possible outlines for some of the texts of the Buddha of Suburbia

Chapter 1, p. 3-5

introduction

1. The incipit of the novel
   A. main characters

B. Setting the set

2. using an unusual describing technique
   A. A description in movement

B. Narration and comments

3. to point out at the issues the novel intends to deal with
   A. Paradoxes

B. creating expectations

Conclusion

potential themes:

• characterization
• the narrative voice
• in between- ness ( immigration / adaptation / teenager: no adult yet but no longer a child)
• teens and their families
• my father , my hero?

BS Chapter 1, pages 19-20

introduction

I. A family portrait
A. The narrative voice depicting individuals in their family routine
B. dedicating a paragraph to each character
C. to reconstruct a family protrait drawn form individual ones
II. triggering the issue of the conditions of women
A. the mother as the focus point
B. roles
C woman vs men
III. and turns out as a humourous scene
A. going extremes

B. irony

Conclusion:

potential themes:

• gender representation
• interracial marriages
• traditional / modern families

BS chapter 5

introduction

1. a suburban teenager's life
   A. a teenager introducing his daily routine
   B. the vitriolic portrayal of the suburb
2. rebelling
   A. the class bully
   B. it's time to rebel
   C through words
3. a passage from a bildungs roman
   A. the question of education
   B. the narrator's quest for identity

Conclusion

potential themes:

• the narrative voice
• the school systems in France and in the UK/ English speaking countries
• are the school systems adapted to everyone?
• What makes one's identity?

BS chapter 7

introduction

1. A broken down world
   A. The bursting out of the family unit
   B. the society is also upside down
2. in which Karim has become an itinerant

A. from multiplicity to singleness

B. vagrancy ( picaresque elements)

3. to discover life

A. education

B. Karim the passive experiencer ( novel of education/ Bildungs roman)

Conclusion

potential themes: education /divorced families/ gender issues/ parent's expectations for their children's careers...

BS From the suburb to the city

end part 1 ( chapter 7) and chapter 8

Introduction

1. From fantasizing to living London
   A. The provincial going to town
   B. contrasting views
2. A sensual experience
   A. All the senses at work
   B. « there was a sound that London had: the music experience

3. An expected revelation

A. Repulsion / attaction

B. In / out of place

Conclusion

potential themes: historical and social context/ rebelling / immigration adaptation or integration / violence / music as a reflection of society...

BS pages 131-132

introduction

1. The suburbans in the city

A. a portrait of the city

B. displaced

2. an overwhelming violence

A. a reflection of the preceding concert

B. verbal violence

3. to highlight that Karim Is out of place

A. Karim's in between ness

B. global rejection

C. trying to find himself

Conclusion:

potential themes: city violence / migrants / adapting to new times / newgenres/ rebellion/ a teenager's quest for identity

BS pages 188-191

introduction:

===)staging

1. Karim into the world of actors

A. the troup

B. meeting personalities

II . Staging

A. rehearsals

B. staging one's life

III. Life , creation and art

A. mimesis and caricature

B. the introduction to artistic creation

Conclusion:

potential themes: mimesis / theatre/ aim of art/ entertainment

BS The end

introduction

I. a cycle is completed

A. gathering of everyone around Karim

B. structure of the passage // texts 1 and 2

II. The character's evolution

A. growing up

B. Karim's eye

III.a happy end?

A. harmony restored?

B. doubtful prospects

Conclusion:

potential themes:

parents/ child relationships when growing up / family gatherings