In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje Jessica Marovich
Summary
This novel is divided into three parts and takes place during the years of 1913-1938. It focuses on the lives of immigrants in Toronto and other rural cities. During this time period, it was a time of mass urbanization,which would not have been possible with out all of the hard work of the migrant workers. It portrays the manual labor of different structures throughout Toronto, such as the tunnel under Lake Ontario and the Bloor Street Bridge, and how dangerous the conditions were for the workers. The main character is Patrick Lewis. Patrick grew up with his father in a rural logging town. Patrick loved to observe the immigrant workers who lived in the area. His father is a cattle herder, but later learns how to dynamite certain things where he gets himself a job with the logging company in order to clear logs from the river. Patrick helps him with this work. When his father dies in a logging accident, Patrick moves to Toronto. The story then switches to the character named Nicholas Temelcoff. He is part of the team that is building the Bloor Street Bridge. Nicholas is somewhat of a dare-devil, and is in charge of the most dangerous work. He saves the life of a nun who falls off of the bridge. He is intrigued by this nun and wants to know more about her. After the short chapter on the Bridge, the story switches back to Patrick and his life in Toronto. Patrick has started a job as a 'searcher' for the famous millionaire, Ambrose Small. Patrick winds up questioning Ambrose's mistress, Clara, whom he falls desperately in love with. Clara is an actress and introduces him to her friend Alice, who is also an actress. Clara ends ups leaving Patrick to go back to Ambrose (she knows where he has been hiding). Patrick is devastated and begins working in different labor jobs among many other immigrants. 3 years later, Alice shows up at his door, and tells him that he needs to get over Clara. He begins a dynamite job building the tunnel under Lake Ontario. He moves to a Macedonian community where he starts off as an outsider, but later lets the immigrants into his world. They invite him to a play where he is extremely moved by the performance of the actress, which he later learns is Alice. He falls in love with Alice and moves in with her and her daughter, Hana. He later adopts Hana. Alice is killed one day from a suitcase that was blown up, and because Alice always thought the rich exploited the poor, he wanted to seek revenge by bombing a hotel where the rich normally stay. He gets caught and gets put in jail. In jail he meets a thief named Caravaggio. Caravaggio escapes from jail, and him and Patrick devise a plan to blow up the waterworks. He wants to take revenge on the owner, Harris, so Patrick sneaks into the building via the tunnel, and storms into Harris' office. Harris talks to Patrick until morning trying to talk him out of the plan, and Patrick falls asleep. Harris' guard takes Patrick to the hospital and takes away the detonator. When Patrick returns home, he receives a call from Clara, saying that Ambrose died and that she wants him to pick her up. On the car ride, Patrick tells Hana all about Clara and her mother when they were younger.
Author's Biography
Michael Ondaatje was born on September 12, 1943 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He immigrated to Montreal, Canada at the age of 19. He studied at the University of Toronto and Queen's University. In 1971, he began teaching at the University of Western Ontario, London between 1967-71. He has been awarded the the Ralph Gustafson Award, 1965; the Epstein Award, 1966; and the President's Medal from the University of Ontario in 1967.
Today he is a member of the Department of English at York University. He wrote collections of poetry as well as narratives. His novel, The English Patient, was made into a film in 1996.
Author Update
Michael Ondaatje currently lives in Toronto with his wife, Linda Spalding, who is a novelist/editor. They both edit the literary journal Brick. He is a member of the Department of English at York University. His most recent novel was written in 2007 called Divisadero.
Explanation of Use
We will be using In the Skin of a Lion as the primary text for our unit plan. We will be exploring the historical context, the themes, characters, and setting within the novel. The students will be writing an essay on themes throughout the unit. They will be connecting the novel to secondary sources, and how it connects to other sources on immigration. The students will also be doing a service project at the end of the Unit.
References
http://www.biography.com/people/michael-ondaatje-9428659
http://literature.britishcouncil.org/michael-ondaatje
http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Ondaat.html
This novel is divided into three parts and takes place during the years of 1913-1938. It focuses on the lives of immigrants in Toronto and other rural cities. During this time period, it was a time of mass urbanization,which would not have been possible with out all of the hard work of the migrant workers. It portrays the manual labor of different structures throughout Toronto, such as the tunnel under Lake Ontario and the Bloor Street Bridge, and how dangerous the conditions were for the workers. The main character is Patrick Lewis. Patrick grew up with his father in a rural logging town. Patrick loved to observe the immigrant workers who lived in the area. His father is a cattle herder, but later learns how to dynamite certain things where he gets himself a job with the logging company in order to clear logs from the river. Patrick helps him with this work. When his father dies in a logging accident, Patrick moves to Toronto. The story then switches to the character named Nicholas Temelcoff. He is part of the team that is building the Bloor Street Bridge. Nicholas is somewhat of a dare-devil, and is in charge of the most dangerous work. He saves the life of a nun who falls off of the bridge. He is intrigued by this nun and wants to know more about her. After the short chapter on the Bridge, the story switches back to Patrick and his life in Toronto. Patrick has started a job as a 'searcher' for the famous millionaire, Ambrose Small. Patrick winds up questioning Ambrose's mistress, Clara, whom he falls desperately in love with. Clara is an actress and introduces him to her friend Alice, who is also an actress. Clara ends ups leaving Patrick to go back to Ambrose (she knows where he has been hiding). Patrick is devastated and begins working in different labor jobs among many other immigrants. 3 years later, Alice shows up at his door, and tells him that he needs to get over Clara. He begins a dynamite job building the tunnel under Lake Ontario. He moves to a Macedonian community where he starts off as an outsider, but later lets the immigrants into his world. They invite him to a play where he is extremely moved by the performance of the actress, which he later learns is Alice. He falls in love with Alice and moves in with her and her daughter, Hana. He later adopts Hana. Alice is killed one day from a suitcase that was blown up, and because Alice always thought the rich exploited the poor, he wanted to seek revenge by bombing a hotel where the rich normally stay. He gets caught and gets put in jail. In jail he meets a thief named Caravaggio. Caravaggio escapes from jail, and him and Patrick devise a plan to blow up the waterworks. He wants to take revenge on the owner, Harris, so Patrick sneaks into the building via the tunnel, and storms into Harris' office. Harris talks to Patrick until morning trying to talk him out of the plan, and Patrick falls asleep. Harris' guard takes Patrick to the hospital and takes away the detonator. When Patrick returns home, he receives a call from Clara, saying that Ambrose died and that she wants him to pick her up. On the car ride, Patrick tells Hana all about Clara and her mother when they were younger.
Author's Biography
Michael Ondaatje was born on September 12, 1943 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He immigrated to Montreal, Canada at the age of 19. He studied at the University of Toronto and Queen's University. In 1971, he began teaching at the University of Western Ontario, London between 1967-71. He has been awarded the the Ralph Gustafson Award, 1965; the Epstein Award, 1966; and the President's Medal from the University of Ontario in 1967.
Today he is a member of the Department of English at York University. He wrote collections of poetry as well as narratives. His novel, The English Patient, was made into a film in 1996.
Author Update
Michael Ondaatje currently lives in Toronto with his wife, Linda Spalding, who is a novelist/editor. They both edit the literary journal Brick. He is a member of the Department of English at York University. His most recent novel was written in 2007 called Divisadero.
Explanation of Use
We will be using In the Skin of a Lion as the primary text for our unit plan. We will be exploring the historical context, the themes, characters, and setting within the novel. The students will be writing an essay on themes throughout the unit. They will be connecting the novel to secondary sources, and how it connects to other sources on immigration. The students will also be doing a service project at the end of the Unit.
References
http://www.biography.com/people/michael-ondaatje-9428659
http://literature.britishcouncil.org/michael-ondaatje
http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Ondaat.html