THEMATIC BOOK REPORTEMMA SHAPLAND
CCS CLASS 6X11-18-2009
Keeping Corner
Keeping Corner’s:
SettingReligious and Other BeliefsHistorical Events and FiguresMain CharactersPlotConflictsThemes Author
Setting:
The year is 1918, nearly 100 before 2009
We are in India British rule over India as a
colony Hindu religion Caste system
In a small village called Jamlee
No cars or pavement, but carriages driven by livestock on dirt roads
Many fairs, events and dinners In a Brahman Household
Dirt floors Shed with a Bullock Courtyard Extended family living
Religious and Other Beliefs
Hinduism: polytheism, Rama is key godCaste System: several social classes of traditional
Hindu societyBrahman
Hindu belonging to the highest caste Subject to strict rules Example: Widows must “keep corner”
– stay confined to your house for a year Widowhood
Keep Corner Mourn the loss of your husband Shave head Shunned by all
BRITISH RULE- AND -
GANDHI
Historical Events and Figures
British Rulewww.flowofhistory.com
Gandhiwww.camat.comwww.flowof history.comwww.indianchild.com
• How you act is more important than what you achieve
• Let Satygarah against British rule• Satygarah = peaceful resistance
• Saty = truth• agrah = insistence
• Willing to go to jail for Satygarah• Went to jail many times • Spent 7 years in jail
• Gandhi became voice of Indian National Congress in 1920
• Forced Britain to give India independence in 1947
• Killed in 1947 by one of his followers
Main CharacterLeela is a
13-year-old Indian girl of the Brahman caste
She lives with her Ba (mother) Bapuji (father) Kaka (paternal uncle) Kaki (uncle’s wife)
She was engaged at two, married at nine planning at 13 to move
into the home of her husband
Plot
Conflict
One conflict is between Leela wants for herself and what society expects of her: “A widow’s life is a living death.”
Conflict
There is also a conflict between India and Britain, which rules India
Freedom can overcome oppression
You should be willing to find a new way
Leela was oppressed by tradition and beliefs about widows “A widow’s arms are
forever quiet.”The Indian people
were oppressed by Britain
Both Leela and the Indian people had to decide which path to take: the old way or the new way Being a widow means
keeping corner for the rest of your life.”
When society paves the road, you do not have to follow it—Emma Shapland
Themes
Author
Name: Kashmira ShethBiography:
Born in Bhavangar, India Moved to U.S. to attend Iowa State University at 17 Earned microbiology degree Decided to become author after inspiring letter from uncle Currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband and two
daughtersOther Books: Blue Jasmine, Koyal Dark, Mango SweetLanguages: Hindi, Gujarati, English and SanskritFavorite Genre: Historical fictionAwards:
2006-07 Iowa Children’s Choice Award Nominee; Oklahoma’s 2007 Children’s Sequoyah Award Masterlist; Paul Zoindel First Novel Award; 2005 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award; ALA Great Middle School Reads; CCBC Choice 2005 (source www.community.livejounal.com)