The in-Between World of Vikram Lall Practice Commentary
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IB HL English Christopher Wong The In-Between World of Vikram Lall Practice Commentary The excerpt is from The In-Between World of Vikram Lall by M G Vassanji. It details the story of two siblings being attacked for their interracial relationships. This passage articulates societal interracial perspectives. The passage begins with the narrator with is sister. The “tremor” of his sister’s arm creates the first paragraph’s dramatic effect (1). Afterward, the narrator describes his setting, a “mosque” towering in all its “grandeur,” creating sublime (2). The increasing intensity of the bestial noises creates more dramatic effect. The narrator first hears a dog “bark” which suddenly turns into a “terrifying, unearthly squeal” then finally into “howling like wild dogs” and “demons” (7). Additionally, the descriptions suggest that interracial relationships are threatened with ferocity like wild and “unearthly” beasts. Later, the speaker announces that his sister and him were “surrounded,” advancing the dramatic effect. Being surrounded may indicate the constant persecution of those in interracial relationships. The imagery of Elvis is fascinating. Elvis may be a sexual representation with his “shirt open” with “pants crotch-tight” (10). This depiction may be a mockery of interracial relationships.
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An IB HL English written (typed) commentary on a passage of "The in-Between World of Vikram Lall". Two paragraphs were analyzed.
Transcript of The in-Between World of Vikram Lall Practice Commentary
IB HL EnglishChristopher Wong
The In-Between World of Vikram Lall Practice Commentary
The excerpt is from The In-Between World of Vikram Lall by M G Vassanji.
It details the story of two siblings being attacked for their interracial relationships.
This passage articulates societal interracial perspectives.
The passage begins with the narrator with is sister. The “tremor” of his
sister’s arm creates the first paragraph’s dramatic effect (1). Afterward, the
narrator describes his setting, a “mosque” towering in all its “grandeur,” creating
sublime (2). The increasing intensity of the bestial noises creates more dramatic
effect. The narrator first hears a dog “bark” which suddenly turns into a “terrifying,
unearthly squeal” then finally into “howling like wild dogs” and “demons” (7).
Additionally, the descriptions suggest that interracial relationships are threatened
with ferocity like wild and “unearthly” beasts. Later, the speaker announces that
his sister and him were “surrounded,” advancing the dramatic effect. Being
surrounded may indicate the constant persecution of those in interracial
relationships. The imagery of Elvis is fascinating. Elvis may be a sexual
representation with his “shirt open” with “pants crotch-tight” (10). This depiction
may be a mockery of interracial relationships.
The climax of this paragraph is when the speaker and his sister were
cornered. They became the “kill” of the “demons” and “howling dogs” (13).
However, the appearance of a “white” Mercedes, which “swerved” to the rescue,
may be a depiction of hope. The verb “swerve” can indicate a last-minute action
illustrating the urgent situation. In the arrival of the “white” Mercedes, the
attackers “scampered” away in the “dark” like “cockroaches” (15). The contrast
between dark and white could be interpreting racial tensions. The “white”
Mercedes was portrayed as the “hero” and the attackers, who “scampered” into
the “dark”, as animalistic antagonists. These descriptions imply that darker colors
represent evil and treachery while lighter colors represent hope and positivity.
