Page 320 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

English - II

Notes Self-Assessment
1. Choose the correct option:
(i) What does Twinkle find along with the Christ figurine in the cupboard above the stove?
(a) Snow globe (b) Trivet
(c) Poster (d) Her sister
(ii) What is the final Christian icon Twinkle finds in “This Blessed House”?
(a) Silver bust of Jesus (b) Statue of Virgin Mary
(c) A snow globe of the Last Supper. (d) A life-sized oster of Jesus
(iii) Twinkle was charamed by
(a) Poster (b) Snow globe
(c) Christ statue (d) None of these
(iv) Lahiri was born in
(a) London (b) India
(c) Calcutta (d) South Kingston

24.3 Summary

• Sanjeev and Twinkle, a newly married couple, are exploring their new house in Hartford, which
appears to have been owned by fervent Christians: they keep finding gaudy Biblical
paraphernalia hidden throughout the house. While Twinkle is delighted by these objects and
wants to display them everywhere, Sanjeev is uncomfortable with them and reminds her that
they are Hindu, not Christian. This argument reveals other problems in their relationship; Sanjeev
doesn’t seem to understand Twinkle’s spontaneity, whereas Twinkle has little regard for
Sanjeev’s discomfort. He is planning a party for his coworkers and is worried about the
impression they might get from the interior decorating if their mantelpiece is full of Biblical
figurines. After some arguing and a brief amount of tears, a compromise is reached. When the
day of the party arrives, the guests are enamored with Twinkle. Sanjeev still has conflicting
feelings about her; he is captivated by her beauty and energy, but irritated by her naivete and
impractical tendencies. The story ends with her and the other party guests discovering a large
bust of Jesus Christ in the attic. Although the object disgusts him, he obediently carries it
downstairs. This action can either be interpreted as Sanjeev giving into Twinkle and accepting
her eccentricities, or as a final, grudging act of compliance in a marriage that he is reconsidering.
• When moving into a new house, newlyweds Twinkle and Sanjeev find Christian icons
everywhere. The first is a porcelain effigy of Jesus found next to a bottle of malt vinegar left in
the kitchen by the previous owners. Sanjeev tells his wife to throw both away, reminding her
that they are not Christian. He feels that he has had to remind Twinkle of the obvious several
times when moving in. But Twinkle is attached to the figurine and places it on the mantle –
which Sanjeev notices needs dusting. Over the course of the week, Twinkle finds more items
and places each on the mantle. Sanjeev doesn’t understand why his wife is so charmed by the
snow globes, statuettes and 3D postcards.
• By the end of the week, Twinkle grows dismayed that no other objects are hiding about. Then
she finds a tacky poster of a crying Jesus and, with delight, announces she will hang it up.
Sanjeev, unpacking while listening to Mahler, puts his foot down. Twinkle pushes back and
decides to hang the poster in her study behind the door so it will remain hidden during their
housewarming party. Sanjeev sighs and thinks about the piece he is listening to – a testament to
love. From the bathrrom, Twinkle tells him she finds the music boring.
• They bicker about the mantle on their way to Manhattan for a night, Twinkle in high heels and
now taller than Sanjeev. He doesn’t understand why she is content and curious about everything.

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