View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What title of respect do most people address Kumalo with?

2. Where is Msimangu’s ministry for the disabled?

3. Which character encourages Kumalo to pray and look for things to be grateful for rather than to wallow in self-pity?

4. What does Absalom’s former landlady in Alexandra reveal about Absalom’s behavior?

5. What tragedy does the black woman suffer?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Msimangu apologize to Kumalo after they have met the pregnant girl?

2. What happens to Kumalo as soon as he arrives in Johannesburg? How does this reinforce his feelings about the city?

3. What does Kumalo fear when he hears of Arthur Jarvis’ murder?

4. Why does the government like Msimangu as a preacher? How is he like John Kumalo in his oratory?

5. How does Kumalo treat the pregnant girl when she reveals she has had two other “husbands,” and why?

6. What surprises Kumalo about the behavior of many whites regarding the bus boycott?

7. Compare and contrast Kumalo and Msimangu’s reaction to Absalom’s pregnant girl.

8. Why does Mrs. Lithebe warn the pregnant girl about spending time with Gertrude?

9. Describe two sides of the debate that whites have about “native crime” as indicated in the conversations in Chapter 12.

10. Describe Kumalo’s initial physical reaction when the white reformatory worker comes to apologize. Why does Kumalo behave this way? What effect does it have on the white reformer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Give examples of literary, religious, or pop-cultural allusions in Cry, the Beloved Country and discuss the importance of each. What is the root of this allusion? How does the work cited connect with the plot/characters/themes in Cry, the Beloved Country?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the role that religion plays in Cry, the Beloved Country. What different views on religion are presented in the narrative? How do Stephen and John Kumalo's opinions of religion differ? How are they similar?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast all the different generational relationships in the novel: James and Arthur Jarvis, John Harrison, Sr. and Jr., Kumalo and Absalom, Gertrude, and Napoleon. Can any broad conclusions be made about the older and younger generations? Why or why not? Based on the representation of the younger generation, is the outlook for South Africa’s future optimistic or pessimistic? Be sure to support your argument with examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,052 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample