Practice Questions

Their relationship is discovered, leading to tragedy

Women are depicted as powerful and independent

Women are shown as victims of patriarchal oppression and societal expectations

Everyday moments that have significant emotional impact

It reflects the trauma and emotional turmoil he experiences

Through the depiction of social class struggles and communist marches

Through the characters’ involvement in political revolutions

Through the relation of the characters to the political leaders

<h3 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Baby Kochamma's Manipulative Role in Sophie Mol's Death</h3><ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);"><li><b>Background of Baby Kochamma:</b> Baby Kochamma is a central antagonist in Arundhati Roy's novel, <i>The God of Small Things</i>. She is the grand-aunt of Rahel and Estha and plays a significant role in the tragic events that unfold.</li><li><b>Indirect Causation through Manipulation:</b> While Baby Kochamma does not directly kill Sophie Mol, her actions and manipulative nature are instrumental in creating the circumstances that lead to the child's drowning.</li><li><b>Instigating the Trip:</b> She plants the idea in the children's minds, particularly Rahel's and Estha's, that they should go canoeing on the river to see the `History House`. She subtly encourages this dangerous adventure, knowing full well the risks involved for unsupervised children.</li><li><b>False Testimony and Betrayal:</b> After Sophie Mol's death, Baby Kochamma, driven by her deep-seated prejudices and desire to maintain social standing, falsely testifies to the police. She implicates Velutha, an 'untouchable' whom Ammu (the children's mother) loved, accusing him of molesting Rahel and Estha, and thus indirectly linking him to Sophie Mol's death. This false testimony leads to Velutha's brutal murder by the police.</li><li><b>Motivation for Manipulation:</b> Her manipulation stems from her rigid adherence to social hierarchies, her jealousy of Ammu's independence, and her desire to control the family's narrative and reputation, especially after the arrival of Sophie Mol and the perceived disruption of traditional norms.</li><li><b>Psychological Impact:</b> Her manipulative actions cause immense trauma and injustice, fundamentally shaping the lives of the characters, particularly Rahel and Estha, who carry the guilt and psychological scars of the events into adulthood.</li></ul><h4 style="color: rgb(255,255,255);">Key Facts about <i>The God of Small Things</i> for Competitive Exams:</h4><ul style="color: rgb(255,255,255);"><li><b>Author:</b> <i>Arundhati Roy</i></li><li><b>Year of Publication:</b> 1997</li><li><b>Literary Award:</b> Winner of the <i>Booker Prize</i> in 1997, making Arundhati Roy the first Indian author to win the prestigious award.</li><li><b>Setting:</b> The story is primarily set in <i>Ayemenem</i>, a village in the state of <i>Kerala, India</i>.</li><li><b>Major Themes:</b> The novel explores complex themes such as <i>casteism</i> (the 'Love Laws' and forbidden love), <i>social hierarchy</i>, <i>childhood trauma</i>, <i>loss</i>, <i>forbidden love</i>, and the impact of <i>political changes</i> on personal lives.</li><li><b>Narrative Structure:</b> The novel employs a non-linear narrative, moving back and forth in time, revealing the tragic events gradually.</li></ul>

She is innocent and unaware of the consequences

She manipulates the situation to control the family

Time is fragmented and revisited through the characters’ memories

By showing the deep, loving relationships between all family members

By focusing on the ways in which secrets, betrayals, and love intertwine

By presenting an idealized version of family life

By  providing good cast understandings among the society

Her love for Velutha and societal rejection

That love is bound by societal restrictions and laws

That love transcends all boundaries, even incestuous ones

They grow up to become successful and happy

They both carry emotional scars that affect their adult lives

) She dies without being able to achieve her dreams

She is separated from her children and abandoned by society

A loving mother who supports her children

It leads to his mistreatment and eventual death

It makes him an important figure in the community

Through the love between Ammu and Velutha, which is condemned by society

Through the relationship between Chacko and Margaret

Through the unknown love between Baby Kochamma and Priest

They share an intense, almost symbiotic bond

They are competitive and indifferent to each other

It creates a sense of mystery and reveals the past through the lens of memory

It is an experimental narrative style with no particular reason

It is beautify the structure of the novel

A turning point in the family's tragic history

A source of conflict between Ammu and her family

A turning point of the novel into a happy ending

A man who molests Estha in a traumatic incident

Rahel and Estha pushed her into the water

He becomes emotionally numb and stops speaking

As scandalous and unacceptable due to caste discrimination

A refuge for the twins after Sophie Mol’s death

They are blamed and emotionally traumatized

The effects of the caste system and social discrimination

Sophie Mol's arrival and her tragic death

It refers to the importance of minor events in life

It is about a god worshipped in the village

It represents the small joys of childhood

It refers to the relation between God and world

A priest who worked with Baby Kochamma's father

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