Chocolate short story

Chocolate

chocolate

Before reading

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by Manju Kapur

Look at the image. Can you imagine the story/ event? Chocolate as a gift has strong symbolic meanings. Can you think of some of them? What do you think chocolate will symbolize in this story? What does the text suggest?

Before reading

Individual and Cooperative Reading

PART 3 from "The family then waits" up to " feeding her chocolates" Group B reads this part

PART 1 from the begining up to "ulterior motive" All the class reads this part

PART 4 from "It was chocolate that drew her attention" up to " the results were predictable" Group C reads this part

PART 2 from "A short history" up to "I have you " Group A reads this part

PART 5 from "after she had gone" up to the end. All the class reads this part

PART 1 from the begining up to "ulterior motive" All the class reads this part and discusses the questions in small groups.

What was your reaction when you first read the first two sentences? How did you feel? What can we learn from just these two sentences about the relationship between Tara and her husband Abhay? Do you think this relatinship will last?

Pair work

ABHAY

TARA

There is no physical decription of him, but his attitude towards Tara reveals certain personality features. What adjectives would you use to describe Abhay? Why? ( click and see list) What feelings does he arise in you?

Underline the words or phrases used to describe her. Account for the choice. Do you pity her? Whose persepective is behind this decription?

VS

Cooperative Reading

PART 2 : From "A short history" up to "I have you" Group A reads this part

PART 3 : From "The family then waits " up to "feeding her chocoltes" Group B reads this part

PART 4 : From "It was chocolate that drew her attention" up to " the results were predictable" Group C reads this part

After reading your part get together with someone from a different group and share the part of the sotry you have read. What do you think Tara will do now that she has confirmed her suspicions? What would you do if you were Tara? Complete slide 8.

The story explores the inequalities, social injustices and abusive messages directed towards women within patriarchal societies and cultures where women are not supposed to raise voices for their rights, protest against injustice, or question the already existing beliefs, customs, and rituals. They have to merely exist subjected to the patriarchal system. Women have to be obedient, quiet, submissive, and passive. 1. Get together with class mates form different groups ( A_B_C) and complete the boxes bellow with facts/ examples that indicate the role of women/ men in the story. 2. Do you think the hardships Tara endures can be similar to the ones other women in the rest of the world may go through?

Marital life /infertility

Taras' Education

Use the images and phrases below and explain the unexpected twist that the story and its characters suffer. What do you think of the ending?

a taste of your own medicine

reversal of roles

Step by StepTara's plot

Pair work

empowerment

Enumerate Tara´s steps. What other steps would you add towards complete empowerment?

Step by StepTara's plot

Pair work

empowerment

Enumerate Tara´s steps. What other steps would you add towards complete empowerment?

This is how the story finishes...

"When Tara´s daughter was born, she crooned her lullabies of brave women warriors, and made sure that all her education was oriented towards a career that would make her independent." How do you think Tara will raise a feminist independent child? Write down as many suggestions that come to your mind and share them with your classmates. Then, read "Dear Ijeawele" and compare your list with the one in the book. Which suggestions do you find particularly interesting/ important/revolutionary/ controversial, etc ? Share your ideas with your classmates.

Choose your chocolate project

for chocolate lovers

for writing lovers

for cartoon lovers

for movie lovers

for true story lovers