Levels of Questions

Level 1: Literal
Basic comprehension questions—they have a right answer that can be found explicitly in the text. They are based on readily available facts about the text. They are like quick quiz questions!

Examples:
Which birds could Rukmani hear when she was pounding chili?
What is the setting of the story?
What was once Rukmani’s fathers’ occupation?


Level 2: Inferential
These are higher level thinking questions—students have to infer the answer to these analytical questions. They often address symbolic or thematic issues in a text or questions that beg literary analysis. These questions are directly related to elements of plot, literary technique, or author’s intent.

Examples:
What is Markandaya saying about social hierarchy in Nectar in a Sieve?
Why may have Markandaya titled her novel “Nectar in a Sieve”?
What was Kunthi trying to imply when she threatened to tell Nathan about Rukmani’s visits to Kenny? Why is this important?


Level 3: text-text or text-world
These are also higher level thinking questions that ask students to synthesize, reflect, compare, and/or contrast.
They address larger ideas or themes that occur in the world, in human nature, or across texts. One may start with a general theme present in a text, but expand the idea to issues beyond the text at hand or to other texts.

Examples:
What effect does poverty have on an individual, and then on a society as a whole?
In what ways does characterization, in Nectar in a Sieve reveal Markandaya’s view of the role of women in society?
How are Nathan and Wang Lung similar in their devotion to their land - and why do they fail to pass on this passion to their sons?

The Caste System in India - History and Modern Perspectives

India's Population

• Today, India has a population of over 1.1 billion people
• About 80% of Indians are Hindus
• About 13% of Indians are Muslims
• There are more native English speakers in India than in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand combined
• It is the second most populous country in the world today
• It houses about 16% of the world's population - on 2% of the world's landmass
• Approximately 70% of people live in villages
• The other 30% people live in 200 cities across the country

India's Languages

• India is a land of many languages - 16 official ones, including English
• In the north, Indo-European languages are spoken: Hindu, Guajarati, Bengali, Punjabi
• These languages are distantly related to English
• In the south, Dravidian languages are spoken: Tamil, Malayam, Telegu
• These languages have little in common with the languages of the north

Indian History

• The British ruled India from 1858-1947
• The kings and queens of England were also Emperors and Empresses of India from 1876-1947
• In 1947, India gained independence from Britian, thanks in part to Gandhi
• The country was divided (partitioned) into Pakistan (Muslim majority) and India (Hindu majority)
• Partition was a very bloody time; Muslims and Hindus fought many battles
• The area of Punjab is still claimed by both Pakistan and India
• The 1950s and 1960s were a time of economic development for India
• Modernization came to India, but at a human price

The Caste System

• The Hindu population is divided into four (4) official castes: Brahmin (priests and scholars), Kshatria (rulers and aristocrats), Vaisia (businessmen and landlords), Sudra (peasants and workers)
• The higher the caste, generally the richer the members of the caste
• The Sudra have few economic and social rights
• A fifth caste is a "non-caste", known by several different names: the Untouchables (higher castes were not supposed to touch them), Dalits ("the oppressed" - the politically correct term today), Scheduled castes (because they are "scheduled" by the government to receive fairer treatment).

The Fifth Caste

• The Untouchables did the work that the other casts considered unclean: butchers, latrine cleaners, tannery workers
• The Untouchables had almost no rights
• They were often considered as a "pollution" and had to live away from the others
• Discrimination against the lower castes was outlawed in 1947
• In reality, discrimination is still common, especially in traditional rural areas
• Many Dalits have gone into the public service and work for the government