Identities in the Spaces of Flows & Fragmentations

The English Patient: Introduction

Michael Ondaatje Michael Ondaatje was born on September 12, 1943 in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).As a result of his father's alcoholism, Ondaatje’s parents eventually separated in 1954 and he moved to England with his mother1962-64, Ondaatje attended Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Quebec.

1965 -- B.A. at University of Toronto

Michael Ondaatje Before Anil’s Ghost, Used to be criticized for

not writing much about Canada and Sri Lanka, or writing in a “politically correct” way. the use of violence (e.g. the inclusion of atomic bomb) his response: trying to find a balance between ‘gentleness and violence’” (Leckie 29).

The English Patient: SettingPlaces: 1.the Villa San Girolamo in Tuscany; a nunnery, a field hospital,

and a besieged fortress e.g. 11, 12, 29, 43; 2.South Cairo; the desert; 3.Kip: Lahore the English countrysideTime: 1.right after WWII 1945; 2. 1943 the first Canadian infantry p. 49; 3.South Cairo1930-1938: 1936

EP: Summary wk 1

Chap I: The Villa: Hana’s taking care of EP, her reading, the villa, the desert, and the desert tribes; Chap II: In Near Ruins: Hana and Caravaggio in near ruins; their respective experience of the War and its influences on them, their memories, the arrival of KipChaps III: Sometime a Fire Kip’s presence in the Villa and his past;

EP: Summary wk 1Chap 4 – South Cairo 1930-1938

EP’s reminiscence of desert expedition; Clifton and his wife join them in 1936; falling in love (voice dance “gave you my life”);

Chap 5 – Katherine nightmare; their relationship (calmness violence) her first ride with him; (hates his assumption) what each of them hates; Almasy's wounds and being disassembled - wall pp. 155-56

EP: Summary wk 2Chap VI: the Buried Plane -- Caravaggio’s intrusion into the EP’s storytelling--the ending of 1942 told the first time. (p. 175)Chap VII: In Situ (meaning: in the natural or original position or place 1940) -- Kip’s story of being trained as a sapper; Kip vs. his brother; Erith, where Lord Suffolk die;

EP: Summary wk 2Chap VIII: The Holy Forest: Kip’s experience; Kip and Hana (217 - ). Chap IX: The Cave of Swimmers -- EP’s story of love re-told to Caravaggio (with two endings/interpretations of the ending) Chap X: August --the endings: birthday party; Hana and Kip’s communication; Kip’s experience of defusing bombs in Naples, Kip’s sudden departure, Hana’s homecoming.

Questions about Fragmentation and Reconstruction

How does the War influence the three characters we have seen so far? Why do you think the desert winds and the tribe’s customs are important? How is the EP related to them?How do the Bedouins treat the EP, as opposed to Hana’s way of treating him? Reading: What is the importance of reading—for Hana and for the EP?Memory: Why is the novel’s narration fragmentary?

What do the characters’ memories reveal about them?