Fire on the Mountain
by Anita Desai
About_
This study guide accompanies Fire on the Mountain by Anita Desai, a novel about an elderly woman named Nanda
Kaul whose fiercely guarded solitude at her mountain home, Carignano, is disrupted by the arrival of her
withdrawn great-granddaughter, Raka. The guide traces the novel’s three parts, following Nanda Kaul’s resistance
to connection, Raka’s silent explorations of the wild landscape, and the tragic visit of Nanda Kaul’s old friend Ila
Das. It is designed to build comprehension of plot and character while encouraging deeper reflection on themes of
isolation, memory, and truth. This study guide contains 65 questions across 5 chapter sections (50 Factual + 15
Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 5 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (50 total), 5 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (15 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 9-11
Teacher Note_
This guide is designed to help students move beyond simple plot recall into genuine literary analysis of Desai’s
spare, symbolic style. The mix of factual and critical questions builds confidence first, then pushes students to
grapple with isolation, memory, and truth-telling in meaningful ways. We hope it saves you preparation time while
sparking rich classroom discussion!