The Namesake

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2003

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-12

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Quiz

Essay Topics

To what extent does Gogol’s name determine his life journey? How do other characters’ names affect their identities?

Explore Ashima’s progress from a Bengali student to an American librarian through analysis of three key scenes. How does this compare to Gogol’s journey to accepting his identity?

Locate and analyze examples of how the author represents the differences between Bengali and American cultures. How do these differences tie into the novel’s themes concerning identity?