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Setting

The story opens in a small town in Tanzania, in a less populated area

called Upanga. The family has moved there from Kichwele Street
which was later called Uhuru Street. There are only a few houses in
Upanga and it adjoins a forested area.

Physical setting
Place
Kichwele Street/ Uhuru
Street
Central part of Dar es
Salam, the commercial
capital of Tanzania.
Upanga
Key event
Where Aloos family lived
before his sisters left home
to be married
Aloos mother has a shop
here
Where Aloos family
moved after Mother sold
the shop

Social setting
Present day Tanzania, Africa
In this society ,education is highly regarded
School officers and school teachers are respected and
influential
Life was hard for women and children. If a woman remarries,
her children from the first marriage cannot stay with her but
are sent to a childrens home.
 The education system does not allow students to choose their
course of study - `nobody could change the list (p.33)
 Plot
After Aloo's sister Razia married and leaves home, their
mother sells her shop and they move to Upanga, a remote
part of town. She wants her two youngest children to have
a better life instead of helping in her store. exposition

Aloo spends time with Mr Datoo, an ex-teacher at their

local school who moved to America and returns for a visit.
Aloo starts dreaming about going to study in America. He
writes to American universities to apply for a scholarship. A rising action
famous university offers him a scholarship.

Mother says that there is no money to send him to

America. She accuses Aloo of being a disloyal son for
wanting to leave her. Aloo is very upset. climax

Mother goes to Mr Velji for advice. He confirms that the

scholarship is a great opportunity for Aloo. After thinking
about it, Mother relents and finds the money to send Aloo
to America. Before giving in, she makes Aloo promises not falling action
to marry a white woman and stay away from bad habits.

Aloo writes home from London where he has stopped to

visit an old schoolmate. Te letter reveals his fascination with
the foreign land. resolution
 Characters and characteristics
Aloo

The youngest child in the family

Finishing secondary school
A smart student- achieve all As in the school exam

00Character traits Examples of textual evidence

Obedient dutiful child Promise his mother not to marry a
foreign wife and to avoid smoking
and drinking. (p.40)
Writes home soon after he leaves.
(p.40)
Ambitious Wants to study medicine. (p.33)
Determined Writes to universities in America.
(p.32)
Willing to work in America to get
money for his studies. (p.34)
Resourceful Looks up names of universities in
books to apply for scholarships on
his own. (p.32)
Adventurous Wants to go another country, likes
travelling. (p.32)
Emotional Cries and shouts when mother does
not support his decision to study in
America. (p.36)
Angry at Mr Velji remark. (p.37)

Mother
Became a widow at the age of thirty-three
Ran a shop business in town

Character traits Examples of textual evidence

Strong and independent Raised five children without a husband.
(P.38)
Responsible mother Her children are polite and smart
Reminds Aloo not to smoke and drink
when he is away from home (p.40)
Loving, protective Gives up her shop so that her children
can focus on their studies instead of
helping her in the shop (p.31)
Refuse to remarry for the sake of her
 children (P.38)
Narrator remembers how Mother used
to hug him/her so tightly that is was
hard to breathe (p.40)
Possessive of her children Sad to see her daughters leave home
(p.31)
Does not want her son to leave her
(P.34)
Self-sacrificing Lets Aloo go to America even though
she knows that he may not return to
her and that she may lose her youngest
son (p.40)
Traditional-minded Makes Aloo promises not to marry a
foreigner (p.40)

Narrator
The fourth of the five siblings
A university student

Character traits Examples of textual evidence

Understanding Understands Mothers struggles and
sacrifice for the children when she
choose not to remarry (p.38)
Caring Plays card games with Mother when
she is sad (P.32)
Responsible, mature Mother looks to him/her for
confirmation about the scholarship
offer (P.34)
Observant Notices when Mother is sad (P.32)
Quite , passive Watches what happens but does
not interfere
Mr Velji

A school officer
He has a large head, a small neat body and looks clever

Character traits Examples of textual evidence

Helpful Understand Mothers concern- `if you
send him, you will lose your son
(p.37)

Mr Datoo

An ex-schoolteacher who went to America

Influences Aloo to dream of going to America to study
Mehroon

The oldest of the five siblings

Married and lives in the same town with her husband
Razia

The second of the five siblings

Married to a rich man and lives in the town called Tanga
Firoz

The third of the siblings

He did not complete his final year in school
He works in the office of a big shop

The story opens in a small town in Tanzania, in a less populated area called
Upanga. The family has moved there from Kichwele Street which was later
called Uhuru Street. There are only a few houses in Upanga and it adjoins a
forested area. The sound of insects, small animals and the wind rustling leaves
are in sharp contrast to Kichwele Street where the sounds were of vehicles in a
busy street.

Physical setting
 Place Key event
Kichwele Street/ Uhuru Street Where Aloos family lived
Central part of Dar es Salam, before his sisters left home to
the commercial capital of be married
Tanzania. Aloos mother has a shop here
Upanga Where Aloos family moved
after Mother sold the shop

Social setting
Present day Tanzania, Africa
In this society ,education is highly regarded
School officers and school teachers are respected and influential
Life was hard for women and children. If a woman remarries, her
children from the first marriage cannot stay with her but are sent to a
childrens home.
The education system does not allow students to choose their course of
study - `nobody could change the list (p.33)
 Theme

Leaving and letting go

Loneliness and sadness
Understanding the sacrifices of others
Having hope for the future
Understanding ones finance

Moral values
Self-sacrifices
Aloos mother became a widow at a young age. She had five children to
care for. If she remarried she would have an easier life. However, in their
country, her children from the first marriage will have to go to a
childrens home. She refused to marry again because she wanted to
keep her children safe with her. She sacrificed the hope of an easier life
for the sake of her children.
Self-reliance
Aloos mother could have married again so that she had a husband to
take care of her. However, for the sake of her children, she decided to
be self-reliant and take care of her family herself. She provided for the
family by opening a shop. Her children have turned out well.
 Leaving
By: M.G Vassanji