"The Third and Final Continent" by Jhumpa Lahiri - 2.3
Key Concepts
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The Extraordinary in the Ordinary: Lahiri suggests that while landing on the moon is amazing, the everyday survival of immigrants and the elderly is equally "splendid."
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Cultural Preservation: The way immigrants maintain their traditions (like Mala's saris) while adopting new ones.
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Human Connection: The idea that a 103-year-old American woman and a young Indian man can find common ground in their shared values of discipline and respect.
Examples & Applications
Metaphor: The moon landing serves as a metaphor for the narrator's arrival in America.
Imagery: The description of Mrs. Croft’s "stiff, long-sleeved dresses" and the "scent of the library" helps establish the setting's formality.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Memory Tools
M.A.P.
Memory Tools
The narrator’s journey is like a moon mission: it requires a long flight (India to USA), a delicate landing (Mrs. Croft’s house), and eventual colonization (raising a family in America).
Flash Cards
Glossary
- MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the world-renowned university where the narrator works as a librarian.