The Namesake
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12
Themes
All Themes The Indian Immigrant Experience Family, Tradition, and Ritual Independence, Rebellion, and Growing Up Identity and Naming Love and Marriage
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Ashoke Ganguli (Mithu) Ashima Ganguli (Monu) Gogol/Nikhil Ganguli Sonali (Sonia) Ganguli Moushumi Mazoomdar Maxine Ratliff Ruth
Symbols
All Symbols Trains Books Graves and Graveyards
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Dramatic Irony Flashbacks Genre Hyperbole Irony Metaphors Mood Paradox Personification Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
Download PDF
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The Namesake

by

Jhumpa Lahiri

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
Themes
  • All Themes
  • The Indian Immigrant Experience Theme Icon
    The Indian Immigrant Experience
  • Family, Tradition, and Ritual Theme Icon
    Family, Tradition, and Ritual
  • Independence, Rebellion, and Growing Up Theme Icon
    Independence, Rebellion, and Growing Up
  • Identity and Naming Theme Icon
    Identity and Naming
  • Love and Marriage Theme Icon
    Love and Marriage
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Ashoke Ganguli (Mithu)
  • Ashima Ganguli (Monu)
  • Gogol/Nikhil Ganguli
  • Sonali (Sonia) Ganguli
  • Moushumi Mazoomdar
  • Maxine Ratliff
  • Ruth
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Trains Symbol Icon
    Trains
  • Books Symbol Icon
    Books
  • Graves and Graveyards Symbol Icon
    Graves and Graveyards
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allusions
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Flashbacks
  • Genre
  • Hyperbole
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Paradox
  • Personification
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

The Namesake Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Lorenz, Ben. "The Namesake." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 4 Nov 2015. Web. 13 Jun 2025.


Chicago

Lorenz, Ben. "The Namesake." LitCharts LLC, November 4, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-namesake.

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