by Parul Sharma
This passage tells the story of an Indian child who goes with their mother to the temple of the Hindu god, Kali. Hinduism is a popular religion in India. On the way, they walk through a bazaar, or market.
As you read, pay attention to who is telling the story.
“If only I’d been born in August, Papa would’ve been home with me on my birthday,” I said sadly. “Why does his army posting take him so far away from home?”
“You know Papa would be here if he could.” Mamma squeezed my hand gently. “August is almost here, Raani. We’ll try making the most of your birthday without Papa. Remember my promise?”
“Of course, I do,” I said, cheering up instantly.
We were walking down the crowded temple bazaar of Kalibari, the home of the goddess Kali. Roadside vendors noisily hawked their colorful wares as a steady stream of devotees made their way to the temple, its vermilion dome blazing against the clear blue June sky.
“Khan, you sell the most expensive fruits in Shimla,” Mamma complained when we stopped at the fruit vendor’s stall.
“They’re also the best, bibi,” smiled Khan, a big, bearded man wearing a spotless white skullcap and kaftan while weighing a bunch of ripe bananas and a handful of golden apples.
My mouth watered at the sight of Khan’s stock of succulent mangoes, but I held back from asking for them when I saw Mamma carefully count out the money and pay Khan a thin bundle of rupee notes.
As we neared Kalibari, I heard the nonstop clang of temple bells as barefoot worshipers made their way in and out of the temple. Monkeys loitered and lazed on the parapets along the temple’s sprawling terrace overlooking Shimla’s pine-covered hills. The four-armed Kali—her eyes ablaze with fury and her red tongue hanging out—sent little shivers down my spine.
I knew Kali’s story by heart. When the demons warred with the gods to become masters of the universe, and the gods stood on the brink of defeat, they joined forces to give birth to the all-powerful Kali. Enraged with the wicked ways of the demons, Kali single-handedly destroyed them all and saved the gods from defeat.
“Kali never fails her children,” Mamma said whenever she recounted Kali’s story. “She loves and protects them and fulfills their deepest wishes.”
Mamma offered the fruits to a saffron-robed priest with an ash-smeared forehead and stopped before Kali, her head bowed, eyes closed, and lips moving in silent prayer.
I inched closer to the goddess before folding my hands and shutting my eyes.
How does the author develop the narrator’s point of view regarding Kali?
The narrator is Raani who describes what she knows about Kali along with what her mother tells her about Kali.
The narrator is Raani, but they have never heard of Kali so they learn about Kali from what her mother tells her.
The third person narrator uses their omniscience to describe exactly who Kali is.
The third person narrator uses their omniscience to describe what Raani and her mother know about Kali
1 answer
The correct interpretation is:
The narrator is Raani who describes what she knows about Kali along with what her mother tells her about Kali.
This choice accurately reflects that Raani shares her understanding of Kali, informed by both her own knowledge and her mother's teachings. The narrative perspective provides insight into Raani's thoughts and feelings as she processes the cultural and religious significance of Kali, especially in relation to her own experiences and desires.
