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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. In Chapter 2, whose religious ideas hold great appeal for Bessie?

2. What was Bessie suffering from when she was trying to forge a friendship with the American woman?

3. When did Bessie first get published?

4. What writer does Bessie quote in "Social and political pressures . . ."?

5. In Chapter2, how does Bessie describe her third novel, "A Question of Power"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why according to Bessie has Botswana survived by "sheer luck and unexpected good fortune"?

2. In Chapter 2, what does Bessie think that the spirit of the Nigra Goddess has done for the blacks in America?

3. In "African Religions," what does Bessie state is at the root of religion in Africa?

4. Why was Bessie able to write in Botswana rather than South Africa?

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

6. What was Bessie's first experience of racism in a black form?

7. When Bessie arrived in Botswana in 1964, what were the major differences that she noticed between that country and South Africa?

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

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

10. In "Makeba Music," how does Bessie describe the musician, Makeba?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While Bessie is a true supporter of the black Africans, she can also be highly critical of them. Their lack of initiative in trying to better their situation is a common frustration to Bessie. List three examples that illustrate Bessie's frustration with perceived "passivity" of other black Africans. Bessie admits that she prefers to be on the sidelines when writing. Do you think that it's fair for Bessie to judge others from the sidelines instead of getting actively involved herself?

Essay Topic 2

In Ellen Kuzwayo's "Call me Woman," she describes her life before and after oppression. What was her life like before? What was the view of South African then? What kind of work was her family involved in? What kind of education did she have? Ellen was a part of the first groups of educated blacks that felt leadership should be based on merit, not ethnicity. What event changed her life drastically? Do you think she was at all prepared to be thrust into a world of instant poverty, violence, and suffering? How did she deal with it? Do you think that it's easier for someone to accept this, if they've been born into it and it's all they've ever known, rather than someone, like Ellen, who knew a good life and then was forced to give everything up?

Essay Topic 3

Bessie's friend, Snowball, had a difficult time living in District Six in Capetown. What was Snowball's general demeanor? Even though he was devoutly religious, what did he believe could live together in chaotic happiness? How was Snowball treated by the landlady and most of the community? Could they see beyond the fact that he had once been a professional thief and served jail time? Was this fair to him? What kind of humbling lesson did Snowball teach Bessie? What did she learn about herself and her attitude toward religion? Why did Bessie finally give up trying to protect Snowball? Do you think that Snowball left a lasting impression on Bessie?

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