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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. In what year does the prologue take place?

2. What seems to be an epidemic in the setting of this novel?

3. What does Rajaram's job encourage villagers to do?

4. How much money are the villagers actually paid for attending the Prime Minister's speech?

5. In what building do the tailors find a new shelter?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Om's trunk of belongings?

2. How does Maneck's father, Farokh, treat his soft-drink recipe?

3. When do Om and Ishvar first meet Rajaram?

4. What does Dina's collection of cloth symbolize?

5. How is Ishvar's face disfigured?

6. Why is Narayan murdered?

7. What happens after Om is hit by the car while following Dina's taxi?

8. Why does Om rent a bicycle?

9. What does Dina teach Maneck to do in Chapter 8, and why?

10. What happens when Rustom goes out to buy ice cream on his third wedding anniversary?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The final chapter of this novel is entitled "The Circle is Complete". Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Choose one of the main characters: either Dina, Maneck, Om, or Ishvar, and explain why their circle is or is not complete. If you are arguing that their circle is not complete, explain what is missing. Be sure to use ample material from the text to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

The worm that Om is carrying around inside him is a powerful symbol for the way that communities, and people, within this novel leech off of each other.

Part 1.) Explain the worm's symbolism, and give examples from the text that support this claim.

Part 2.) Explain the way that Om's life changes after the worm is removed from his body. What message was Mistry was sending with this change?

Part 3.) Rajaram is portrayed as a parasitic character within the novel. Explain the ways that he feeds off of other characters, and explain the ways that his life, like both Om's and the worm's, changes by the end of the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Om and Ishvar are forced to move around quite a bit within the novel. The main places that they call home are the slums, the work camp, the doorway, and Dina's home. Briefly describe the characters lives in each of those homes, what was positive about each of them, and what was negative.

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