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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 is the name of the man who tells Ngũgĩ where to find his family in Chapter 1?

2. In Chapter 45, Ngũgĩ recounted an important soccer game in which Alliance won against what team?

3. What did Ngũgĩ’s mother believe to have sacred and healing powers?

4. What did teacher Joseph Kariuki introduce students to, which they began to memorize in the hopes of wooing girls?

5. In Chapter 37, what item did Ngũgĩ use as an analogy the first time he participated in a debate?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways did Edward Carey Francis change the education model of Alliance?

2. What did Kenneth and Ngũgĩ decide to do for their village when they met at a scouting event?

3. What did they learn of E.K. that gravely disappoints and ultimately disbands the cabal?

4. Who were the Acrossians and why were they called that?

5. What words does Ngũgĩ use to describe the school when he returns from break in January 1957?

6. What is the significance of Ngũgĩ’s Alliance uniform when he saw Good Wallace. How did he feel? How did Good Wallace react?

7. What are some of the things that make the new village feel like the old village when Ngũgĩ returns home for Christmas?

8. Describe the 1955 amnesty offer for the Mau Mau guerillas.

9. What are the big changes Ngũgĩ describes at the beginning of Chapter 32?

10. Who were the Mau Mau guerillas and for what were they fighting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Mugumo tree is a recurring symbol throughout the book. Consider its meaning and particularly what Ngũgĩ’s mother says of the tree on page 99. Write an essay on its significance.

Essay Topic 2

What does Ngũgĩ mean when he says “the immortality of literary creations” (66) in Part II? What author and scenario is he discussing at the time?

Essay Topic 3

David Martin’s ability to speak to Ngũgĩ and have him accept Jesus is an example of a speaker able to convince its audience. What do you think it takes to be an effective speaker and to make an effective argument? Why do you think Martin’s words touched Ngũgĩ at that time in his life?

(see the answer keys)

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