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‘The Third and Final Continent’ by Jhumpa Lahiri is the sixth chapter of the NCERT Class 11 English Woven Words textbook. This short story explores the themes of immigration, adaptation and human connection through the narrator’s journey from India to London to America. This story focuses on the various experiences of the narrator throughout his journey. In this blog, we will provide a summary, character sketches, themes, literary devices, and morals of the story. You can also download the free PDF of the notes for quick revision.
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NCERT Notes Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 6: The Third and Final Continent
Here we have provided the NCERT notes for Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 6: The Third and Final Continent, including author highlights, synopsis, character sketches, themes, and a detailed summary.
About the Author and Key Highlights
Jhumpa Lahiri, an acclaimed Indian-American author, is known for her evocative storytelling and exploration of immigrant experiences, as seen in her Pulitzer Prize-winning collection Interpreter of Maladies, from which this story is extracted. Set in the late 1960s, The Third and Final Continent follows an unnamed Bengali narrator who leaves India in 1964, lives in London, and settles in America in 1969 after an arranged marriage. The story highlights his adjustment to life in Boston, his interactions with his 103-year-old landlady, Mrs. Croft, and his evolving relationship with his wife, Mala. Through the narrator’s journey across three continents, Lahiri explores themes of cultural adaptation, solitude, and the quiet bonds that shape human lives, offering a touching reflection on resilience and connection in a new world.
Synopsis of the Story
The Third and Final Continent traces the narrator’s journey from India to London and finally to America, where he begins a new life with his wife, Mala, after an arranged marriage. In 1964, the narrator sails to London, lives with other Bengali bachelors, and studies at the London School of Economics while working at a university library. In 1969, he moved to Boston for a job at MIT’s Dewey Library, initially staying at a noisy YMCA. He rents a room from Mrs. Croft, a 103-year-old widow, whose strict yet endearing ways, including her excitement over the moon landing, form a unique bond with him. After six weeks, Mala arrives from India, and the couple moves into a new apartment. Initially strangers, they grow closer, with a pivotal moment at Mrs. Croft’s house where her approval of Mala as a “perfect lady” sparks their first shared smile. Years later, the narrator, now an American citizen with a son at Harvard, reflects on his ordinary yet remarkable journey, mourning Mrs. Croft’s death and celebrating his family’s life in America.
Main Characters in the Story
Understand the key characters who drive the narrative:
- The Narrator: An unnamed Bengali man who immigrates from India to London and then to America. Soft-spoken and resilient, he adapts to new cultures, forms a bond with Mrs. Croft, and grows to love his wife, Mala, reflecting on his journey with humility and wonder.
- Mala: The narrator’s wife was through an arranged marriage. Initially shy and homesick, she adapts to life in America, learning to navigate its challenges and forming a bond with the narrator, symbolising resilience and partnership.
- Mrs. Croft: A 103-year-old American widow and former piano teacher, fierce and traditional, who rents a room to the narrator. Her obsession with the moon landing and strict demeanour hides a vulnerable side, and her approval of Mala marks a turning point in the couple’s relationship.
- Helen: Mrs. Croft’s daughter, a friendly 68-year-old who visits weekly to bring groceries and care for her mother. She provides insight into Mrs. Croft’s past and her physical decline, highlighting her mother’s independence and fragility.
Themes in the Story
The story explores several significant themes, explained below in simple terms:
- Immigration and Adaptation: The narrator’s journey across three continents reflects the challenges of adapting to new cultures, from learning American terms to navigating daily life, highlighting resilience and the immigrant experience.
- Solitude and Connection: The narrator’s initial loneliness in London and Boston contrasts with the unexpected bonds he forms with Mrs. Croft and, later, Mala, showing how human connections alleviate isolation.
- Cultural Displacement: The story captures the disorientation of moving between cultures, as seen in the narrator’s adjustments to American life and Mala’s struggle with homesickness, reflecting the broader immigrant experience.
- Resilience and Growth: The narrator’s ability to overcome challenges, from living in cramped conditions to building a life with Mala, underscores personal growth and the strength to adapt to new circumstances.
- Tradition versus Modernity: Mrs. Croft’s old-fashioned values, such as her insistence on propriety, contrast with the modern world of 1969, including the moon landing and changing social norms, highlighting generational differences.
Literary Devices in the Story
Jhumpa Lahiri employs various literary devices to enhance the narrative’s emotional and thematic depth:
- Symbolism: The moon landing symbolises human achievement and progress, paralleling the narrator’s journey to a new world. Mrs. Croft’s piano, now silent, represents her past vitality and current fragility.
- Imagery: Vivid descriptions, such as the “furious drone” of the SS Roma’s engine or Mrs. Croft’s “snowy hair arranged like a small sack,” create a sensory experience of the narrator’s environments and relationships.
- Irony: It is ironic that Mrs. Croft, born in 1866, is fascinated by the modern moon landing, while the narrator, a young immigrant, is initially indifferent, highlighting their contrasting perspectives on progress.
- Foreshadowing: The narrator’s early struggles with noise and solitude at the YMCA foreshadow his gradual adaptation to America, while Mrs. Croft’s fall hints at her vulnerability and eventual death.
- Juxtaposition: The contrast between the narrator’s solitary life in London and his growing bond with Mala in America underscores the theme of connection, while Mrs. Croft’s fierce demeanour juxtaposes with her physical frailty.
- Tone: The reflective and understated tone conveys the narrator’s humility and awe at his ordinary yet extraordinary journey, balancing nostalgia with acceptance of his new life.
Also Read: NCERT Notes Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 2 The Address (Free PDF)
Chapter 6: The Third and Final Continent Summary
The Third and Final Continent by Jhumpa Lahiri is a heartfelt narrative about an Indian immigrant’s journey to America and his adaptation to a new life. Below is a detailed summary of the key events in a clear and concise manner:
- Journey to London (1964): The narrator leaves India with minimal resources, sailing on the SS Roma to London. He lives in Finsbury Park with other Bengali bachelors, studying at the London School of Economics and working at a university library, sharing cramped quarters and simple meals like egg curry.
- Move to America (1969): After an arranged marriage in Calcutta, the narrator accepts a job at MIT’s Dewey Library and flies to Boston. He stays at a noisy YMCA, eating cornflakes and milk, and learns American customs from a guidebook, coinciding with the moon landing announcement.
- Life with Mrs. Croft: The narrator rents a room from Mrs. Croft, a 103-year-old widow, for eight dollars a week. Her strict rules, such as checking the lock, and her excitement over the moon landing create a routine where he humorously repeats “splendid” nightly. Her daughter, Helen, reveals Mrs. Croft’s past as a piano teacher and her physical decline.
- Mala’s Arrival: After six weeks, Mala joins the narrator in Boston. Initially strangers, they move into a new apartment, where Mala adjusts to American life, cooking Bengali meals and adapting to daily routines. Their relationship remains distant until a visit to Mrs. Croft’s house.
- Turning Point with Mrs. Croft: During a visit, Mrs. Croft, recovering from a broken hip, calls Mala a “perfect lady,” prompting their first shared smile and marking the beginning of their emotional connection. This moment bridges their cultural and personal divide.
- Life in America: The narrator and Mala build a life together, exploring Boston, meeting other Bengalis, and becoming American citizens. They have a son at Harvard and live in a house reminiscent of Mrs. Croft’s. The narrator mourns Mrs. Croft’s death, reflecting on her impact, and feels pride in his ordinary yet remarkable journey across three continents.
Moral of the Story
Below are the key moral lessons from the story:
- Resilience enables adaptation: The narrator’s ability to navigate challenges across continents shows that perseverance can lead to a fulfilling life in a new environment.
- Human connections bridge isolation: Bonds with unexpected figures, like Mrs. Croft, and gradual closeness with loved ones, like Mala, highlight the importance of relationships in overcoming solitude.
- Humility enhances perspective: The narrator’s humble reflection on his ordinary journey underscores that small, everyday achievements can be as significant as grand accomplishments.
- Cultural adaptation requires patience: The story emphasises that adjusting to new cultures takes time and effort, as seen in the narrator and Mala’s gradual integration into American life.
Download more NCERT Solutions of Class 11 English ‘Woven Words’ here!
| Chapter 1: The Lament Solution |
| Chapter 2: A Pair of Mustachios Solution |
| Chapter 3: The Rocking-horse Winner Solution |
| Chapter 4: The Adventure of the Three Garridebs Solution |
Explore Notes of Other NCERT Class 11 Subjects
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FAQs
The title refers to the narrator’s journey across three continents, Asia (India), Europe (London), and North America (Boston), with America as his final home, symbolising his permanent adaptation and settlement.
Mrs. Croft provides the narrator with stability and a sense of connection in America. Her approval of Mala as a “perfect lady” sparks the couple’s first emotional bond, and her death marks the first loss the narrator mourns in America.
The moon landing symbolises human achievement and progress, paralleling the narrator’s personal journey. Mrs. Croft’s excitement over it contrasts with the narrator’s initial indifference, highlighting their generational and cultural differences.
Initially, due to their arranged marriage, the narrator and Mala grow closer through shared experiences, with a pivotal moment at Mrs. Croft’s house. Their bond strengthens as they build a life together, marked by mutual care and understanding.
For NCERT study material, follow the NCERT Notes and Solutions Class 11 English by Leverage Edu now.
