The Namesake

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the novel over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Sonia, Gogol’s sister, consistently has an easier time with her Indian-American identity.

• How does Gogol’s role as the firstborn define him? (topic sentence)
• In what ways are Gogol and Sonia’s experiences fundamentally different?
• What is the novel trying to say about the immigrant experience in these differences?

2. Gogol repeatedly looks to romantic relationships to separate him from his family and define him.

• What is Gogol seeking in these relationships? (topic sentence)
• How does each of these relationships prove unfulfilling or overburdened by his expectations?
• What does the novel suggest is the difficulty with this approach?

3. Many of the characters in this novel are presented as having an internal life that they keep from each other.

• What is the nature of secrets in The Namesake? (topic sentence)
• How does each of the secrets that are kept affect the relationships in the novel?
• How does this relate to the concept of having two identities/names?