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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 does Vasu do in the village of Mempi?

2. What does Nataraj do early every morning?

3. Which of the following best describes a philosophy practiced by Vasu?

4. What does Vasu bring with him when he returns from Mempi?

5. What had lived before in the house on Kabir street?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Nataraj feel about Vasu living upstairs?

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

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

4. What does Nataraj do early every morning?

5. What does Vasu receive in the mail from the forestry department, and what is his reaction to it?

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

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

8. How does the business transaction unfold between Nataraj and Vasu?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

The story of The Man-Eater of Malgudi takes place in India. Why is India a significant setting for this story?

Part 1. Why did R.K. Narayan choose India to be the setting for this story? Could it have taken place anywhere else?

Part 2. What cultural aspects of India are important for a full understanding of the story?

Part 3. What historical aspects of India are important for a full understanding of the story?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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