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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. What does Mwihaki like to do with flowers, according to the narrator in Chapter 4?

2. Dedan Kimathi is referred to as the leader of what group in Chapter 8?

3. Who does Njoroge realize the European woman was who came to his English class in Chapter 5?

4. Who does Kamau say Boro called Jomo in Chapter 5?

5. Who is Lucia's mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Mwihaki and how did Njoroge come to know her?

2. What does Jacobo come to represent to Ngotho in Part 1: "The Waning Light," Chapter 7?

3. What is the political atmosphere of Njoroge's homeland in the opening of the novel?

4. How does the narrator describe Ngotho's change in demeanor in the conclusion of Part 2: "Darkness Falls," Chapter 8?

5. What is the twist ending of Karanja's story about Dedan Kimathi in Part 2: "Darkness Falls," Chapter 8?

6. What does Nairobi represent symbolically to Njoroge and others in Part 1: "The Waning Light," Chapter 5?

7. Who are the members of Njoroge's family? To whom is he closest?

8. What do the blacks of Kenya expect to be the outcome of Jomo's trial in Part 2: "Darkness Falls," Chapter 9?

9. What does the land represent symbolically to Mr. Howlands?

10. Why does the strike cause conflict in Njoroge's home in Part 1: "The Waning Light," Chapter 6?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Ngotho in Weep Not, Child. How does Ngotho change as a character from the beginning of the novel to the end? What are the significant actions that Ngotho takes that impact the plot of the story? Are those actions justified? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss education as a theme in Weep Not, Child. What is the meaning of education to Njoroge and the members of his family and his community? How is education perceived differently by the characters in this novel than it is in your family, culture, and community? How is it similar?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the historical context of the Mau Mau Uprising. How central is this historical event to the plot of Weep Not, Child? What aspects of history are inserted into the narrative? How are the main political figures of this time characterized?

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