This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What incident on the beach mellows the narrator's restlessness?
(a) He sees a shooting star.
(b) A horse and rider pass by.
(c) He accidentally kills a butterfly.
(d) He hears strange music.

2. What are the names of Zorba's two "half-honest" lovers?
(a) Madame Hortense and Anagnosti.
(b) Alexandra and Diana.
(c) Sophia and Cecilia.
(d) Sophinka and Noussa.

3. In a letter to his friend, what does the narrator say his friend inspired him to do?
(a) Pursue a life of physical action.
(b) Join a circus.
(c) Go to university.
(d) Get married.

4. How does Zorba believe a man should treat a woman?
(a) He should lie to her about his other lovers.
(b) He should only spend time with her if he wants to marry her.
(c) He should cook and clean for her.
(d) He should tell her she's beautiful no matter what.

5. What are Zorba's beliefs about the existence of God?
(a) He looks to Anagnosti for all of his religious questions and shares his beliefs.
(b) He is a Christian.
(c) He believes in a higher power but not in religion.
(d) He does not personally believe in God but believes religion is essential to civilization.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Zorba mean when he describes being married "dishonestly"?

2. What does the narrator mostly do while Zorba works in the mine?

3. What does the narrator do on his first morning in Crete?

4. Zorba tells the story of an old man who will what?

5. What body part is Zorba missing a part of?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the parrot's role in the life of Madame Hortense and her guests.

2. What does Zorba do while in Candia?

3. Describe the narrator's counter argument to Zorba's connection between manliness and freedom regarding his missing finger?

4. What kinds of responsibilities does Zorba take on at the initiation of his friendship with the narrator.

5. What significance does the fact that Madame Hortense is a widow have toward the theme of manliness?

6. Discuss the two goals that the narrator sets for himself at the end of Chapter 4? How is this a shift from the beginning of the story?

7. Do you think Zorba's description of dance as a language is accurate? In other words, does the narrator understand what Zorba means by his erratic dancing?

8. What feelings does Zorba express about religion?

9. Describe the first time that the narrator sees the widow.

10. Describe Zorba's categories of marriage and how many of each he's experienced.

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. What does Zorba mean when he describes being married "dishonestly"?

Any sexual adventure.

2. What does the narrator mostly do while Zorba works in the mine?

He works on his writing.

3. What does the narrator do on his first morning in Crete?

He takes a stroll through the countryside.

4. Zorba tells the story of an old man who will what?

Never die.

5. What body part is Zorba missing a part of?

Finger.

Short Essay Answer Key

1. Explain the parrot's role in the life of Madame Hortense and her guests.

Hortense's parrot is a constant reminder of Madame Hortense's greatest love. As a possession, it has been trained to say Canavaro's name repeatedly and therefore to challenge the immediacy of Zorba's manliness.

2. What does Zorba do while in Candia?

He meets a young girl with whom he has an affair. He also spends all of the boss's money.

3. Describe the narrator's counter argument to Zorba's connection between manliness and freedom regarding his missing finger?

The narrator argues that although such passions are admirable, they could also possibly lead to the desire to remove more crucial body parts. He suggests that Zorba might eventually want to remove his sexual organs, which would have a much more life-altering and drastic result.

4. What kinds of responsibilities does Zorba take on at the initiation of his friendship with the narrator.

Zorba agrees to act as foreman of the lignite mine. He also promises to cook the narrator soup and play him music on his santuri.

5. What significance does the fact that Madame Hortense is a widow have toward the theme of manliness?

Madame Hortense is a character on whom Zorba and the narrator choose instantly to rely upon for shelter. The fact that she is completely devoid of Zorba's "manliness" (as a widowed woman) and has outlived her four great lovers, admirals who could be classified as the most manly of all men, speaks to a contrasting energy of freedom neither articulated by the narrator nor by Zorba.

6. Discuss the two goals that the narrator sets for himself at the end of Chapter 4? How is this a shift from the beginning of the story?

The narrator wants to rid himself of Buddha and the abstract thinking that comes along with Buddha. He also wants to be completely present in the physical world of men. He has wanted to find this physicality since the beginning of the story when his old friend's words inspire him to seek such a life, and begin his journey to Crete. Originally, he was completely invested in philosophizing as well. However, the fact that he wants to exorcise Buddha from his thinking is a definite shift in his character.

7. Do you think Zorba's description of dance as a language is accurate? In other words, does the narrator understand what Zorba means by his erratic dancing?

Zorba says that he had so much joy that he had to let it out somehow and dancing was the best way to let the explosion loose. The dancing reminds the narrator of a story he made up about how his grandfather died. He told friends that the old man bounced on rubber shoes until he disappeared into the clouds. This does exhibit some understanding. The narrator associates the dancing with a great release of energy although he cannot clearly name it.

8. What feelings does Zorba express about religion?

Zorba claims to be an atheist. However, when it comes to the other villagers, Zorba believes that religion is not only important but is the center of their way of life. He warns the narrator that speaking against religion to the villagers is not wise as it is better for them than having no organized structure at all.

9. Describe the first time that the narrator sees the widow.

The narrator and Zorba duck into a cafe in the middle of a rainstorm, and from here, they see the widow run past the window. The narrator immediately finds her beautiful, although there are a variety of responses to her presence, not all of them positive. Soon after, Mimiko enters and reports that the widow has lost her sheep and offers a reward to anyone who can help return it to her.

10. Describe Zorba's categories of marriage and how many of each he's experienced.

Zorba says he's been married "honestly," "half-honestly," and "dishonestly." He says that he's been married "honestly" or legally only once. He says that he's been "half-honestly" married, or in relationships similar to marriage that were not made formal and legal with a wedding, two times. He says that he's been "dishonestly" married a thousand times, and by this he is referring to every sexual encounter he's ever had.