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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 Mr. Biswas love about Sharma?

2. What does Mr. Biswas do when he sees a relative's child destroying some of the store's stock?

3. What disease afflicts Bipti's father?

4. What treatment does the doctor recommend for Mr. Biswas?

5. What does Mungroo sue Mr. Biswas for?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the first house Mr. Biswas builds for his family.

2. What job does Mr. Biswas have as a child, and how does he lose that job?

3. Describe Mr. Biswas.

4. What happens to Mr. Biswas' house in Green Vale during his illness?

5. Describe Mr. Biswas' early education.

6. Describe the events leading to Mr. Biswas and Shama's courtship and marriage.

7. How does the Tulsi family care for Mr. Biswas during his illness?

8. What happens to the Biswas children after their father dies?

9. What must Mr. Biswas and Shama do to reopen their shop and house in The Chase?

10. Describe Mr. Biswas' room in Green Vale.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Writing, as well as literature, played an important role in Mr. Biswas' life. How does writing allow Mr. Biswas to express himself safely? How does his career as a newspaper reporter assist him in his quest for freedom and independence? What conflicts arise from his writing at the paper? What effect does his venture as a fiction writer have on his character?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the influences that traditional Eastern superstitions and prophecies have on the characters in the book. How does the pundit's prophecy affect Mr. Biswas as an infant and as a schoolboy? What reaction does he have to traditional blessings and prophecies later in life? How does his attitude towards the supernatural affect his relationships with other characters?

Essay Topic 3

The entire world changed after World War II. Discuss the influence World War II had on the lives of the characters in the novel. What were the financial and social repercussions for Trinidad? What difficulties does the war impose on the characters? What advantages did the characters gain due to the war?

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This section contains 962 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample