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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 did Raju's mother feel about his new job?

2. What job at the railway did Raju inherit in Chapter 3?

3. How did Raju's father treat the station master?

4. What does Velan's sister claim Raju has to do to change someone?

5. What does Velan give Raju in appreciation of helping his sister?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Raju justify staying on at the temple?

2. What transpired between Raju and Rosie in Chapter 5?

3. How did the barber deduce information about Raju's life?

4. How was Raju always able to offer his customers an answer?

5. How did Raju's skills as a guide enter into his relationship with Rosie?

6. How do the villagers regard Raju?

7. Why was Raju given his nickname at the railway?

8. After the groom left with the jutka, what did Raju's parents discover?

9. What is the source of Velan's admiration in Chapter 2?

10. Why was it significant that the author had Raju's father die in the rainy season?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What purpose does it serve for the author to continually switch tense and perspective in the narrative? If the author were to use only one perspective through the entire novel, which would be most effective and why? What information would the reader no longer be privy to if the author followed your suggestion?

Essay Topic 2

How did Raju's main character flaw, his preoccupation with reputation, lead the course of his life? Identify and defend the major areas of the novel where Raju had the ability to keep his life on track if he were not so consumed with reputation. In these various instances, why was Raju unable to learn his lesson? What caused Raju to finally see beyond himself?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Marco and Raju. In the areas of work, love, reputation and Rosie/Nalini's life, how were they similar and different?

(see the answer keys)

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