Mohsin Hamid THE RELU TANT FUNDAMENTALIST Liceo Scientifico

Mohsin Hamid, THE RELU TANT FUNDAMENTALIST Liceo Scientifico “Albert Einstein”, Cervignano del Friuli Grando Leonardo, Pavoni Francesco, Puppo Simone 5^ALS Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, RECLAMS UNIVERSAL-BIBLIOTHEK Nr. 19876, © 2013 Philipp Reclam jun.

What? OBJECTIVES § § § To identify the structure of the novel To single out relevant intercultural themes To select linguistic phrases, expressions, key words for the intercultural analysis of the novel SUBJECTS INVOLVED 1. English 2. Italian 3. IRC language and literature language (teaching Catholic religion)

Intercultural objectives 1. To compare linguistic phrases, expressions and key words in different languages 2. To do etymological research about relevant words 3. To make hypothesis about different interpretations of the same quotation 4. To draw conclusions about the way languages make meaning 5. To learn about similarities and dissimilarities between different cultures 6. To learn about similarities and dissimilarities Christianity and Islam

Expected Outcomes § Knowledge and skills related to intercultural dialogue § Language and learning awareness § Project skills and project work § Documentation of learning process § Effective communication in a multilingual context § Semantic research in language learning § Cultural features and stereotypes § The way languages make meaning

End of project objectives § Discuss structure in Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, RECLAMS UNIVERSAL-BIBLIOTHEK Nr. 19876, © 2013 Philipp Reclam jun. § Single out the main function of each chapter with reference to message § Find out key words and expressions to convey different linguistic and cultural perspectives § Carry out relevant textual analysis with reference to character, setting, narrative strategy, use of language § Draw personal conclusion and argumentation supported by textual reference § Relationship signifier-signified

The Dramatic Monologue Sequences Chapters 1 -4 : introduction – Changez’s American dream comes true: education, love, job Chapter 5: first turning point – World Trade Center bombing Chapters 5 -9 : development – Twin Towers’attack consequences on Changez’s life: identity crisis and nostalgia for native country Chapter 10 : second turning point – Juan Bautista’s words Chapters 10 -12: conclusion – Changez’s new perspective about his Western experience

Chapter 1 TOPIC: Changez’s biography: childhood, graduation, job interview FUNCTION: introduction to the dramatic monologue with an unknown American THEMES: § Cultures meeting: the colour of your skin, your dress, yourhair, power, non Americans, hungry; Kashmiri tea, jalebis, Punjab (Pakistan), Twenty Questions, Star Trek (West) § Prejudice: type, bearing, seat, that, mental state § Social classes: wealth, elite, BMW SUVs, aristocracy, bourgeoisie, middle-class

Key words and expressions type (p. 6): it refers to stereotypes given by different cultures’ meeting as there are certain type of Americans, there are certain type of Pakistani too was (p. 7): it implies there was a past not only in Princeton, but all around America judgmental (p. 11): it generally refers to someone giving an opinion, or maybe a first stereotyped impression on the cultural point of view; in this case it implies someone professionally appraising during a job interview hungry (p. 16): it generally refers to a physical condition typical of the Third World; here it hints at a “professional” hunger, a thirst of successfull career

Chapter 2 TOPIC: Princetonians’ holiday in Greece first meeting with Erica FUNCTION: Erica’s presentation THEMES: § Love relationship: tiara, navel, breath, magnetism, topless, small breasts, lower back, sight § Economy: courtesy gifts, dividends, funds, money, cash § Cultures meeting: jeans speckled with paint, traditional dress, thirst for the improper, beard, National. College of Arts § Social classes meeting: refined, anachronistic, child, finite and depleting reserve of cash, traditional sense of deference, Chairman Mao

Key words and expressions are (p. 21): it gives the idea of an objective point the girls are attractive both from the perspective of an American and the one of Pakistani (Similarity) magnetism (p. 27): it is meant as the ability to attract people, not with a scientific connotation “European women were sunbathing topless, a practice I wholeheartedly supported” (p. 29): a Pakistani hedonistically appreciates a European woman’s body; but would an European like a Pakistani girl all the same? » “Not boring polite, respectful polite” (p. 30): paradoxically politeness is sometimes seen as an affected form of behaviour in the west ; in this case it is an unusual ability to give people their space, typical of Eastern culture

Chapter 3 TOPIC: Changez’s working life FUNCTION: introduction to theme of job-economy THEMES: § American stranger’s prejudices: locals, us, glance, lair, predator or prey, foreigner’s, beggar § Financial world and its opportunities: power, trainee, meritocracy, rank, bonuses, analysts, routine, seminar, chief financial officer, systematic pragmatism, professionalism, efficiency, objective, high finance, possibilities, competitive § Multiculturalism in New York: urban, home, Pak-Punjab. Deli, skin, immediately, possibilities, proud, accomplishment § Cultures meeting: urban, Urdu, civilization, resentful, ashamed, diverse, indistinguable, food, mannerism, out of place, warrior, non-white § Social classes meeting: expense accounts, cash, spend, vintage champagne, wealth and power

Key words and expressions power (p. 39): it refers to a metaphorical form of energy, authority, given by the view from a New Yorker skyscraper’s lobby; it is not meant as physical strenght. efficiency (p. 43): it generally refers to profit in productivity; here it’s the company trainees to be efficient: they have to produce. non-white (p. 44): the use of litote from a Pakistani underlines how the majority of the group was composed by Western-white people, while the minority was represented by him and Wainwright (we don’t know his origins) “The Great Gatsby” (p. 49): the narrator mentions the novel from the American writer S. Fitzgerald to underline the lavishness of Western aristocracy, the élite of society

Chapter 4 TOPIC: Erica and Changez’s relationship FUNCTION: gradual adjusting to American life THEMES: § American stranger’s prejudices: your, plenty, unfamiliar, beard, overacting, wallet, mouse § Love relationship: Erica, stunning, kiss, intimate, deepening relationship, cheek, scent, softness, mouth, skin, cool, smooth § Erica’s introspection: dent, broken, Chris, gravity, inside, , hospital, crack § Cultures meeting: smiles, theatrical, , hello, never drank, annoyed, Economy’s falling, Corruption, dictatorship, fundamentalism, bridle, upset, we understand one another § Social classes meeting: wealthy, dress, elegant, impressive, twice the size, lived-in, home, important man, chic hearth

Key words and expressions your (p. 53): we don’t know if the adjective is adressed only to the American listener or to the reader too. The narrator’s attitude is quite ambiguous here cosmopolitan (p. 55): it refers to New York’s nature; it’s inhabited by people of different cultures, it accomodates everyone, it is rich in providing ever new opportunities “So of course he drinks” (p. 60): expression pronounced by Erica’s mother to her husband as he took for granted a Pakistani never drinks to respect a cultural commitment gravity (p. 63): it recalls magnetism (p. 27) as the quality to attract people by oneself’s attitude

Chapter 5 TOPIC: business trip to Manila. World Trade Center bombing FUNCTION: turning point THEMES: § Financial world: outsourcing, lucrative, majors, financial model, permutations, powerful § Adherence to American thought: first class, clad, better paid, self-satisfaction, prodigious, changes, American, respect, we, shark § Self-awareness: comparison, wealthy, ashamed, hostility, intimate, hungry, foreign, play-acting, savor, belong, longing, nostalgia, smiled, symbolism, uncomfortable § American patriotism: disgust, fist, war, angered, surprised

Key words and expressions creepy (p. 69): it’s interesting here to point out the different shades of meaning; in its own signified it creates disgust, so a sensation linked to mind; on the other hand in the Italian translation it refers to thrills, a physical perception foreign (p. 74): it is linked to extraneousness; Changez is a Pakistani and he will be never considered an American, but he will always be seen as a foreigner smiled (p. 79): the narrator’s reaction to the WTC bombing might create a feeling of abhorrence in the Western reader symbolism (p. 80): the speaking voice confesses he was not caught up by the attack’s victim, but by its symbolism, something particularly close to Islamic (or Eastern ones ) religion; here there is also an indirect link to America’s economical power, finally “brought to her knees”

Chapter 6 TOPIC: approaching difficulties FUNCTION: first consequences on Changez’s life THEMES: § Love relationship: gravity, booty, bra, other, emotion, my, importance, protectivness § Cultures meeting: uncharitable, inhumane, reproach, flag, alive, meant, prevented § America’s self-supremacy: “We are America the mightiest civilization the world has ever known; you have slighted us; beware our wrath”

Key words and expressions purpose (p. 84): the narrator hints at a deeper explanation of the American stranger’s visit, underlining Western societies’ pragmatism “We are America” (p. 86): it highlights American patriottism which came to surface after WTC bombing intertextual reference to poetry I, too by L. Hughes alive (p. 88): it generally refers to the action of living, but in this case it might be metaphorically meant as someone who becomes sentimental after a sensory perception which forsters a mental process gravity (p. 95): the word occurs again; the first two times it was intended as Erica’s capacity to attract people; in this case it strengthens her relationship with Changez: here it is only referred to their bond

Chapter 7 TOPIC: first night of love with Erica FUNCTION: first signs of Changez’s crisis THEMES: § Love relationship: us, pretend I am him, possessed, him, flesh, satiated, ashamed § Cultural conflict: FBI, Muslim, American dream, Taliban’s treaths § Financial world: assignment, firm, broadband provides, acquisition, client, growth § Economy: “Power comes from becoming change”, “Focus on the fundamentals”

Key words and expressions wanted (p. 100): Changez does not want to acknowledge the gradual crumbling of his American dream, even if his doubts are going to be disillusioned so soon. “Focus on the fundamentals” (p. 105): it is generally linked to Islamic religion; in this case it acquires an economical connotation, as the Underwood Samson’s motto we (p. 109): the anaphoric repetition reinforces the compactness of the group of Pakistani who built Lahore; it makes clear the narrator becomes sentimental whenever he talks about his city “Pretend I am him” (p. 112): here Changez sacrifices his identity to satisfy a physical pleasure; all the reliability he had barely acquired is here thrown away

Chapter 8 TOPIC: detachment from Erica, Changez’s nostalgia FUNCTION: further consequences of WTC bombing THEMES: § Nostalgia: retro, past, duty, honor, Pakistani side § Discrimination: tribe, akhala-malakhala, khalapal-khalapala, Fucking Arab!, coward, Muslim’s discrimination § Erica’s inner conflict: sick girl, how, pale § Financial power: personal efficacy, project, fundamentals, analyzing data, maximum productivity progress, rescinded, ranked

Key words and expressions hope (p. 120): it refers to Changez who never surrenders in finding Erica; it maybe connected to the same sense of optimism he felt during the period of his American dream “Fucking Arab” (p. 123): such horrible expression highlights how Western people tend to judge at first sight whoever does not conform to their ordinary standards of physical appearance fashionable (p. 125): it refers to something objectively pretty under a Western or Eastern eye without any difference

Chapter 9 TOPIC: Changez’s temporary return to Pakistan, Erica’s depression FUNCTION: further parting from Western life THEMES: § Self-awareness: observing, shamed, low line’s, I, unsympathetic, angered, blind, man lacking in substance, easily influenced, behind, grappled, ironic § Nostalgia: Lahore, house propercy, rich, young, life in New York § Cultures meeting: beard, greeted, clean-shaven, coworkers, remarkable, verbal abuse, strangers, whispers § Erica’s inner conflict: clinic, deleased, alive, enough, tobe out in the world, mine take too calm, inside herself, detached, Chris

Key words and expressions observing (p. 129): the term refers to different points of view which might be adopted and the consequent different interpretations given to things war (p. 132): it refers to the potential war between America and Pakistan, but for political purposes or from a cultural point of view? behind (p. 133): Changez is leaving from Pakistan to go back to America; this means he’s leaving behind his family, his culture and traditions, his loyalty to Pakistan, and, in a way or another, his identity beard (p. 134): Changez decides not to shave his beard; on the denotative level it might be a trend, but the deeper meaning might be a sign of protest and a distinction of his cultural identity

Chapter 10 TOPIC: business trip to Chile, meeting with Juan Bautista FUNCTION: second and last turning point THEMES: § Self-awareness: blinders, stablecore, absurdity, got things done, janissaries, bout of introspection, modern-day janissary, wartime, soldiers, friends, buddies, focusing on fundamentals § Changez’s multicultural attitude: dog, mysticism, grandfather, thoughts, melancholy was reminded, New York, human beings, empathy

Key words and expressions § core (p. 152): it is the essential part of a man, it unveils one’s identity; the narrator doesn’t even know if it corresponds to an American or a Pakistani one § jannissary (p. 155): the word commonly refers to Christian adolescents captured by the Ottomans and trained to be soldiers in Muslim army; here the correspondance with Changez: a Pakistani boy trained to be an American worker comes clear cut § fundamentals (p. 158): for the whole lenghth of the novel it was not clear what kind of fundamentals the narrator refers to; here the intelligent reader understands he is talking about financial fundamentals, the ones of American power, he definitely comes to reject

Chapter 11 TOPIC: Changez’s layoff, Erica’s disappearance FUNCTION: loss of job and love THEMES: § Love relationship: gone, beautiful spot, sall, memories § American nature: interference, traditional, possibility, great love, suspicious, watering, incostant, rhetoric, difference, superiority § Changez’s inner conflict: homeland, resented, ex-janissary, exclusive temple, funeral colours, them, spring, firefly, incoherent, emotional, madman

Key words and expressions § alien (p. 165): it generally refers to a condition of estrangement; it means that everyone (including Changez) tends to judge from his own culture. In this case it’s the speaking voice who evaluates American habits under a Pakistani point of view § gone (p. 166): the word usually refers to someone who leaves and does not come back. Here is the case of Erica; the reader will never know if she is still alive or if she is dead § spring (p. 168): Changez remembers his first period at Princeton and the start of his relationship with Erica now there will be a new rebirth (his self-awareness), as it happens with nature in spring

Chapter 12 TOPIC: Changez’s conclusive return to Pakistan FUNCTION: end of Changez’s American dream THEMES: § American stranger prejudices: backword, retailer, quicken, anxious, startled, pistol, following, signal, unfriendly, accusatory, potential terrorist, metal § Changez’s nostalgia: left, inhabitation, tidal, transported, Princeton Alumni Week, my § Changez’s fight for multiculturalism: to restore one’s boundaries, one’s, advacement, disengagement, ex-janissary, indipendence, those, idealistic, wellwishers, firefly’s glow

Key words and expressions § firefly’s glow (p. 184): it is referred to the image of a firefly that trues to attract the attention between some illuminated buildings (chapter 11) Changez competes with the common thought and tries to adopts a multicultural way of thinking. § transcend (p. 184): it means going beyond ordinary limits; here it represents the choice to overcome cultural discrimination and accept cultural distinction (multiculturalism) § potential terrorists (p. 186): it is referred to the American stranger’s prejudice; as Western people are not undercover assassins, Pakistanis are not all potential terrorists