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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the village John lives referred to as he walks alone in the beginning of "Meeting in the Dark"?

2. What does John call the old woman who passes him and asks how he is doing?

3. What does the smoke John sees coming out of the huts as he walks alone indicate?

4. What does Wamuhu's mother say to her husband after John leaves?

5. What does John do before leaving his hut in hopes his father will not know he left?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does John feel about the men and women he passes in the village as he walks alone to Wamuhu's hut?

2. What happens at the tea shop John goes to during his walk alone in the village and why?

3. What does Wamuhu's father say after John leaves and his wife seems hopeful that John likes their daughter?

4. Describe John's interaction with the old woman carrying a large load of Kuni he meets on his walk through the village?

5. Where is Wamuhu when John arrives at her hut? How does his mother behave toward John?

6. What is Stanley's position on his son spending time with other girls?

7. How does John feel about his village as he walks alone just after leaving his parent's hut?

8. What does John's mother tell John when he returns to the hut after returning from the tea shop and why does this worry John?

9. What does John do as he prepares to leave his hut without telling his parents?

10. In what ways is John said to be different than other educated boys who return to the village?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a detailed analysis of tone in Thiong'o's "Meeting in the Dark." Include whether the tone changes or remains the same. If it changes, include details on when, why and whether this change is effective.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing narrative voice in "Meeting in the Dark." Include thoughts on how the narrative voice of the story is effective in conveying the story’s themes.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay examining the ending of "Meeting in the Dark." How did the ending fit into the storyline? Do you think the ending was effective? What theme might the ending represent? What might the author have done differently?

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