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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who kills the widow and how is it done?
(a) Zorba accidentally shoots her while trying to shoot Manolakas.
(b) Manolakas cuts her head off.
(c) Mavrandoni stabs her in the heart.
(d) Mavrandoni cuts her head off.

2. Who does Zaharia say inspired his mission?
(a) Archangel Michael.
(b) Demetrios.
(c) The abbot.
(d) The Holy Spirit.

3. How do the negotiations over land between Zorba and the abbot begin?
(a) The abbot charges a lesser amount to prove his devotion to a higher power.
(b) They agree completely to the original negotiation.
(c) The abbot tries to charge more money than agreed upon.
(d) Zorba insists that they pay more.

4. Why does the narrator call a doctor on Easter?
(a) The widow has fallen from a cliff.
(b) The widow appears to be pregnant.
(c) Zorba has grown very ill.
(d) Madame Hortense has grown very ill.

5. What message does the narrator tell Madame Hortense that Zorba has sent from Candia?
(a) He reports that Zorba has said he wants a raise.
(b) He tells her that Zorba says he is never returning.
(c) He tells her that Zorba has proposed marriage to her.
(d) He says that Zorba wants to stay longer in the city.

Short Answer Questions

1. What miracle do the monks come down from the mountain to share?

2. Who does Zorba adopt when Hortense dies?

3. After sleeping with the widow, what does the narrator realize?

4. In Chapter 16,what type of power does the narrator attempt to describe?

5. Whose death is sought after to avenge Pavli's death?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the monastery bishop's first theory on religion.

2. What does Zorba say about the act of crying when Madame Hortense dies?

3. Why does Zaharia say he became a monk?

4. As the narrator watches Zorba comfort Madame Hortense on her death bed with the others eagerly awaiting her death, what does he compare the scene to?

5. What does Madame Hortense actually think of Zorba?

6. Why does Anagnosti say that Pavli is blessed?

7. Describe the incident that prompted the monastery icon's name to be changed from Our Lady of Mercy to Our Lady of Revenge.

8. Describe what happened while Zorba was at war that changed his mind about judging a person based on nationality.

9. Why do you think the narrator's good friend, the soldier, is not named until his death?

10. After the widow's murder, what happens when Zorba and Manolakas meet near the widow's garden?

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. What miracle do the monks come down from the mountain to share?

The Holy Virgin of Revenge has killed Zaharia.

2. Who does Zorba adopt when Hortense dies?

Dimitri.

3. After sleeping with the widow, what does the narrator realize?

"The soul is flesh as well."

4. In Chapter 16,what type of power does the narrator attempt to describe?

The power of the mind concentrated on one thing.

5. Whose death is sought after to avenge Pavli's death?

The widow.

Short Essay Answer Key

1. Describe the monastery bishop's first theory on religion.

He believes that the shape of a flower influences its color and its color then has an influence on its properties which in turn produce a specific effect on humans. He summarizes this theory with the belief that men should be careful when walking through fields of flowers because of the peculiar effects the flowers are having on them.

2. What does Zorba say about the act of crying when Madame Hortense dies?

He says that he isn't ashamed to cry in front of men because of the unity they share. He says that crying in front of women is different because it is a man's job to prove his courage when before women.

3. Why does Zaharia say he became a monk?

He says poverty led him to become a monk. He was hungry and knew that if he went into the monastery there would be no way he could starve.

4. As the narrator watches Zorba comfort Madame Hortense on her death bed with the others eagerly awaiting her death, what does he compare the scene to?

The narrator first compares the scene to a huge exotic bird with a broken wing that has fallen and is dying on the beach, with all of the villagers standing around watching for entertainment. Then he compares Madame Hortense to other animals as well, like an "old angora cat" and "a sick old seal."

5. What does Madame Hortense actually think of Zorba?

Madame Hortense thinks Zorba will make a useful husband but does not think much of him above and beyond that role. She wishes also that he were as exciting and accomplished as her former lovers.

6. Why does Anagnosti say that Pavli is blessed?

Pavli commits suicide by drowning, and Anagnosti says that he is blessed because he is free from the object of his desire, the widow. Anagnosti claims that Pavli could not have lived happily with or without her because he had so much passion for her but now he is at peace.

7. Describe the incident that prompted the monastery icon's name to be changed from Our Lady of Mercy to Our Lady of Revenge.

In ancient times Algerians raided and set fire to the monastery. When they passed by the statue, it is said that she came to life, leaped down, and began stabbing the warriors with her spear until she had killed them all.

8. Describe what happened while Zorba was at war that changed his mind about judging a person based on nationality.

While at war, Zorba murdered a Bulgarian priest who had been invading Greek villages and killing Greeks. Later, when Zorba sees the orphans of the priest, he realizes that nationality doesn't matter. Rather, "good" and "bad" are the only important classifications to consider.

9. Why do you think the narrator's good friend, the soldier, is not named until his death?

It may be to emphasize the theme of the importance of human interaction and companionship. Just as the narrator is gaining the realization that human connection is essential, his friend dies and his friend's name is revealed. His friend has also fulfilled his passion, which was to serve his country. His name is then symbolically mythologized when it appears in the story.

10. After the widow's murder, what happens when Zorba and Manolakas meet near the widow's garden?

Manolakas challenges Zorba to a knife fight after having been beaten previously. Zorba tells him he will fight without weapons. Then the narrator intervenes and talks them down from fighting at all. They end up all drinking together.