Essay Questions

How does the symbol of a compact ball contribute to the comprehension of the woman’s son's situation- (“The Assault”)

The narrator hypothesizes that the woman “has forced him (his son) into a compact ball.” The symbol surmises that the son’s opinions are bottled-up due to the mother’s reluctance to permit the boy pronounce himself. The solidity of a ball comes from compression. Similarly, the boy squashes his emotions which contributes to his mental illness. Accordingly, the boy is inundate with injurious stress.

Identify the binary that distinguishes Parvez from Ali-(“My Son is a Fanatic”)

Fundamentalism versus Civilization: Kureishi writes, “In a low monotonous voice the boy explained that Parvez had not, in fact, lived a good life. He had broken countless rules of the Koran.” Ali is a fundamentalist who holds that Muslims should conscientiously measure up to all the rules in the Koran. Ali is disenchanted by his father’s inclinations such as intake of pork and alcohol. Ali assaults his father’s ego when he tells him, 'You are too implicated in Western civilisation.” According to Ali, abiding by the western culture, civilization, is inconsistent with Koranic instructions.

What is the differentiating factor for “My Son is a Fanatic” and “The Assault”?- (“My Son is a Fanatic”)

“My Son is a Fanatic” and “The Assault” are applicable, relatable stories that explore permeating, contemporary questions of radicalism and mental illnesses respectively. The themes are pertinent because their rampancy is far-reaching.