: Changezs temporary return to Pakistan, Ericas depression FUNCTION: further parting from Western life THEMES: Self-awareness: observing, shamed, low lines, I, unsympathetic, angered, blind, man lacking in substance, easily influenced, behind, grappled, ironic Nostalgia: Lahore, house propercy, rich, young, life in New York Cultures meeting: beard, greeted, clean-shaven, coworkers, remarkable, verbal abuse, strangers, whispers Ericas inner conflict: clinic, deleased, alive, enough, tobe out in the world, mine take too calm, inside herself, detached, Chris
  • Slide 24
  • observing (p. 129): the term refers to different points of view which might be adopted and the consequent different interpretations given to things war (p. 132): it refers to the potential war between America and Pakistan, but for political purposes or from a cultural point of view? behind (p. 133): Changez is leaving from Pakistan to go back to America; this means hes leaving behind his family, his culture and traditions, his loyalty to Pakistan, and, in a way or another, his identity beard (p. 134): Changez decides not to shave his beard; on the denotative level it might be a trend, but the deeper meaning might be a sign of protest and a distinction of his cultural identity
  • Slide 25
  • TOPIC: business trip to Chile, meeting with Juan Bautista FUNCTION: second and last turning point THEMES: Self-awareness: blinders, stablecore, absurdity, got things done, janissaries, bout of introspection, modern-day janissary, wartime, soldiers, friends, buddies, focusing on fundamentals Changezs multicultural attitude: dog, mysticism, grandfather, thoughts, melancholy was reminded, New York, human beings, empathy
  • Slide 26
  • core (p. 152): it is the essential part of a man, it unveils ones identity; the narrator doesnt even know if it corresponds to an American or a Pakistani one jannissary (p. 155): the word commonly refers to Christian adolescents captured by the Ottomans and trained to be soldiers in Muslim army; here the correspondance with Changez: a Pakistani boy trained to be an American worker comes clear cut fundamentals (p. 158): for the whole lenghth of the novel it was not clear what kind of fundamentals the narrator refers to; here the intelligent reader understands he is talking about financial fundamentals, the ones of American power, he definitely comes to reject
  • Slide 27
  • TOPIC: Changezs layoff, Ericas disappearance FUNCTION: loss of job and love THEMES: Love relationship: gone, beautiful spot, sall, memories American nature: interference, traditional,possibility, great love, suspicious, watering, incostant, rhetoric, difference, superiority Changezs inner conflict: homeland, resented, ex-janissary,exclusive temple, funeral colours, them, spring, firefly, incoherent, emotional, madman
  • Slide 28
  • alien (p. 165): it generally refers to a condition of estrangement; it means that everyone (including Changez) tends to judge from his own culture.In this case its the speaking voice who evaluates American habits under a Pakistani point of view gone (p. 166): the word usually refers to someone who leaves and does not come back. Here is the case of Erica; the reader will never know if she is still alive or if she is dead spring (p. 168): Changez remembers his first period at Princeton and the start of his relationship with Erica now there will be a new rebirth (his self-awareness), as it happens with nature in spring
  • Slide 29
  • TOPIC: Changezs conclusive return to Pakistan FUNCTION: end of Changezs American dream THEMES: American stranger prejudices: backword, retailer, quicken, anxious, startled, pistol, following, signal,unfriendly, accusatory, potential terrorist, metal Changezs nostalgia: left,inhabitation, tidal, transported, Princeton Alumni Week, my Changezs fight for multiculturalism: to restore ones boundaries, ones, advacement, disengagement, ex-janissary, indipendence, those, idealistic, well- wishers, fireflys glow
  • Slide 30
  • fireflys glow (p. 184): it is referred to the image of a firefly that trues to attract the attention between some illuminated buildings (chapter 11) Changez competes with the common thought and tries to adopts a multicultural way of thinking. transcend (p. 184): it means going beyond ordinary limits; here it represents the choice to overcome cultural discrimination and accept cultural distinction (multiculturalism) potential terrorists (p.186): it is referred to the American strangers prejudice; as Western people are not undercover assassins, Pakistanis are not all potential terrorists