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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. Josef Herman, the artist who lived through the Nazi invasion of Poland, fled to what country?

2. What did Bessie feel defeated her in South Africa as a writer?

3. In "Makeba music," where would Russian people caught dealing in the black market be deported to?

4. In 1968, where was Bessie told that South African literature wasn't very popular?

5. What does Bessie state was totally absent in her?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Social and Political Pressures . . . ," what astonished Bessie about the book "One Hundred Years of Solitude"?

2. How are Bessie and the American woman different?

3. In "African Religions," what, does Bessie state is the main difference between Asian and African religious ideals?

4. What is Bessie's opinion of Botswana men?

5. Why does Bessie think of the American woman as some sort of goddess?

6. In Chapter 2, why is the friendship between Bessie and the American woman painful?

7. Why was it so difficult for Bessie to deal with South Africa creatively?

8. In "Notes on Novels," why is Bessie having difficulty writing about her years in South Africa?

9. In "Despite Broken Bondage . . .," how were women treated in Africa before independence?

10. Why does Bessie consider Botswana the "most unique and distinguished country in Africa"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "An unspeakable crime", Bessie expresses her disdain of the Coloured Affairs Department. What are they doing in Port Elizabeth and Capetown that she disagrees with? Describe the actions of the coloureds, whom she feels are accessories to the crime. Are they ashamed of their actions? Should they be? Do you think that they truly don't know their own minds and think that the Coloured Affairs Department knows what's best for their children? Or, do they see the situation for what it is and go along with it because it's the only way to survive?

Essay Topic 2

Bessie views African religion as "within oneself," with no need for institutions or communal worship. Does this seem to work well, for them? Why does Bessie think that this fits into their basic philosophy of life? Bessie states that this is the religion of any people who have never been wanted by the rest of mankind nor had the means or education to find God in a "posh place." Do you agree with this statement? Does a place of worship have to be posh? Is the fact of a community coming together more important than the structure that they worship in? Why, do you think, she assumes that all organized religions have elegant places of worship? Do you think she's right? Given the black South African's sense of being set apart from the rest of the world, do you think their type of "individual" worship only serves to emphasize their "aloneness"? Would a more group-based religion make them feel like part of something larger?

Essay Topic 3

Atteridgeville in 1964 was a community full of poverty and desolation. What was the main reason for unemployment here? How far did people have to go just to work? Because of the high rate of unemployment, how were many of the young men looked upon? How did illegitimate births fit into this scenario? Why weren't young people getting married? What agency owned almost everything in Atteridgeville? Do you think that the young men of this town stood a chance of bettering themselves professionally or personally?

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