Title: Setting: Characters:
Muslims regard giving gifts is one of the good manners that In the family shop of a Muslim family 1. The narrator Kaltoum=
maintains and strengthens relations between the giver and the And in the Muslim family house She is a young woman who heads her family after the
recipient death of her parents due to her status as the eldest
This explains why Khadidja hopes for reconciliation and continues to child.
come to the shop after her sister gives her the bag of sweets. She is a round character, she experiences both inner
It furthermore explains why the brothers endlessly look for an conflict and outer conflict
explanation for the bag of sweets Kadidja gives her sister, despite the She is cold-hearted and holds grudges, not only because
fact that she does not want to relent and forgive her sister. she was hurt that her youngest sister did not share her
A bag of sweets secret with her, but also for the betrayal of the family.
She is stubborn because she struggles to forgive her
sister for leaving the family and she believes her leaving
Summary:
was a betrayal causing the death of their parents
We have a young Muslim woman 2. Khadija=
called Kaltoum that assists in the She is principled because she marries a Christian man
family shop on Fridays when her even though she knows it will cause a rift between her
brothers attend prayers at the Themes: and the family.
Mosque. She, however, stays true to her Muslim religion and is
One day, she is surprised to see her 1. Lack of tolerance= motivated by love.
estranged sister, Kadidja, entering Evident throughout the short story. She is unwavering in her pursuit of an improved
the shop. The family is unable to forgive Khadija for leaving them to marry into a relationship between her and her family members.
Khadidja left the family three years Christian family. She is kind and always smiling.
before to marry a Christian man. It is ironic, however, that Kaltoum mentions her own Christian friends, but She is forthcoming because she expresses her emotions
She has been calling at the family she shows no tolerance and acceptance of her sister’s choice in life. clearly and openly declares that she misses their family
home daily after the passing away 2. Forgiveness= traditions and especially her eldest sister.
of their parents, hoping for a The family blames Khadija for the death of their parents She is loving because she expresses her love for her
reconciliation Despite being Muslims (and following the religion – go to Mosque on a Christian husband and her baby
The family refuses her entry and Friday) , they cannot find it in their hearts to forgive her. 3. Abdul=
ignores her time and time again. (contrast/hypocrisy) He is the eldest brother.
She then decides to change track On the other hand, it appears as if Khadija has forgiven her family for He follows the example set by Kaltoum and does not
and meet the eldest sister at the shunning her all these years. speak to Khadija.
shop on Fridays. 3. Pretence=
Kaltoum continues to ignore the Kaltoum is adept at keeping up pretences.
advances of her sister even though She feels herself softening towards her sister when she realises that
she knows that as the eldest, she Khadija resembles their mother the closest, but she pretends that she Tone: Mood:
had the ability to change the mind feels nothing for her.
The tone is gloomy Angry
of her family members. 4. Expectations vs reality=
because Kaltoum only Upset
On a whim, she gives her sister a Khadija hopes that by showing up regularly and being herself, that her
expresses negative
bag of sweets but continues to family will relent and welcome her back into the inner circle.
thoughts
ignore her, until finally Khadidja In reality it is Kaltoum’s stubborn refusal to accept her sister into their
does not come back on a Friday. midst that prevents the reconciliation.
Muslims regard giving gifts is one of the good manners that In the family shop of a Muslim family 1. The narrator Kaltoum=
maintains and strengthens relations between the giver and the And in the Muslim family house She is a young woman who heads her family after the
recipient death of her parents due to her status as the eldest
This explains why Khadidja hopes for reconciliation and continues to child.
come to the shop after her sister gives her the bag of sweets. She is a round character, she experiences both inner
It furthermore explains why the brothers endlessly look for an conflict and outer conflict
explanation for the bag of sweets Kadidja gives her sister, despite the She is cold-hearted and holds grudges, not only because
fact that she does not want to relent and forgive her sister. she was hurt that her youngest sister did not share her
A bag of sweets secret with her, but also for the betrayal of the family.
She is stubborn because she struggles to forgive her
sister for leaving the family and she believes her leaving
Summary:
was a betrayal causing the death of their parents
We have a young Muslim woman 2. Khadija=
called Kaltoum that assists in the She is principled because she marries a Christian man
family shop on Fridays when her even though she knows it will cause a rift between her
brothers attend prayers at the Themes: and the family.
Mosque. She, however, stays true to her Muslim religion and is
One day, she is surprised to see her 1. Lack of tolerance= motivated by love.
estranged sister, Kadidja, entering Evident throughout the short story. She is unwavering in her pursuit of an improved
the shop. The family is unable to forgive Khadija for leaving them to marry into a relationship between her and her family members.
Khadidja left the family three years Christian family. She is kind and always smiling.
before to marry a Christian man. It is ironic, however, that Kaltoum mentions her own Christian friends, but She is forthcoming because she expresses her emotions
She has been calling at the family she shows no tolerance and acceptance of her sister’s choice in life. clearly and openly declares that she misses their family
home daily after the passing away 2. Forgiveness= traditions and especially her eldest sister.
of their parents, hoping for a The family blames Khadija for the death of their parents She is loving because she expresses her love for her
reconciliation Despite being Muslims (and following the religion – go to Mosque on a Christian husband and her baby
The family refuses her entry and Friday) , they cannot find it in their hearts to forgive her. 3. Abdul=
ignores her time and time again. (contrast/hypocrisy) He is the eldest brother.
She then decides to change track On the other hand, it appears as if Khadija has forgiven her family for He follows the example set by Kaltoum and does not
and meet the eldest sister at the shunning her all these years. speak to Khadija.
shop on Fridays. 3. Pretence=
Kaltoum continues to ignore the Kaltoum is adept at keeping up pretences.
advances of her sister even though She feels herself softening towards her sister when she realises that
she knows that as the eldest, she Khadija resembles their mother the closest, but she pretends that she Tone: Mood:
had the ability to change the mind feels nothing for her.
The tone is gloomy Angry
of her family members. 4. Expectations vs reality=
because Kaltoum only Upset
On a whim, she gives her sister a Khadija hopes that by showing up regularly and being herself, that her
expresses negative
bag of sweets but continues to family will relent and welcome her back into the inner circle.
thoughts
ignore her, until finally Khadidja In reality it is Kaltoum’s stubborn refusal to accept her sister into their
does not come back on a Friday. midst that prevents the reconciliation.
