The Namesake

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the novel over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Sonia, Gogol’s sister, consistently has an easier time with her Indian-American identity.

• How does Gogol’s role as the firstborn define him? (topic sentence)
• In what ways are Gogol and Sonia’s experiences fundamentally different?
• What is the novel trying to say about the immigrant experience in these differences?

2. Gogol repeatedly looks to romantic relationships to separate him from his family and define him.

• What is Gogol seeking in these relationships? (topic sentence)
• How does each of these relationships prove unfulfilling or overburdened by his expectations?
• What does the novel suggest is the difficulty with this approach?

3. Many of the characters in this novel are presented as having an internal life that they keep from each other.

• What is the nature of secrets in The Namesake? (topic sentence)
• How does each of the secrets that are kept affect the relationships in the novel?
• How does this relate to the concept of having two identities/names?

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Throughout the novel, even after his name is officially changed, Gogol thinks of himself and is presented as Gogol, not Nikhil. How does this distinction further his character’s struggle to find his identity in America, and what is the significance of his thinking about his own name? Pay close attention to the moments in the novel where he is defined by others as either Gogol or Nikhil, and be sure to include explicit evidence from the text in your response.

2. Gogol is frequently drawn to things in America that mirror traditional Indian culture, though he often fails to see the symmetry: he adopts his formal name for use outside of the house, he is charmed by the Ratliff family who live together in the same house like Indian families do, etc. Unpack the meaning of several of these moments for the character and for the overall themes of the novel using specific evidence from the text. Why do Gogol’s attempts to assimilate lead him more closely to seeing the value of his Indian heritage?

3. At Gogol’s rice ceremony, he refuses everything offered to him. How does this moment inform who he is as a character? What does he struggle to accept throughout the novel, and how does his character change over the course of the book? Be sure to include specific evidence from the text.