The Buddha in the Attic

The Buddha in the Attic is written in the first-person plural point of view, and this collective voice lends itself to a collective experience. Analyze the use of this point of view in the novel. Why did Otsuka choose this particular narrative perspective? Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question.

• What is the balance between the individual and the collective?
• Does the emphasis on the collective overshadow the lived experience and humanity of individual women? In what ways does Otsuka successfully honor and recognize the individual within the collective?
• What is gained by this communal voice, and, consequently, what might be lost in the decentering of the personal?
• How does this narrative point of view develop the novel’s main themes?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be useful to provide guidance for students as they prepare for this discussion. For example, a graphic organizer divided into the novel’s three sections as identified by this Teaching Guide might be beneficial. Students might consider the discussion questions in the context of each section before considering the novel as a whole.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who benefit from support in organizing their thoughts and processing information, it may be helpful to provide them with a labeled chart to record their own thoughts prior to the discussion as well as space to record their peers’ thoughts shared during the discussion.