by Kamala Markandaya

NECTAR IN THE SIEVE

Set in an India village, Kamala Markandaya's Nectar in a Sieve is a gripping story of one woman's survival of a checkered life, one that had no margin for misfortune. Neither does the book have surprises nor twists, but readers will find a determined, unrelinquished fighter in a woman who bears an unfailing faith and rams through impregnable clamor that invades her life. Nectar in a Sieve is a book that will make you lump in the throat. The writing is painfully eloquent, taut, and cut-to-the-root. The living conditions, life struggles, poverty, fragility and abasement of life depicted are beyond imaginations to those who live in the first world and have never stretch a single meal portion to three meals. Everyday was a life-and-death situation.

Requirements: All work must pass with a 75% or better.

Each chapter requires a set of answers to the given questions. The answers need to be written in complete sentences (this means including the questions with in the answers).

Each chapter has vocabulary words that have three requirements. Please read the directions on the vocabulary page.

There is a required activity to be done once the book is completed.

A Final is required to complete the book requirements.

Please note; all written materials must be: In Microsoft Word, Spell and grammar checked Written in complete sentences (including spelling definitions) Sent in electronically to your teacher Please save your work frequently and save a copy for yourself

NECTAR IN THE SIEVE

CHAPTERS 1-81. How old was Rukmani when she got married and did

this reflect the cultural rules regarding marriage?

2. What is a dowry?

3. Why did the snake in the garden scare Rukmani?

4. How old was Ira when she got married and how did her age compare to Rukmani’s?

5. What was unique about the way Rukmani gave birth to her sons?

6. What caused the rice paddy to not produce any rice and Rukmani’s family to go hungry?

7. What was the tannery?

VOCABULARYWrite the definition of each word, follow it by writing the sentence it is used in in the

book, and then create a sentence of your own using the same meaning.

repining pg. 3 intonation pg. 26

vehement pg. 28 taciturn pg. 34

garrulous pg. 35 decorous pg. 38

propitious pg. 39 unfellered pg. 48

dissuade pg. 51 assuagement pg. 60

pretence pg. 68 decreed pg. 76

tawdry pg. 97 unpalatable pg. 97

condemnation pg. 99 covertly pg. 110

acquiescent pg. 111 schism pg. 124

poignancy pg. 139 countenance pg. 145

perfunctory pg. 151 impudent pg. 168

CHAPTERS 9-161. Why was Ira returned to her mother and father?

2. What was “Deepavali”?

3. Why wouldn’t Ira’s husband take her back after the doctor

had helped her get pregnant?

4. What was the cause for Rukmani’s sons departure from the tannery?

5. Where was their next choice for work?

Why did they choose that place?

6. What caused the crops to go bad?

How does it relate to other conditions in India that caused crop failure?

7. Nathan took the last of the rice and gave it to Kunthi, why?

8. What were the circumstances surrounding Raja’s death?

9. How where the circumstances surrounding baby Kunti’s death related to Raja’s?

10. What was Ira doing to try to earn money to buy food for the baby?

CHAPTERS 17-221. Why was the family so happy about the harvest that followed Kunti’s

death?

2. What was the result of Irawaddy’s night activity?

3. What job did Selvam give up the farming of the land for?

4. What was the Indian’s philosophy of expressing one’s need for help?

5. What was Kenny’s philosophy when it came to expressing one’s need for help?

6. What was different about Irawaddy’s baby boy?

7. Describe the circumstances around Granny’s death.

8. What problems did Ira’s son encounter once he began to play with other children?

CHAPTERS 17-22

1. Why did Rukmani and her husband have to leave their land?

2. How many years has the book covered up till now?

3. After Rukmani and her husband decided they would go, where did Ira and her son live?

4. In what way did the bullock's plight parallel Rukmani and her husband lives?

5. What happens to Rukmani’s and Nathan’s belongings and money?

6. How did Rukmani and Nathan survive and earn money in the city?

7. What were the circumstances surrounding Nathan’s death?

8. What did Rukmani do after Nathan died?

CHOOSE A PROJECT FROM THE PROJECT

TABLE AND TURN IN INTO YOUR

TEACHER. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT

YOU CANNOT DO A PROJECT THAT YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY

DONE FOR ANOTHER BOOK.