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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter 3, what is the narrator reading when Zorba asks him to come in for lunch?
(a) Dante.
(b) Virgil.
(c) The Bible.
(d) Shakespeare.

2. Why does Zorba tell the narrator not to preach equality of the sexes?
(a) He says it is all lies anyway.
(b) He says that the people of Crete believe in equality of the sexes already.
(c) He says that Anagnosti will kill him if he does.
(d) He says it will disrupt the island's way of life without offering solutions for making it better.

3. What does Zorba tell the narrator that God would rather him do?
(a) God would rather him work at the mine than attend a celebration.
(b) God would rather him celebrate Christmas than work on his writing.
(c) God would rather him visit the widow than go to church.
(d) God would rather him go to church than work at the mine.

4. In Chapter 4, what does the narrator do when he first awakens?
(a) Smokes a pipe.
(b) Goes jogging.
(c) Has coffee with Zorba.
(d) Goes straight to work.

5. Why does the narrator say that the sexual organs may get in the way of freedom?
(a) He says that sexual thoughts can keep a person from being productive.
(b) He says that clothing that doesn't fit correctly restricts freedom.
(c) He says that being promiscuous can keep a man from going to heaven.
(d) He says that the need to have children keeps people from living full lives.

Short Answer Questions

1. What reason does the narrator give in his argument that Zorba should not pressure him to visit the widow?

2. About what does Zorba confront the miners?

3. What painting does Zorba present to Madame Hortense?

4. How does Zorba feel about women?

5. How does Zorba live his life?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the narrator's memory of his old friend while on their visit to the museum.

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

3. What does Zorba's version of God look like?

4. What reasons does Zorba give in Chapter 9 for so intensely wanting the narrator to go and sleep with the widow?

5. How does the fact that Zorba is missing half of his finger relate to his connection between manliness and freedom?

6. How might Madame Hortense's romantic history challenge Zorba's concept of his own manliness?

7. When the narrator makes an attempt to get to know some of the mine workers, he begins to discuss socialism with them. Zorba does not like this. What are his reasons?

8. When the narrator observes Zorba's ease with problem solving in Chapter 5, what figures come into his mind?

9. What feelings does Zorba express about religion?

10. How does Zorba's version of the devil living inside him compare to Zorba himself?

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. What reason does the narrator give in his argument that Zorba should not pressure him to visit the widow?

Acting impulsively is against his nature.

2. About what does Zorba confront the miners?

Failing to get their picks before exiting.

3. What painting does Zorba present to Madame Hortense?

A painting of her as a siren leading battleships.

4. How does Zorba feel about women?

He does not take them seriously but enjoys them physically.

5. How does Zorba live his life?

He lives like every day is his last.

Short Essay Answer Key

1. Describe the narrator's memory of his old friend while on their visit to the museum.

The narrator's old friend told him of his love for a painting by Rembrandt; a painting he says he will owe his greatest accomplishments to. As they are leaving the museum, they see a bird land on a statue of an Amazon and begin singing. The narrator asks what it might mean, and the friend recites a few lines that encourage the narrator not to bother himself with such thoughts.

2. 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.

3. What does Zorba's version of God look like?

Zorba claims to be an atheist, but he does tell the narrator that God is likely a more outrageous version of himself for whom forgiveness is not difficult, and who does not want to be worshiped.

4. What reasons does Zorba give in Chapter 9 for so intensely wanting the narrator to go and sleep with the widow?

He says that women need men to sleep with them and protect them; that it is a part of a greater plan. He says she will be ruined if a man does not go and sleep with her. He also says that not taking the opportunity to sleep with her is one sin that God will not forgive.

5. How does the fact that Zorba is missing half of his finger relate to his connection between manliness and freedom?

Zorba says that he cut part of his finger off because it got in the way of making pottery. He argues that anything that gets in the way of man doing what he wants should be removed. Because it takes a great deal of physical and mental courage to remove a body part, the connection for Zorba is strong.

6. How might Madame Hortense's romantic history challenge Zorba's concept of his own manliness?

Zorba believes in living for the day and that any impediment to freedom and manliness should be removed. Because he thinks sexual relationships are the ultimate in the physical life, he is helpless against the force of her own history. She has been romanced by legendary and powerful men, and Zorba cannot do anything to remove them as competitive forces from his own life. He offers to take on Canavaro's role in her life, but he has no power or awareness of how to actually fulfill that role.

7. When the narrator makes an attempt to get to know some of the mine workers, he begins to discuss socialism with them. Zorba does not like this. What are his reasons?

Zorba believes that supervising a workforce requires complete authority. He thinks it's better if they believe they have fewer rights and that workers who feel like they are equal to their bosses will eventually take rights away from their bosses.

8. When the narrator observes Zorba's ease with problem solving in Chapter 5, what figures come into his mind?

The narrator realizes that Zorba's mind is not stressed with education and that his problem solving is a result of his connection with the physical world. He compares Zorba to Alexander the Great cutting through the Gordian knot with his sword. His notes that it is difficult to miss with feet planted firmly and held by the weight of the entire body. This leads him to compare Zorba to the serpent worshiped by Africans. He notes that anything so connected with and touching the earth constantly must be superior in its understanding of the earth's workings.

9. 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.

10. How does Zorba's version of the devil living inside him compare to Zorba himself?

Zorba says that the devil is a mirror image of himself. The only difference is that the devil refuses to grow old. He also wears a red carnation behind his ear.