Rukmani's life is filled with struggle, yet she remains resolutely optimistic about her future. Married off to a poor rice farmer at the age of 12, Rukmani struggles through loneliness, infertility, starvation, and great loss with persevering optimism. The novel's title, Nectar in a Sieve, refers to nectar, a sweet liquid, and a sieve, a device with meshes that allows liquid to pass through while trapping solids in the device. The title suggests Rukmani's ability to appreciate the short, sweet moments in life before they disappear. During the Deepavali celebration in Chapter 10, for example, Rukmani's family struggles to eat, yet she doles out precious pennies for the children to buy fireworks because "it is only once ... a memory." Similarly, at the end of the novel when she and Nathan have been saving to return to the village, she feels overcome with happiness while at the market with Puli. She buys fried pancakes instead of plain rice cakes and wooden toys for the children: "Well, if we are extravagant it is only once." No matter what suffering comes Rukmani's way, she maintains optimism that life can only get better. She tells Kenny, "Want is our companion from birth to death." Rather than wallow in what's lacking, Rukmani always chooses to look ahead: to the next meal, the next year, or the next harvest.
The answer that best supports my understanding of the denotative meaning of a word is the last option - the denotative meaning of a word involves the actual, dictionary definition of a word.
The other options refer to the connotative, and not denotative meaning of a word.
Dear Malcolm,
Houston ain’t that bad but it doesn’t have you. They’re known for BBQ which is too messy and burnt for me but the rodeo is is here. I went yesterday they had a huge carnival! With all kinds of games and oh my god the food, you would’ve died of happiness. Then there were bulls and sheep you could visit but I couldn’t bring myself to watch the bull riders. School starts up next week, wish me luck
Xoxo, Lila
Answer:
B
Explanation:
Helen had frequent outbursts because she needed a means of communication. Helen’s mother began looking for someone to educate Helen.
