The Two Grandmothers

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

The story opens with a little girl telling her mother about her experiences with her two grandmothers; grandma Dell and grandma Elaine a.k.a Towser. Grandma Dell is her ‘country’ grandmother who lives in rural Jamaica, raises lifestock, caters to her community, takes her grand daughter to church and is enamored by her grand daughter’s ‘pretty’ skin and hair. Grandma Elaine, on the other hand, is her ‘town’ grandmother. She has had multiple marriages, is a socialite who dates wealthy men, travels, and is very concerned about her physical appearance. The grand daughter, initially, prefers her country grandmother, who is very attentive to her needs and loved to ‘show her off’ to her friends and neighbours. However, as the story progresses, and the narrator ages and matures, she begins to prefer her town grandmother, who is more cosmopolitan and appreciative of material things. With her change in attitude to grandma Dell, however, also comes a change in attitude to her country friends.

Question 2

Setting

Answer 2

• The story occurs in three places; rural Jamaica, Kingston and Clearwater in the USA.
• The story occurs in the 1980’s.

Question 3

Themes

Answer 3

Racial Prejudice
Social Prejudice
Love and Family Relationships
Women in Society
Innocence vs. Loss of Innocence

Question 4

Main characters

Answer 4

Grandma Dell
Grandma Elaine (Towser)

Question 5

Characteristics of Grandma Dell

Answer 5

• Traditional/ old fashion
• Christian minded and simple in her approach to life
• Altruistic
• Never married
• Never dates
• Prejudiced
• Hypocrite

Question 6

Characteristics of Grandma Elaine(Towser)

Answer 6

• Non-traditional/ Socialite
• Materialistic
• Narcississtic
• Married multiple times
• Goes on dates
• Prejudiced
• Blunt and speaks her mind