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Sunday 27 January 2013

Anita and Me, Chapters 1-2


Chapter 1:
·         Main Events:
o   Meena’s father takes her to Mr Ormerod’s shop to force her to admit that she stole money. Meena had claimed that she’d been given sweets for free but in the end admits that she took money to avoid the shame of Mr Ormerod knowing what she did.
·         Background Stories:
o   Meena recalls Mrs Worrall showing her a photograph of Tollington when the mine was still open.
o   Meena explains that the Big House has been bought by someone mysterious who sometimes gets expensive deliveries.
o   Meena first mentions that their garden is full of herbs and plants unlike the colourful gardens around her.
o   Meena recalls first meeting Anita, who lies and claims her dad is a sailor in an advert. Confused by this, Meena spoke to Anita’s dad and asked him if he missed the sea.
o   Meena explains about the ‘Ballbearings women’ who work in a factory. Their husbands used to work in the mines and now stay at home.
o   Mr Ormerod is introduced as an overly enthusiastic Christian.
o   Meena recalls being punished in class that week for kicking a boy who had made a racist comment.
Chapter 2:
·         Main Events:
o   Meena overhears her parents arguing when they get home.
·         Background Stories:
o   Meena recalls a birthday when she went into Wolverhampton with her parents. On the way home, she choked on a sausage but was saved when the car went over a bump and the sausage flew out.
o   Meena also comments on the Indian clothes her mother wears when out and the fact her mother refuses to eat out.
o   Meena comments on how the neighbours respect her mother and see her as ‘the epitome of grace, dignity and unthreatening charm.’ However, Meena also notes that her mother makes fun of the English behind their backs. This is made clear when Meena tries to encourage her mother to grow flowers and have gnomes in her garden, a suggestion met with sneers.
o   Meena talks about her ‘Aunties and Uncles’, not actual relations but Indian friends who regularly visit and act as extended family. Meena does try to explain this to her neighbour, Mrs Worrall.
o   Meena remembers overhearing romantic stories of her parents meeting and describes her parent’s life in India.
o   Meena remembers a favourite story of how her mother witnessed a murder a long time ago.

3 comments:

  1. fantastic! very good job well done. Im so proud.

    ReplyDelete
  2. helped me alot to make notes

    ReplyDelete