Reading Questions

Resources ~ Chapters 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 ~ 5 ~ 6 ~ 7 ~ 8 ~ 9 ~ 10 ~ 11 ~ 12 ~ Study Questions to Guide Your Reading

Study Guide

Chapter 1 ~ The Shah of Blah

1. What is "impossible" about the factories of Alifbay?

2. Explain possible meaning of the two "nicknames" of Rashid Khalifa.

3. What is the emotional state of Soraya after she stops singing? Refer to the text in your answer.

4. Why does Haroun think of his father as a Juggler?

5. What are the questions, the Iffing and Butting, that Haroun asks in this chapter?  Provide a brief answer for each.

6. Contrast Mr. Sengupta and Oneeta Sengupta.

7. What was the value of Rashid's stories to the politicians?

8. What happens to Haroun when his mother leaves?

9. On the top of p.26, the author gives us Haroun's unspoken thoughts, followed by some action as seen through Haroun's eyes. This is called 3rd person limited narration. It will be used throughout the rest of the book. Locate another example of p. 27.

10. All of Rushdie's novels and stories contain criticism, parody (mockery) and also love of India's politics, religions, cultures and lifestyles. List the comments and observations that the author has made in this chapter about life in India.

Chapter 2 ~ The Mail Coach

1. What is odd about Butt's appearance?

2. What step does Haroun take at the bus station toward being more grown up?

3. What is a figure of speech?   Use a literature book or an online reference to compare a literary definition to that given by Butt. Locate an example of a figure of speech. Apply Butt's definition to the example.

4. What is the explanation for places known by letters of the alphabet? Do you see a pattern in the letters used? Explain the possible advantages to the author of replacing Indian place names with letters. 

5. What phrase does Rashid use when he is impressed by something his son has done? Explain this figure of speech.

6. Write a short, short story (one paragraph) illustrating this statement by Butt: Need's a funny fish: it makes people untruthful.

7. What is the connection between Khattam-Shud and the feelings of Haroun on the top of p.38?

8. Locate Kashmir on the map of India. Ask someone or do research to find out what conflict of which it is and has been for some time. Summarize that conflict. Apply this to the descriptions of K on p.40+.

9. What does Haroun do to make Mr. Buttoo angry? What does Haroun fear will happen because of this?

10. Mark the dialogue on p. 43 - we will return to it later.

Chapter 3 ~ The Dull Lake

1. Explain how the weather seems to echo the emotions of Haroun, Rashid and Buttoo.

2. What action does Haroun take to change the situation?

3. In what ways is the line between made-up and real becoming blurred?

4. Reread p.17. To what "subscription" is Rashid referring?

5. The initial description of the Water Genie on p.54 is fanciful, supplying vegetables for legs and head because that's what Haroun's logical mind makes them to be. Write short similar description of one of the following seen by you in dim light on the edge of sleep:  your older sister in the middle of coloring her hair, your uncle testing his new snorkel, your clothes on a chair in your room...(your own idea)

6. What is the unusual pattern in the Water Genie Iff's speech?

7. Why has Iff come?

8. What is in the book offered to Rashid by Buttoo on p.51?

9. What important decision does Haroun make on p.59?

10. Write a paragraph about a decision you have had to made "on the spur of the moment." Tell briefly the circumstances, your reasoning, and the consequences.

Chapter 4 ~ An Iff and a Butt

1. What is the usual context of adults saying, "No if's, and's or but's!"  How might this apply to the story Rushdie is telling and to Haroun in specific?

2. What is Haroun's purpose in going with Iff?

3. Summarize the mean of Iff's speechis on p.43. Copy down the 2 most important sentences he speaks. What personality trait of Haroun's is he gently criticizing?

4. Why does Haroun refuse to return the connection tool?

5. What clues lead Haroun to conclude that the Hoopoe is a machine? What else is odd about it?

6. What is the P2C2E?  (not what it stands for)

7. Explain why Haroun can not make use of the Wishwater.

8. Why does Iff not want to go to Gup City?

9. What is polluted about Haroun's dream story?

10. What is the cause of the pollution?

Chapter 5 ~ About Guppees and Chupwalas

1. Explain briefly what Kahani is, how it can exist unknown to us, and what its major characteristic are.

2. Why don't the Guppees and the Chupwalas talk to each other or cross the border (see if there really is an explanation in the chapter).

3. What is Mali's job? How does his physical nature help him to do it well?

4. What is the pun contained in the name of the Plentimaw fish?  Actually, there are two puns. For one, say the word aloud and look on page 43. For the other, look for two root words in the word Plentimaw - define them and reread the descrption of the fish.

5. What is the Old Zone?

6. Summarize the metaphor Rushdie uses to create and describe the Gup army.

7. Why is war declared with Chup? What are the two purposes of the war?

8. What are the Princess' flaws?

Chapter 6 ~ The Spy's Story

1. What trait of the Gup is revealed in Iff's response to Haroun's question about punishing spies?

2. How is Blabbermouth a proper name for a Gup?

3. How did Rashid get to Gup?  Summarize his (mis)adventure to date.

4. What is Haroun's concern about the Gup?

5. What does a follower of Bezaben have to do?

6. For reason has Batcheat been kidnapped?  And, while you are at it, tell me why you think Rushdie has spelled her name the way he has (look its meaning up in the Names appendix).

7. Summarize Blabbermouth's complaints against Batcheat. How is this Page different from other Guppees?

8. What is Blabbermouth's skill and why does she show it to Haroun?

Chapter 7 ~ Into the Twilight Strip

1. If you have a modem at home, see what you can find out about Kashmir (a place) and about The Twilight Zone (an old TV show - dates would be helpful).

2. Look up "lamination" and compare its meaning to the use of the word on page 116.

3. In general, how would you characterize the Gup culture, society, and way of solving problems?

4. Explain the word play in the center of page 118.  Underline the key words and phrases.

5. Write a paragraph that begins with one of these sentences: What is the point of giving persons Freedom of Speech if you then say they must not utilize same?   OR  Is not the Power of Speech the greatest Power of all?   Use specific examples from current events or from your life experience to illustrate your point.

6. What important understanding does Haroun arrive at on page 125?

Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain