Invitation to World Literature

Classroom Resources > Invitation to World Literature > 12. The God of Small Things > 12.4 The God of Small Things – Map & Timeline

The God of Small Things – Map & Timeline

The shaded area shows the region of Kerala.
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All of the action of the novel takes place in this small region of southern India, Kerala. It is far from the big, glamorous cities in the north and east, a seemingly sleepy backwater where terrible human dramas are played out.

This timeline shows both Roy’s life and the history of religion, war, and politics that influenced the writing of The God of Small Things.

1947

Guided by the nonviolent resistance movement lead by Mahatma Gandhi, India gains independence from British rule. The country is partitioned into West and East Pakistan for Muslims, and India for Hindus.

1948

Gandhi is assassinated by a radical Hindu angered over the partition of India.

1957

The southern Indian state of Kerala elects a member of the Communist Party of India (CPI) as its leader; Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru dissolves this government in 1959.

1961

Arundhati Roy is born and grows up in Ayemenem in Kerala, where her novel will be set.

1962

China and India fight a small border war. The CPI splits into pro- and anti-Russian factions.

1964

Nehru dies.

1966

Nehru’s daughter Indira Gandhi becomes Prime Minister as leader of the National Congress Party.

1969

The Congress Party splits, and Gandhi allies with the more liberal side of the party to form a government.

1971

East and West Pakistan split, with East Pakistan becoming the nation of Bangladesh.

1975

Indira Gandhi calls for a state of emergency so she can remain in power after being convicted of election fraud; she loses office in 1977.

1980

Gandhi is re-elected and faces several insurgent movements within India.

1984

Gandhi sends the Indian Army to attack a Sikh temple; she is assassinated by two of her own Sikh bodyguards in retribution.

1985

Rajiv Gandhi, Indira’s son, is elected Prime Minister.

1991

Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by a Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger rebel.

1992

Narasimha Rao becomes Prime Minister. Arundhati Roy is at work on The God of Small Things, setting it in 1992.

1991-6

Rao calms tensions in India between Muslims and Hindus until he loses office.

1997

The God of Small Things is published.

1998

India announces it has nuclear weapons.

2001-4

War between India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir seems inevitable, but after many small battles, peace talks avert open warfare.

2004

Manmohan Singh is elected Prime Minister.

Sections

12.1 The God of Small Things – Getting Started

12.2 The God of Small Things – Read the Text

Read the Excerpt

12.3 The God of Small Things – Expert’s View

Experts' View: A Love Story Begins

12.4 The God of Small Things – Map & Timeline

12.5 The God of Small Things – Connections

12.6 The God of Small Things – Key Points

Key Teaching Points and Discussion Prompts

Slideshow: The God of Small Things

Images

Transcript: The God of Small Things Video Transcript

Transcript

Units

Unit 1 The Epic of Gilgamesh

The first known human story is that of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk. Images of artifacts from ancient Iraq mix with beautiful illustrations, dance, and costume to tell of the relations between gods and mortals, the search for friendship, love, and immortality. Featured cast members include Assyriologist Ben Foster, comic book illustrator Jim Starlin, and poet and playwright Yusef Komunyakaa.

Unit 2 My Name Is Red

Both an historical novel and a graphic murder mystery set among the miniaturists of the Ottoman court. With its focus on Istambul, a major crossroads of the world, it tells of the artistic/cultural contest between Europe and the East. Cast members include the book's Nobel-prize winning author, Orhan Pamuk, and its English translator, Erdağ Göknar.

Unit 3 The Odyssey

Odysseus must travel the known and unknown world before he can return home to his beloved island kingdom of Ithaca. What does this ancient story say to readers today? In this program, Odysseus's story is given ancient and modern historical and philosophical context, and illustrated with centuries of art. Featured are theater director Mary Zimmerman, actor-director Tim Blake-Nelson, and psychologist/author Jonathan Shay.

Unit 4 The Bacchae

The city of Thebes is torn apart by the conflicting demands of reason and religion, as the disguised god Dionysus returns to his home town demanding to be worshipped. Opposing him is the young king Pentheus, who is doomed to suffer the ultimate punishment for his disbelief. Featured speakers include world-renowned playwright/author Wole Soyinka, actor Alan Cumming, and Daniel Mendelsohn of Bard College.

Unit 5 The Bhagavad Gita

This epic tale of the warrior-prince Arjuna confronting a life-or-death dilemma during civil war presents a unique and powerful philosophy of duty, discipline, and serving a higher purpose. Beautiful illustrations connect the story with its rich history and culture. Featured speakers include Sheldon Pollock, Professor of Sanskrit Studies and acclaimed composer Philip Glass.

Unit 6 The Tale of Genji

This portrait of court life in medieval Japan follows the life and exploits of the great Genji. Written by Murasaki Shikibu, a lady of the Japanese court, it provides an insider's view of Japanese court life, the official and behind the screen. Art, clothing, music from the time of the novel illustrate the obserations of authors Jane Smiley and Chiori Miyagawa, among others.

Unit 7 Journey to the West

The powerful and mischievous Stone Monkey King brings chaos to heaven and earth. Freed from a mountain prison in order to guard a Chinese monk on his journey to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures from India, Monkey seeks his own spiritual transformation. Modern performance, contemporary art, and Buddhist philosophers provide a rich context to the ancient tale. Featured cast members include playwright David Henry Huang, storyteller Diane Wolkstein, and translator Professor Anthony Yu.

Unit 8 Popol Vuh

The Mayan book of creation, the dawn of life, and the glories of gods and kings. This magnificent epic was saved from destruction at the hands of the Spanish by Quiché chroniclers. Once repressed, the story is now interwoven with the history of today's Mayan people. Featured speakers include archaeologist Richard Hanson, humorist Mo Rocca, and Guatemalan artist Shuni Giron.

Unit 9 Candide

A satirical novel following the travails of Candide, a hopeless optimist whose faith in his tutor's mantra that his is "the best of all possible worlds" is tested beyond all limits. Voltaire's challenge to the aristocracy of his day proves refreshingly amusing and biting today. Original illustrations, songs, and comic book figures plumb the depths of this satire. Featured speakers include director Harold Ramis, actress Kristin Chenoweth, and cartoonist Chris Ware.

Unit 10 Things Fall Apart

In this foundational modern African novel, Chinua Achebe's story follows the lives of people trying to understand which belief systems deserve their loyalty. The protagonist, Okonkwo is a tribal leader who battles neighboring villages, the English, and his own demons in early colonial Nigeria. The perspectives of readers from around the world reveal the novel's universal themes. Cast members include playwright and professor Tess Onwueme and theater director Chuck Mike.

Unit 11 One Hundred Years of Solitude

Gabriel García Márquez's multigenerational saga of the Buendía family in the isolated town of Macondo inaugurated the boom in Latin American literature in the 1970s and marked the beginning of magical realism. Writer Sandra Cisneros and scholar of Latin American literature, Ilan Stavans lend their thoughts and voices to the discussion of this epic novel.

Unit 12 The God of Small Things

Fraternal twins Rahel and Estha struggle to reclaim their lives after their childhood is destroyed by tragic circumstances. As past and present merge in this narrative of Indian society and politics, the many layers of the caste system are mirrored in the poetic and inventive language of the author. Featured speakers include Simon Gikandi of Princeton University, author Evelyn Ch'ien.

Unit 13 The Thousand and One Nights

Shahrazad must hold the interest of her despotic husband the sultan with nightly tales, lest she lose her life in the morning. This wellspring of storytelling, circulating from medieval Persia to Egypt to Iraq, like its wily raconteur lives on in many modern adaptations. Art, performance, and film images are employed to show the collection's broad span of influence. Featured speakers include Marin Alsop, musical director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Aly Jetha and Shabnam Rezai, co-producers of the 1001 Nights animated series.