Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things
Discussion Questions for Chapters 1-4

1. Why does Baby Kochamma fine Rahel and Estha for speaking Malayalam during the week before Sophie Mol's arrival?

2. What does Mr. Hollick suggest as a way for Ammu's husband Baba to keep his job at the tea plantation?

3. Which events have given the History House its name?

4. Who are the Rice-Christians, and how did they get that label?

5. Why does Estha have to leave the theatre in the middle of a screening of The Sound of Music?

6. Why does the Orangedrink Lemondrink Man say his "wife's people are Ayemenem people"?

7. What is Comrade Pillai's "Velutha problem"?