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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. How does Jarvis react when Kumalo admits it was his son who murdered James’?

2. What is the rumored purpose of the ground markings left by Jarvis and the magistrate in Ndotsheni?

3. What was the name of the paper Arthur Jarvis was writing about justice for blacks?

4. What do the villagers do to memorialize this person?

5. Which character does Kumalo’s friend, who works on the Jarvis farm, tell him is sick?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how Napoleon Letsitsi comes to be in Ndotsheni.

2. Compare and contrast Napoleon’s and Kumalo’s attitudes towards James Jarvis.

3. What surprises James Jarvis most about people’s reaction to his son’s death?

4. Describe the villagers’ reaction to Kumalo’s return to Ndotsheni, from the time he gets off the train until he reaches the church.

5. Describe the final meeting between Stephen and John Kumalo.

6. Compare and contrast the ways the novel ends “happily” versus the way it ends “unhappily.”

7. Compare and contrast Absalom and his wife’s reactions to their wedding.

8. Compare and contrast James Jarvis and John Harrison, Sr.’s attitudes towards blacks before James starts reading Arthur’s papers.

9. Compare and contrast the significance of the new gold mines in Odendaalsrust for whites and blacks, as indicated in Book Two, Chapter Six.

10. Describe Barbara Smith’s response to Kumalo’s question about her servant, and explain the significance of James’ translation of this answer to Kumalo.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Gertrude in the novel. How does Gertrude's character propel the plot of the narrative? What symbolism and imagery connect to Gertrude? What themes does Gertrude's character explore?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author's use of irony in Cry, the Beloved Country. What are specific examples of irony from the text? What type of irony is being used? How does this example further the plot of the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the changes in Johannesburg from the time that the novel is set to today. How has Apartheid changed and is it still practiced in South Africa? What has prompted the changes in the country?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,145 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample