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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 long does Lionel Burger speak when he gets his chance in court?

2. When Rosa sees the raided building in the city, what is her reaction?

3. Why do Rosa and Tony stay at her Aunt Velma's hotel when they are young?

4. What does Greer say "blackness" means?

5. Why has Lionel been imprisoned?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Rosa and Tony go stay with the Nels and for how long?

2. What is life like at the Nel's hotel for Rosa?

3. What offering does the baby boy make to Rosa? Where does the item come from, and what is its significance?

4. What happens in the city on the anniversary of Lionel's death and how does Rosa react to it and why?

5. What recollections does Rosa have and why is she thinking about the past in after her visit to the Terblanche's home?

6. How is Rosa's life tragic as shown in the first section of the novel?

7. What happens to the man on the bench in the public square and what do the onlookers do?

8. What does Rosa feel shortly before she leaves Fats' house?

9. What memory does Rosa describe as she and Conrad stop in front of her dad's house one evening while taking a walk?

10. How does Rosa view Clare?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of the beating of the donkey? What does it symbolize for Rosa, and why can't she react to the incident the way that she wants to?

Essay Topic 2

Compare Rosa to Greer. What are each of the strengths and weaknesses in regards to the fight against apartheid? How does Greer's involvement differ from Rosa? Do they both have the same goals?

Essay Topic 3

What is Gordimer's point in including Didier in the novel? How does he contrast to Rosa? How is his character a foil character?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 967 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample