Day 3

The Namesake Lesson Plan

Discussion of Thought Questions

  1. 1

    Why does Gogol change his name legally?

    Some students may say it's as simple as he says—he hates his name—but remind them of the scenes in his childhood where he was very attached to being "Gogol." As he gets older, Gogol may feel that his name alienates him from all of the cultures he might belong to, that it's simply too odd, and that a name with both a more Indian and a more American sound might make him feel more a part of the worlds he wants to belong to. Also, the simple act of changing his own name declares his independence.

  2. 2

    Describe the trajectory of Gogol and Ruth's relationship.

    Gogol and Ruth feel intimate with each other almost immediately after...

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