Running in the Family

1. Running in the Family From Section Asian Rumors to Kegalle (i)

2. Identifying Concepts • Stream of Consciousness • Alliteration • Personification • Contradictions • Sarcasm • Irony • Varying tones • Sarcastic • Mocking • Boredom • Comical

3. Asian Rumours • This is a short two part section in the story where the narrator describes his thoughts before he leaves for Asia and how he comes to spend his days with his Aunt and sister. • What does this quote mean to you? “No story is ever told just once.”

4. A Fine Romance • During these 9 parts of the story, the narrator jumps from one time period to another with different people as the main interest and states facts that may seem insignificant to us but are entertaining none the less. • In The Courtship and April 11, 1932, we learned about the narrator’s father, his spontaneous life style, and one humorous wedding mishap. • His father had had many adventures such as “studying” at Cambridge, become engaged to 3 different woman, joining the Ceylon Light Infantry, and disastrous car rides. “My father continued with his technique of trying to solve one problem by creating another.”

5. A Fine Romane • In the next part, Honeymoon, we learn about many different political happenings that would not seem to have any connection to a honeymoon. For what reasons do you think the author had added this part to the novel? • In Historical Relations, we learn more about the narrator’s grandparents who seemed to live a rich, odd, and busy lives. In these parts we also learn of a few “casual tragedies” that the narrator seems to find more amusing than anything else. Why would the narrator describe these deaths in such a manner? • In The War Between Men and Women, we find Lalla, the narrator’s grandmother, being fondled while on the bus and taking no notice of it due to her breast being only a sponge. Why was this added to the story?

6. A Fine Romance • The scene changes yet again in Flaming Youthwhen the main interest switches to Francis de Saram, one ofthe narrator’s father’s closest friend. At the very start we learn that he was a fighter and had drowned himself in Kandy Lake due to guilt for attacking his wife. We also learn that Francis loved to drink, throw parties, and dance the tango solo. What was the purpose of introducing this man of “burned purposeless” into the narrative? • In Babylon Stakes, we learn of a love of gambling in the family and the town they lived in. There were horse races all year long and “racing concerned everyone”. After the races, the narrator describes long parties that everyone, having lost or won, would get very drunk and many would end up in various car accidents by the end of the night.

7. A Fine Romance • In Tropical Gossip, what do you think the narrator’s attitude is towards love and the romance his relatives had. “Love affairs rainbowed over marriages and lasted forever – so it often seemed that marriage was the greater infidelity.” • Secret lives are questioned yet again, only this time they are mysteries of the heart such as affairs and marriages all in stories, unknown and undiscussed by the family.

8. A Fine Romance • This scene is situated in the town of Kegallewhich is the location of the author`s family home, where he gives reason for why his families tendency to avoid their problems • What are some tactics that were established in his family that caused such dysfunction?