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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. After the court summons, what is the next thing official thing to arrive for Nataraj in a brown envelope?

2. What does Nataraj suddenly fear when Vasu carelessly answers his request for money?

3. What starts a friendly conversation between Nataraj and the tea-shop man?

4. What are the dynamics between Vasu and the poet?

5. How does Nataraj return to Malgudi from Mempi?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Where does Nataraj seek help in resolving his legal affairs?

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

4. What was the bus ride back to Malgudi like for Nataraj?

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

6. How does Nataraj feel about Vasu living upstairs?

7. When Nataraj goes into the attic with Vasu, what does he see? What transpires then between Vasu and Nataraj?

8. What is the financial situation between Nataraj and the adjournment lawyer?

9. What does Nataraj do early every morning?

10. Who is Rangi, and how do Sastri and Nataraj cross paths with her? What does Nataraj surmise when he starts seeing her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the religious and political affairs of India during the mid-twentieth century.

Part 1. Explain the British occupation and the consequences it had on Indian culture and life.

Part 2. Describe the non-violent protests that expelled the English. Who were the major players in the revolution? How did they achieve their goals?

Part 3. What were the major religions present in India at the time, and what happened when the English left?

Essay Topic 2

Rangi is a minor, but pivotal, character in The Man-Eater of Malgudi. Write an essay about Rangi.

Part 1. Who is Rangi? What might she symbolize or represent?

Part 2. Rangi exerts great personal influence wherever she goes, even though she is seen as a "lowly" character. She is also participating as a important figure in the center of the festival and the procession. Explain what R.K. Narayan means by this.

Part 3. Rangi is closest to Vasu when he dies, and has the most plausible plan of all involved to save Kumar. What does R.K. Narayan mean to tell us by this?

Essay Topic 3

In the book The Man-eater of Malgudi, Nataraj goes through a transformation. Write an essay about how Nataraj changes from the beginning of the story to the end.

Part 1. In the beginning of the book, what is important to Nataraj? How well does he fit into his community?

Part 2. As the book progresses, what influences exert pressure on Nataraj and induce change?

Part 3. By the end of the book, how has Nataraj changed? What is important to him? How well does he get along with the community around him?

(see the answer keys)

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