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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 happens to Soma's house after he shows people the statue?

2. What time does Shanta expect to go to the movies?

3. What skill does Iyer lie to the newcomer on the train about having?

4. Where does Kannan want to gamble?

5. Where does Iswaren go to see a movie?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Dr. Raman change his rule about being honest when it comes to his friend Gopal's medical situation?

2. What ultimately happens to the lost boy that Raman befriends?

3. Where does Selvi end up at the end of her story?

4. What happens when the necklace is found in "Leela's Friend"?

5. What motivates the blind man's fellow merchants to cut the leash that the blind man uses to keep the dog with him at all times?

6. What can the god Nataraja do through dancing?

7. How does the reader know how much time passes during "The Axe"?

8. Why does Sambu want to get a second opinion on his mother's health?

9. How does Sambu's mother react to seeing her husband reading a newspaper in the movie?

10. What makes Iswaren demoralized in "Iswaren"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose 3 examples of marriage in "Malgudi Days" and discuss what commentary Narayan is making about the institution of marriage. Make sure to use specific examples and quotations from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

In a well-written essay, 1) discuss what message you think Narayan is trying to convey to his reader about fate, 2) at least 2 literary devices Narayan uses to support this position, and 3) whether or not you agree with Narayan's take on fate.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Narayan's treatment of death and dying through the experiences of at least 3 characters from "Malgudi Days."

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 776 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample