Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder

Why did Rushdie title the two parts of his book “The Angel of Death” and “The Angel of Life”? What ideas unify each part, and how do these ideas relate to one another? Use textual evidence to illustrate.

Rushdie’s narrative voice is complex and contains seemingly contradictory impulses. What is one way in which this voice is paradoxical? If possible, identify a way to explain away this apparent contradiction.

What rhetorical devices does Rushdie use to create pathos? How do these devices provide thematic support? Does the text’s evocation of emotion support other purposes? If so, elaborate on them, using textual evidence.