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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 Odili state his view of Elsie to Chief Nanga?

2. Whom does Chief Nanga call when he comes home for lunch?

3. Why does Chief Nanga seek a second wife?

4. What causes Odili's division from his father?

5. What is the title of the president of the Writer's Society's book?

Short Essay Questions

1. Upon what does Odili reflect while lying in the bed of his guest suite at Chief Nanga's house?

2. What is ironic about Chief Koko's reaction to drinking OHMS?

3. How does "Push me down and take my threepence!" become a popular Anata joke?

4. How is the media portrayed by Odili?

5. What is unusual about Mrs. Akilo and Chief Nanga's affair?

6. What is Odili's perception of Chief Nanga's concerns?

7. What personal goal does Odili not considering asking for help in achieving, as stated in Chapter 2?

8. What impression does Odili convey in his description of Chief Nanga's library?

9. Why is Odili concerned when Chief Nanga voices his intention to go to the hospital with him?

10. How does Odili's father treat his family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A major theme that runs throughout "A Man of the People" is the importance and perception of education. Discuss how education factors into the plot of the story: How does it affect the characters' dispositions? Does it have an influence on their political ideologies? What is the overall tone of the book toward education?

Essay Topic 2

The major theme of "A Man of the People" is the struggle of man against political corruption. Which characters embody corruption? Which characters embody the struggle against corruption? In what ways do the struggling characters fail, and how do the exemplars of corruption ultimately falter?

Essay Topic 3

What start as separate, if related, threads in the story -- revenge, politics and love -- become entangled in Odili's life. Discuss the entanglement of these various threads and explain how an action toward any one goal ends up affecting the others.

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This section contains 772 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample