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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. How does Shama react to the purchase of the house?

2. How does the family at Hanuman House learn that Mr. Biswas is sick?

3. According to pundit, what must Mr. Biswas stay away from?

4. What is Pundit Tulsi famous for?

5. What do the Tulsis hire Mr. Biswas to do in their dry goods store?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why do the Tulsis consider Mr. Biswas a rebel?

3. Describe young Mr. Biswas' second job.

4. Why does Pundit Jairam send Mr. Biswas home?

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

6. What prophecy does the pundit give at Mr. Biswas' birth?

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

8. Why does Mr. Biswas consider himself a successful man?

9. What motivates Mr. Biswas to become self-employed?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the influence that English literature and education has on the characters in the book. Choose three characters and describe how an English-based curriculum influences their attitudes early in life. How does Mr. Biswas' love of English literature affect his personal philosophy throughout his life? What difficulties do he and other characters experience that can be attributed to the influence of English literature and education?

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,130 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample