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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. What does Nataraj admire about Vasu even when they are no longer friends?

3. What does Nataraj have stashed away up in his attic that he wishes to be rid of?

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

5. Who gives Nataraj cold looks when he runs into them on the street?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Explain how Vasu arranges to move into Nataraj's attic.

3. Explain the relationship developing in chapter two between Vasu and Nataraj. What are their interactions like?

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

5. Who does Nataraj employ at the printing press? What is his relationship with his hired help?

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

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

8. How does Nataraj end up on a long day trip with no money and with a client waiting in his press?

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

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

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 Man-Eater of Malgudi is a piece of fiction that acts as a political commentary. Write an essay about artistic political commentary.

Part 1. How is the book The Man-Eater of Malgudi a political commentary? What is its message?

Part 2. What other art forms commonly act as political commentary? How?

Part 3. Cite or show another work that is also meant as a political commentary. How is it recognizable as such? What does it mean?

(see the answer keys)

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