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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. When Nataraj was growing up, why did his uncle give him money every day?

2. What is a rakshasa?

3. What profession did Vasu engage in earlier in life?

4. How does Vasu choose the details of the printing job he wants done?

5. Which of the following best describes Vasu?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are the relationships Nataraj has with the people around him?

2. What does Nataraj fear that Vasu will do in order to retaliate regarding the forestry officer and what does he do about it?

3. What is the story of the house on Kabir Street?

4. What is in the second brown envelope that arrives for Nataraj and who is it from? What does he promise in response to it?

5. What happens when the forestry officer comes to the press looking for Vasu?

6. What goes on the front room of the shop that Nataraj runs?

7. What does Nataraj do resolve his concerns about Vasu's tenancy?

8. Who does Vasu bring to the press to meet Nataraj, and what happens?

9. What business does Nataraj do when he is in Mempi?

10. What happens when Vasu returns, and what does he want to show Nataraj?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author of The Man-eater of Malgudi is a respected and prolific author. Write an essay about R.K. Narayan.

Part 1. Biography. Where did R.K. Narayan grow up and study? When did he live and what important events did he witness?

Part 2. What influence on his work did the political situation of era he lived in have?

Part 3. What others works has he produced and what recognition has he received?

Essay Topic 2

All the main characters in The Man-eater of Malgudi represent some faction or sentiment of the English occupation of India.

Part 1. What does each character represent? Are they blatant or subtle?

Part 2. How is each character identifiable as representing the person or thing of historical India? Give some examples of how each character is identifiable.

Part 3. Do any of the characters change during the book? If so, what does this mean, and do they represent a historical change as well?

Essay Topic 3

The title of the book The Man-Eater of Malgudi is clearly suggests that one of the characters in the book is a rakshasa, or a man-eater.

Part 1. Who is the man-eater? Is there only one?

Part 2. What is a rakshasa, and what are their roles and stories in mythology?

Part 3. How do the actions of the character or characters indicate that they are rakshasas or man-eaters?

(see the answer keys)

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