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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. What does James Jarvis express when Kumalo tells him Absalom’s execution date?

2. What American president did Arthur Jarvis greatly admire?

3. Which of the following is NOT a reason the Bishop wants to send Kumalo away from Ndotsheni?

4. Which of the following worry that John Kumalo’s speech to black miners could lead to an uprising?

5. Who reveals to the Jarvises that their son has been murdered?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the focus of the novel shift at the beginning of Book Two? Who becomes a secondary protagonist and when does their story start?

2. Compare and contrast the significance of the new gold mines in Odendaalsrust for whites and blacks, as indicated in Book Two, Chapter Six.

3. Describe the incident Kumalo tells his friend about as a way of explaining his idea that James Jarvis is a compassionate man.

4. Summarize the main events of the meeting between James Jarvis and Kumalo at the house of Jarvis’ kinswoman Barbara Smith.

5. Compare and contrast the ways the novel ends “happily” versus the way it ends “unhappily.”

6. Explain the metaphorical usage of the rainstorm that occurs in Book Three, Chapter 3.

7. Describe Barbara Smith’s response to Kumalo’s question about her servant, and explain the significance of James’ translation of this answer to Kumalo.

8. Describe the reactions of Kumalo, Msimangu, James Jarvis, and the police to John Kumalo’s speech about black mining laborers need to demand more pay for their work.

9. How does James Jarvis react when Kumalo tries to thank him for all the good work he is doing in Ndotsheni? Why does he likely react this way?

10. Describe the build-up, events, and results of the black mining strike.

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 examples of foreshadowing in Cry, the Beloved Country. What is foreshadowed at the train station when Kumalo departs? How does the author employ foreshadowing to increase tension in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the representations of gender and gender expectations in Cry, the Beloved Country. In what ways does inequality extend to gender? What are the impacts of gender inequality and oppression? How is this depicted in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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