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67 pages 2 hours read

Salman Rushdie

Midnight's Children

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1981

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Essay Topics

1.

Saleem is the novel’s narrator and the main protagonist. Can the characters of Saleem the narrator and Saleem the protagonist be considered different?

2.

Is Saleem a reliable narrator? Does he want to be considered a reliable narrator?

3.

A key theme in Saleem’s story is the link between his story and the story of his country. In what ways is Saleem’s life tied to the story of India as an independent nation?

4.

How does Midnight’s Children use magic to blur the lines between fiction and reality?

5.

Duality is a common feature of Saleem’s narration. How does he frame the idea of dualism in the novel?

6.

Noses are an important metaphor in Midnight’s Children. What symbolic message is conveyed by the characters’ noses? Which nose is most prominent, in this sense?

7.

Is Saleem’s family happier when they are ignorant about the truth or when they know about Saleem’s true identity?

8.

What does the fate of Wee Willie Winkie say about the role of the impoverished in India?

9.

In what ways does William Methwold function as an allegory for colonialism?

10.

Saleem claims he is writing the story for Padma. How does her voice intrude upon and compete with Saleem’s narrative? What is her influence on his status as the narrator?

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