View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What activity does Vasu start to engage in as his poaching becomes more difficult?

3. Nataraj denies that Vasu is a tenant, but claims he is what?

4. What is the state of the citrus tree behind the house on Kabir Street?

5. What action does Vasu take regarding where he lives?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of events unfold in chapter one of "The Man-eater of Malgudi?"

2. Who does Vasu bring to the press to meet Nataraj, and what happens?

3. When Nataraj goes into the attic with Vasu, what does he see? What transpires then between Vasu and Nataraj?

4. Explain how Vasu arranges to move into Nataraj's attic.

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

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

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

8. How does Nataraj end up on a long day trip with no money and with a client waiting in his press?

9. Who does Nataraj employ at the printing press? What is his relationship with his hired help?

10. What does Nataraj do when he has difficulty finding a puppy for the septuagenarian's grandson? How does his own son get involved?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The green folder with the accounts for the festival is the catalyst for some awkward interactions between Nataraj and Vasu. What role do the festival accounts play?

Part 1. What does the green folder represent? Why is its transference from Nataraj to Vasu important?

Part 2. Vasu never returns the green folder, but rather declares it lost. What is the significance of this?

Part 3. After Vasu's death, Nataraj sees the green folder and carefully takes it back without leaving prints so he won't be accused of stealing. Explain the significance of this scene.

Part 4. When Nataraj finally has the green folder back he still finds very little actual money. Rather, there is just the lists of people who gave money for the festival. Explain the symbolism behind this and the point R.K. Narayan is making.

Essay Topic 2

The interactions between Vasu and Nataraj are especially important in The Man-Eater of Malgudi. Write an essay explaining why.

Part 1. Who do Nataraj and Vasu represent? Why are their interactions so important?

Part 2. Find interactions or dialogue between Vasu and Nataraj and analyze it as it relates to historical figures, groups, and events.

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)

This section contains 1,215 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample