The Hungry Tide

When villagers kill a tiger by setting it on fire, Piya is distraught, while Fokir participates in the killing without being troubled. Do you think the villagers were morally justified in killing the tiger? Explain your reasoning.

Animals are vitally important to this book. Pick one animal—crabs, dolphins, tigers, or another of your choosing—and trace its use throughout the novel. What might this animal represent? What does it tell the reader about the world of the Sundarbans or the novel’s characters?

At one point, Piya and Kanai argue over whether Piya and Fokir have anything in common. What, if anything, do Piya and Fokir share? Can they, as Piya believes early on, understand one another despite their differences and language barrier?

Examine the novel’s structure. Why do you think the author chose to tell this story in chapters of alternating points of view, and using such short chapters? Do you think it was effective? Explain.

After his experiences in the storm, Kanai is determined to recreate his uncle’s journal. Why do you think he considers this to be so important? What about his uncle’s experience on Morichjhapi is intriguing to Kanai?

Explore the role of mothers in this novel. Draw upon the depictions of Kusum, Moyna, and Piya’s mother in your response. What role do mothers play in the lives of their children in The Hungry Tide?

Consider Nirmal’s character arc, as told through his journal entries. How do his experiences on Morichjhapi change him as a person? The reader is never told exactly what caused Nirmal’s death. Based on his journal entries, why do you think Nirmal went down to the embankment shortly before he died?

Both Piya and Kanai struggle with sexual feelings for Fokir and Moyna, respectively. Compare and contrast their reasons for pursuing or not pursuing these relationships.