Unit #2- Nectar In A Sieve Journal Responses

Directions: While reading Nectar in a Sieve, you will complete three different personal
response journal entries between October 17th and October 24th/25th. These entries will be
narrative in style, employ the use of personal pronouns and incorporate some degree of
personal creativity or reflection. You will have your option of choosing from the following
narrative prompts and we ask that you do not repeat the same type of prompt twice.

Formatting & Submittal: Responses should include a MLA heading, use Microsoft
Word, 12 pt. font, 1.5 spacing, and be no more than 1.5 pages in length. Responses will be
submitted electronically via Canvas.

Criterion: You will be assessed on thoughtful engagement with the text. Please strive to
insightfully or creatively incorporate your interpretation of the theories, concepts, and or
techniques evident in Markandaya’s novel.

Journal Response Options: Kindly note that for some prompts, a series of clarifying
questions or statements follow. You do not have to respond to each of these ideas but do
consider them before responding.

1. Write a personal reflection in which you explain how an aspect of the novel (setting,
character, theme, etc.,) relates to an ESLR or your understanding or embodiment of this
ESLR thus far:

● Insightful Learners
● Effective Communicators
● Reflective Spiritual Beings
● Active Global Citizens
● Principle-Centered Leaders and Team Members

2. What quality of which character strikes you as a good characteristic to develop within
yourself? Why? How does the character demonstrate this quality?
3. Pick a scene in which you disagreed with how a character handled a situation and rewrite it in
the way you think it should have happened.

4. Describe and/or explain why you would or would not, like to visit or live in the time and
place the novel characterizes.

5. What real-life people or events are you reminded of, when considering the characters or
events in the story? Explain why.

6. Who tells the story? Is this the best person to tell it? Why or why not? How would the story
be different if told through another character's eyes?

7. Copy a passage from the novel you find significant and explain why you chose it.

8. Embody a character from the novel and write freely from his or her perspective. Strive to
capture their world as Kamala Markandaya created it.

9. Write a letter from one character to another character. Strive to embody the characteristics of
that individual as he or she appears on the page, staying true to Markandaya’s vision.

10. Write how you feel about the ending? Why do you think the author chose to end the novel
the way she did? Do you think the ending is effective, realistic, necessary? Why or why not?

11. What unanswered questions do you still have about the story? How do these ambiguities sit
with you? Explain.

12. Reflect upon what you have read thus far in the form a poem or embody the voice of a
character in the form of a poem, utilizing as little or as much structure as you would like.

Due Dates:

1. October 17/18th: First Journal Response

2. October 21/22nd: Second Journal Response
3. October 24/25thth: Third Journal Respons
Vienna Wang
Dagne Furth
Grade 10 English
October 17, 2019

What quality of which character strikes you as a good characteristic to develop

within yourself? Why? How does the character demonstrate this quality?

Journal reflection #1

The exquisite novel written by Kamala Markandaya centers around a young woman

entitled Rukmani; throughout the book, Rukmani confronts a great deal of oppression;

however, not only is Rukmani able to overcome the injustice that she faces but she can

acquire knowledge from the misfortune brought upon her. Additionally, Rukmani

demonstrates characteristics of perseverance and adaptability to every problematic

circumstance she encounters. The first recognition of Rukmani’s virtuous characteristics

depicted in Chapter one, Markandaya writes a fascinating phrase “A poor match...How little

they knew, any of them!” (4) Within this quote encompasses Rukmani’s never diminishing

sense of optimism, Markandaya deliberately deprecates Rukmani’s existence within her

family, portraying foreshadowing the adversity to brought upon Rukmani during her

lifetime. However, the quote also follows to state, “How little they knew, any of them” (4)

enlighten the readers with a valuable lesson, with every suffering encountered and

accomplished, comes knowledge and wisdom that cannot arise from ordinary occurrences.

Furthermore, as Rukmani meets with countless unimaginable setbacks with her lifetime,

Rukmani can remain persistent with an assured outlook of the outcome.

 In a like manner, Markandaya manipulates Rukmani’s character to demonstrate her

philosophies through Rukmani. As Rukmani is the protagonist of “Nectar in a Sieve,” the

audience is prone to have a deeper understanding of Rukmani than to any additional

character, as the novel is in Rukmani’s point of view. Moreover, Rukmani’s characteristic

incorporates the virtues that Markandaya follows, additionally imparting the same qualities

to the audience.
 Describe and/or explain why you would or would not, like to visit or live in the time

and place the novel characterizes.

Journal Reflection #2

The time and place in which the characters reside are sub-par to the ideal

living criteria of the social hierarchy established during the current period of “Nectar in a

Sieve.” Additionally, As the novel progresses, the book displays deep-rooted traditions that

are founded long before the society of “Nectar in a Sieve,” including inequality and

injustices toward women and individuals in poverty. Although simulating the adversities

that Rukmani faces within “Nectar in a sieve” is an insightful and educational experience,

the prejudiced nature of “Nectar in a Sieve” counteracts the motivations for constructing a

family within the Indian culture; additionally, with the progressions that humans have

accomplished within throughout history the gap that separates equity between men and

women has significantly decreased. Furthermore, the novel states “For it is not meet for a

woman to address her husband as “husband.”” (5) Demonstrating the relentless injustice

women worldwide face. Additionally, through the quote, the audience conceives a

distinctive awareness of the void conventional culture that influences families in India, as

the author does discuss talk since these guidelines infused into the culture practiced in

India.

Additionally, women are constantly burdened with the responsibility of bearing sons

rather than daughters. Depicted in the book, Rukmani is incapable of bearing sons the

following six years after the birth of Ira; in the novel, Markandaya meticulously displays the

dissatisfaction the villagers and Nathan have upon Rukmani. As a society that values the

presence of men over women Rukmani feels an immense pressure fulfill the community’s
prospects; I do not have the desire to be a resident of Rukmani’s village, as a woman taking

on the injustice that Rukmani faces is irrationally rivaled to the progress humans built as a

society. Although Rukmani consents to the proclamation that women are inferior to men

due to her religious background infused into their culture, widening the gap between males

and females can only unbind the delicate system that links the current civilization together.

Not only does gender inequality play an essential factor but as “Nectar in a Sieve”

progresses, disaster is brought upon the villagers causing the entirety of the community to

collapse into poverty, demonstrating that the society did not have the sustainable recourses

to maintain a secure union with adequate quantities of sustenance for the entire town.

Therefore, the society of “Nectar in a Sieve” is incomparable to the progressions humans

have made in the present, regardless of the wisdom that is instilled upon a person

confronted with endeavors comparable to the suffering Rukmani faces in “Nectar in a

Sieve.”