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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 a rakshasa?

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

3. What is it that Vasu's guest wants printed?

4. What does speaking to Vasu remind Nataraj of?

5. What does Vasu do for a living?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Vasu get along with the poet and Babu? Give examples.

2. What kind of events unfold in chapter one of "The Man-eater of Malgudi?"

3. What is the affair regarding the septuagenarian and a dog?

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

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

6. Describe the business that Nataraj runs.

7. How do Sen and Vasu get along?

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

9. What is the purpose of the blue curtain separating the two rooms of the printing press, and why is this important to Nataraj?

10. What happened to the transaction with the client that Nataraj left waiting when he left with Vasu?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

At the end of the book The Man-eater of Malgudi, the townspeople assume that Nataraj has murdered Vasu. Write an essay about this topic.

Part 1. Why do the people assume Nataraj has murdered Vasu? What is the historical statement that R.K. Narayan is trying to make?

Part 2. How does Nataraj feel about being accused of the murder? What does he do to establish his innocence?

Part 3. If Vasu had been alive when Nataraj went up to his room to save Kumar during the procession, do you think Nataraj would have succeeded? What would the outcome of that show down have been?

Part 4. How does the accusation of murder affect Nataraj after the affair is over? What are the long term consequences for him?

Essay Topic 3

The elephant Kumar was a central character in the book The Man-Eater of Malgudi. Even though he was not an active character, he was one of great importance.

Part 1. Why was Kumar so important? What did he represent?

Part 2. Why did R.K. Narayan choose an elephant for the role of Kumar? Could it have been an tiger? What do elephants in general represent?

Part 3. What saved Kumar in the end? How close was Kumar to being lost? What would have been the symbolic consequences of losing Kumar?

(see the answer keys)

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