https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2 G11B en-us 2021-09-21 12:09:20 UTC 2025-12-23 18:31:16 UTC hello@padlet.com emerdolan2 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1756902158 Write what you think are the most important themes. Give relevant examples to support it and important quotes. ]]> 2021-09-21 12:12:53 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1756902158 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759270859 "he spoke of stars and of the people of the world" p219
- Motif of stars throughout book but especially at start & end.
- Nadia admired Saeed for his optimism & enthusiasm before, he is now started to get this part of him back.
- Suggests that change is necessary to rekindle hope.
- Times where we are doubtful don't last forever.]]> 2021-09-22 07:19:17 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759270859 tige20231 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759274015 Phone (symbolism of hope):
"Deprived of the portals to each other and to the world provided by their mobile phones, and confined to their apartments by the night-time curfew, Nadia and Saeed, and countless others, felt marooned and alone and much more afraid" pg 55

Phones allowed the people to connect with the outside world ==> allow them to escape the harsh reality

However, the removal of the phone signals took away their hope as they felt lonely, scared, and isolated. ]]> 2021-09-22 07:20:53 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759274015 tige20231 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759278547 Lemon tree (symbolism of life and hope)

pg 78: "When they reached home Saeed's father saw the lemon tree and smiled for what seemed like the first time in days"

Shows how the father felt more alive and joyful after seeing the lemon tree, as the plant symbolised life and hope. ]]> 2021-09-22 07:23:12 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759278547 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759278651 "Whether it was because they were impressed by her mettle in the face of danger or because they recalibrated their sense of who was threat and who was threatened [...] people on her shifts began chatting with her"
- Nadia characterised as strong & resilient, similar to start of book.
- People at work admire her for her courage.
- Hamid demonstrates danger migrants face, they are clear victims]]> 2021-09-22 07:23:15 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759278651 swle20231 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759279503 The narrative voice in the book is sometimes philosophical, uses the word "we" for universal truths
"But mostly there was little to report, just the day-to day goings-on of countless people working and living and ageing and falling in and out of love, as is the case every-where, and not so deemed worthy of headline billing or thought to be of much interest to anyone but those directly involved."  (page 176)

"and this loss unites humanity, unites every human being, the temporary nature of our being-ness, and our shared sorrow, the heartache we each carry and yet too often reuse to acknowledge in one another," (page 202)

"We are all migrants through time." (page 209)]]> 2021-09-22 07:23:43 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759279503 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759280458 The theme of change is only evident towards the end of the book. It's a very general topic, where Hamid mentions changes in relationships or migration.
Important quotes:
"We are all migrants through time."
- things are always changing, people are never living in the same place forever. They move and settle down in other areas in order for a better quality of life. And our life never stays the same as well

"...slipping away...slipping away...slipping away"
- use of repetitions of the verb 'slipping' to inform audience that loss occurs, it impacts and changes your life but you can't get away from it
 ]]> 2021-09-22 07:24:09 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759280458 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759281133 The theme of relationships changes a lot throughout Exit West, as Hamid tries to create realistic characters with realistic a realistic love life. Hamid shows the ups and downs throughout Nadia and Saeed's relationship. 

"Close to the preachers daughter" - a sense of losing his relationship with Nadia, he starts becoming uncomfortable talking to Nadia and becomes more comfortable with the preachers daughters. 

"Nadia saw the head cook from the cooperative, a handsome woman with strong arms" - Nadia finding her true self, her relationship with Saeed fading away - falling in love with someone else. ]]> 2021-09-22 07:24:32 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759281133 yisz20231 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759281422 The theme "migration" appears in every chapter of the book. It is not only shown throughout Nadia and Saeed's journey but as well as the stories that happened in different parts of the world.
"One day she might go, she thought. But not today". (p225)
"We are all migrants through time". (P209)
"When we migrate, we murder from our lives those we leave behind."


]]> 2021-09-22 07:24:40 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759281422 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759283154 Drones throughout the story, in whatever location Nadia and Saeed were in, had monitored them, constantly checking to see what migrants such as Nadia and Saeed were doing. This shows that an assumption is already made that the migrants are possibly committing illegal crimes. They are also made to be seen as lesser than natives in the country they are in as they need to be constantly monitored.

]]> 2021-09-22 07:25:34 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759283154 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759287386 Nadia thinking she deserves to shower bc it is a human necessity
- Stands up for herself bc she is the only person who has in the past.
- Does not think any less of herself for being a migrant.]]> 2021-09-22 07:27:57 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759287386 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759288363 everyone migrates, even if we stay in the same houses our whole lives, because we can’t help it.

we are all children who lose our parents, all of us, every man and woman and boy and girl, and we too will all be lost by those who come after us and love us, and this loss unites humanity, unites every human being, the temporary nature of our being-ness, and our shared sorrow, the heartache we each carry and yet too often refuse to acknowledge in one another]]> 2021-09-22 07:28:28 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759288363 xiwa20231 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759288414 "His mother used to pray in her bedroom, perhaps once a day, unless it was a particularly holy time, or there had been a death in the family, or an illness, in which case she prayed more often." (p199-200)
-Saeed is being nostalgic after leaving his country and his parents.
-at the beginning, Saeed was optimistic but after leaving his parents, his passion disappears 

]]> 2021-09-22 07:28:30 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759288414 shas20231 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759288473 Mohsin Hamid focuses on delivering the story omnisciently, meaning the reader knows all that happens (All seeing, All knowing ). However, he limits the amount a person knows of each character, as to not remove suspense and thrill and still make decisions somewhat unpredictable.]]> 2021-09-22 07:28:32 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759288473 tige20231 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759288855 "for when we migrate, we murder from our lives those we leave behind" pg 94

philosophical narrative voice

inclusive pronoun "we", shows the author's confidence in his claim, and creates connection with all the readers and make them relate to the fictional characters (and empathise them)]]> 2021-09-22 07:28:44 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759288855 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759291840 "she was always clad from the tips of her toes...in a flowing black robe"
- Hamid characterises Nadia as defensive, conservative and vigilant through the use of symbolism of black robe. This shows that Nadia is independent and has to protect herself. It also reflects the unsecured feelings of her being away from her family and how strong she has to be.


]]> 2021-09-22 07:30:07 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759291840 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759292335 Nadias robe changing from something that protected her bc she fitted in to smth that sets her apart from everyone and makes her appear as a threat]]> 2021-09-22 07:30:22 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759292335 yisz20231 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759292549 "As she stood her ground, looking at him, visor down, heart pounding, but with her grip firm on clutch and throttle." (p39)
- Nadia is calm, rational, she understands how to protect herself, even though the situation she was in was quite dangerous. ]]> 2021-09-22 07:30:29 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759292549 https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759292655

When Saeed tells her to not stand in the hallway with a towel on her first day in London house, she immediately interprets his words as him trying to control her or critique her lack of modesty. This shows her rebellious]]> 2021-09-22 07:30:32 UTC https://padlet.com/emerdolan2/zaqccncuk24v3ye2/wish/1759292655