Names: Mariana Fernandez, Camila Gomez and Maria Jose Hernandez

Close Reading Exercise

1003

pp. 50-51 the grandfathers

If Papa-Nnukwu minded that his son sent him impersonal, paltry amounts of money through a driver,
he didn’t show it. He hadn’t shown it last Christmas, or the Christmas before. He had never shown it. It
was so different from the way Papa had treated my maternal grandfather until he died five years ago.
When we arrived at Abba every Christmas, Papa would stop by Grandfather’s house at our ikwu nne,
Mother’s maiden home, before we even drove to our own compound. Grandfather was very light-
skinned, almost albino, and it was said to be one of the reasons the missionaries had liked him. He
determinedly spoke English, always, in a heavy Igbo accent. He knew Latin, too, often quoted the
articles of Vatican I, and spent most of his time at St. Paul’s, where he had been the first catechist. He
had insisted that we call him Grandfather, in English, rather than Papa-Nnukwu or Nna-Ochie. Papa
still talked about him often, his eyes proud, as if Grandfather were his own father. He opened his eyes
before many of our people did, Papa would say; he was one of the few who welcomed the
missionaries. Do you know how quickly he learned English? When he became an interpreter, do you
know how many converts he helped win? Why, he converted most of Abba himself! He did things the
right way, the way the white people did, not what our people do now! Papa had a photo of
Grandfather, in the full regalia of the Knights of St. John, framed in deep mahogany and hung on our
wall back in Enugu. I did not need that photo to remember Grandfather, though. I was only ten when
he died, but I remembered his almost-green albino eyes, the way he seemed to use the word sinner in
every sentence.

Who wrote the text ?: This is an extract from the book Purple Hibiscus novel, it was written by the
Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Who was it written for?: The book was written for english speakers; Nigerian or anyone who would
like to know about their culture.

Why did the author write this?: For showing the way Papa used to treat Mama’s father and how
different he treats Papa Nnukwu. Furthermore, this passage rectifies that Papa’s beliefs completely
affect his treatment to others. ‘

What is the text about? This text is about the dynamic between Papa and Kambili's grandparent, in
this particular casa Papas Dad and Beatrice father. Furthermore, in this passage it's seen how Papas
believes have determined his relationships. This is seen in how he's preference for Beatrice Dad is
related to how cristhian he is. In contrast, the way he despises his father it's a reflection of how
“Pagan ” he considers him. In the same way, the author uses cultural meaningful elements to show
Papas perspective. This is illustrated by how papa felt proud about Beatrice father rejecting
elements of the culture such as the tradition of calling “Papa-Nnukwu '' to their grandparents.
Likewise, in the phrase , He did things the right way, the way the white people did, not what our
people do now”
It's possible to see how Papa not only thinks white people do things better in comparison to their
race but also he considers him a role model in society.
What is the writer's tone? The tone is quite judgemental because Kambili is remembering
something but, more importantly, she is making a comparison between Papa’s treatment to Papa
Nnukwu and to Mama’s father. Moreover, she is judging her Grandfather’s actions, concluding that he
used to do everything right. Also, the tone is very informal. And, finally, it is nostalgic because she is
remembering and talking about the past, and her Grandfather’s death.

How does the text make the reader feel ? The text makes the reader feel reflective and
contemplative.

What stylistic devices the writer uses? The text is mainly a flashback in which Kambili is
remembering how Christmas used to be when her Grandfather was alive.

This is an extract from the novel Purple Hibiscus, which was written by the Nigerian author
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The book was written for english speakers; Nigerian or anyone who
would like to know about their culture. Furthermore, this passage was written with the purpose of
showing the way Papa used to treat Mama’s father and how different he treats Papa Nnukwu.
Kambili presents this idea on the following quote: “It was so different from the way Papa had treated
my maternal grandfather”. Moreover, this text is about the dynamics between Papa and Kambili's
grandparents, in this particular case Papas Dad and Beatrice father. Furthermore, in this passage it's
seen how Papas believes have determined his relationships. This is shown in he's preference for
Beatrice Dad which is related to his religion, race and culture. In contrast, the reader infers that the
way Papa despises his father it's a reflection of how “Pagan ” he considers him, as shown by “his son
sent him impersonal, paltry amounts of money through a driver”, showing the void relationship that
Papa maintains with his dad. In the same way, the author uses cultural meaningful elements to show
Papas perspective. This is illustrated by how Papa felt proud about Beatrice's father rejecting
elements of his own culture such as the tradition of calling “Papa-Nnukwu'' to their grandparents as
it can be portrait when Kambili says: “ He had insisted that we call him Grandfather, in English, rather
than Papa-Nnukwu or Nna-Ochie. Papa still talked about him often, his eyes proud, as if Grandfather
were his own father.” Likewise, in the phrase, “He did things the right way, the way the white people
did, not what our people do now”, it's possible to see how Papa not only believes that white people do
things better, in comparison to their race, but also he considers him as a role model for society. As a
result, the tone of the passage is quite judgemental because Kambili is making a comparison
between Papa’s treatment to Papa Nnukwu and to Mama’s father. Moreover, she is judging her
Grandfather’s actions, concluding that he used to do everything right. Also, the tone is very informal.
And, it is nostalgic because she is remembering and talking about the past, and her Grandfather’s
death. Finally, the text makes the reader feel reflective and contemplative as a result of what is
mainly based on flashbacks, in which Kambili is remembering how Christmas used to be when her
Grandfather was alive.