26 pages • 52 minutes read
Sultana's Dream
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Essay Topics
Padmarag (1924) by Begum Rokeya is a novella with autobiographical elements. It is considered to be the sequel to “Sultana’s Dream” (1905). Based on evidence from both texts, justify them as complementary works.
How futuristic would a reader from colonial India find “Sultana’s Dream”? Support your answer with details from the text.
Sultana mistakes the stranger from Ladyland for her friend Sister Sara. Even after she realizes her mistake, she continues to call her Sister Sara. Why does Sultana mistake the mystery woman for her friend? What role does “Sister Sara” play in the text?
Discuss how both Sultana and Sister Sara could be interpreted as Rokeya’s alter ego.
Select another work that depicts a feminist utopia and compare it with “Sultana’s Dream.” How does that work subvert sex-based discrimination? Compare and contrast.
Discuss the relevance of science in Ladyland. Why does the Queen insist on the importance of botany and horticulture?
Identify and analyze the symbols and motifs used by Rokeya in the short story.
What is the role of men in Ladyland? How do they contribute to society?
What are the defining traits of women in Ladyland? If being “shy and timid” is “mannish,” what would it mean to be “womanish” in Ladyland?
How effectively does Rokeya explore the concept of brains versus brawn in the story? Explain with examples.
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