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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. Who does Nataraj consult to help decide what to do about Vasu?

2. What does Sen like to discuss?

3. How does Nataraj feel about having the taxidermy business upstairs?

4. What does Vasu do for a living?

5. Who currently lives in the house on Kabir Street?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Vasu receive in the mail from the forestry department, and what is his reaction to it?

2. What goes on the front room of the shop that Nataraj runs?

3. Who is Vasu, what is his history, and what is the first thing he does in his relationship with Nataraj?

4. What was the bus ride back to Malgudi like for Nataraj?

5. How are the relationships Nataraj has with the people around him?

6. What business does Nataraj do when he is in Mempi?

7. What happens when Vasu returns, and what does he want to show Nataraj?

8. How does the business transaction unfold between Nataraj and Vasu?

9. What happened to the transaction with the client that Nataraj left waiting when he left with Vasu?

10. Who is Rangi, and how do Sastri and Nataraj cross paths with her? What does Nataraj surmise when he starts seeing her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the book The Man-eater of Malgudi, Nataraj goes through a transformation. Write an essay about how Nataraj changes from the beginning of the story to the end.

Part 1. In the beginning of the book, what is important to Nataraj? How well does he fit into his community?

Part 2. As the book progresses, what influences exert pressure on Nataraj and induce change?

Part 3. By the end of the book, how has Nataraj changed? What is important to him? How well does he get along with the community around him?

Essay Topic 2

The Man-Eater of Malgudi is a piece of fiction that acts as a political commentary. Write an essay about artistic political commentary.

Part 1. How is the book The Man-Eater of Malgudi a political commentary? What is its message?

Part 2. What other art forms commonly act as political commentary? How?

Part 3. Cite or show another work that is also meant as a political commentary. How is it recognizable as such? What does it mean?

Essay Topic 3

The elephant Kumar was a central character in the book The Man-Eater of Malgudi. Even though he was not an active character, he was one of great importance.

Part 1. Why was Kumar so important? What did he represent?

Part 2. Why did R.K. Narayan choose an elephant for the role of Kumar? Could it have been an tiger? What do elephants in general represent?

Part 3. What saved Kumar in the end? How close was Kumar to being lost? What would have been the symbolic consequences of losing Kumar?

(see the answer keys)

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