Haroun and the Sea of Stories

How does the author’s experience with the fatwa inform the story of Haroun?

Why does Khattam-Shud forbid speech in the kingdom of Chup? What does this represent in the broader themes about the importance of stories?

After Haroun returns from Kahani, the author writes, “Time is definitely on the move again around these parts” (211). What does the author mean by this statement?

What is the role of Haroun’s mother in the story? Compare Haroun’s mother to the other prominent female character, Blabbermouth.

What role does language play in the novel? Think of an example where Rushdie seems to be breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the reader through his use of wordplay. What tone does this give the novel?

Author Salman Rushdie wrote Haroun as the follow-up to his novel, The Satanic Verses, a novel that earned him a death sentence from the Ayatollah and forced Rushdie into hiding. How does Haroun address issues of free speech and censorship?

Why does Rashid have two nicknames? What does this say about different perspectives around the same story?

Why is Haroun briefly unsatisfied with the happy ending his city receives from the Walrus? What seems to be Rushdie’s message here?