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Bharati Mukherjee, Two Ways to Belong in America

Bharati Mukherjee, Two Ways to Belong in America

Read Two Ways to Belong in America and check your comprehension by answering the following questions. Then “submit” your work.

1. What kind of work does Mira do?

She translates American textbooks into Hindi.

She teaches creative writing at Wayne State University.

She is a delegate to the United Nations.

She works in the Michigan preschool system.

2. Bharati says that, although neither ever admitted it, she and her sister likely felt

indignant toward one another.

pity for one another.

jealousy toward one another.

anger toward one another.

3. What word that critics use to describe her books does Mukherjee celebrate?

“mongrelization”

“overenthusiastic”

“unapologetic”

“fluidity”

4. What does Mukherjee identify as the main difference between her and Mira’s “immigrant experiences”?

Mira wanted to return to India, but Mukherjee never wanted to leave America.

Mira maintained most of her Indian customs, but Mukherjee embraced American culture.

Mira had to fight to keep her benefits as an immigrant, but Mukherjee never faced that problem.

Mira married an Indian, but Mukherjee married an American-Canadian.

5. Why does Mukherjee identify as an immigrant American rather than an expatriate Indian?

She feels betrayed by her native country.

She wants to stand up for immigrants’ rights.

She is self-conscious about being from another country.

She wants to feel like a part of the community she has adopted.