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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. Which of the following best describes John’s relationship with his own son?

2. Why does Kumalo feel betrayed by his brother John?

3. How many accomplices did Absalom have in the murder?

4. Which of the following is NOT something the white reformatory worker tells Kumalo about Absalom’s recent experiences?

5. Which woman has a reputation for being involved in illegal activity?

Short Essay Questions

1. Briefly describe the life of the woman who is the protagonist of Chapter 9, living in Orlando’s Shanty Town.

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

3. Describe the white reformatory worker’s reaction to the news that Absalom killed Arthur Jarvis, and why he reacts this way.

4. What additional errand does a friend of Kumalo’s ask him to run while he is in the city? How does this reflect the themes of the novel?

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

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

7. Briefly discuss John’s hypocritical attitude towards both the church and tribal chiefs.

8. How does Gertrude react to seeing Kumalo in Johannesburg? How does she feel about her own behavior, and the prospect of returning to Ndotsheni?

9. Briefly discuss all the places Kumalo and Msimangu visit in their search for Absalom.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss various adaptations of Cry, the Beloved Country and their relationship to the novel. What films have been made based upon the novel? What are the complications that a screenwriter might have in adapting this novel to the screen?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the changes in Johannesburg from the time that the novel is set to today. How has Apartheid changed and is it still practiced in South Africa? What has prompted the changes in the country?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the historical context of Cry, the Beloved Country. When was this novel written? What real-life experiences influenced the author in this work? How does the novel reflect upon the political and social atmosphere of South Africa?

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