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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. How is Thanappa, the postman, different than usual the morning after the procession?

2. Which of the following best characterizes the effect of the police inspector on Vasu?

3. Who killed Vasu and how?

4. As time goes by after Vasu's death, what does Nataraj convince himself of?

5. While preparing for the celebration, how do Sastri and Nataraj keep up with work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when the group with the police inspector go to visit Vasu?

2. Describe the uncomfortable interaction between Nataraj and the poet when Nataraj sees the poet passes by the fountain.

3. What is Nataraj's first plan to keep Vasu from shooting Kumar?

4. How is Sen able to help Nataraj?

5. What happens between Vasu and Nataraj with Vasu's purse?

6. What interaction to Vasu and Nataraj have after Kumar and the mahout leave Mempi?

7. How does Sastri say that demons usually meet their demise?

8. What did the police determine killed Vasu? Who were there suspects?

9. What does Rangi's visit to Nataraj change at Nataraj's house? How?

10. How is Vasu's death discovered and made known?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider this famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the ways its animals are treated."

Part 1. Do you agree with the quote? Why or why not?

Part 2. Why is this theme central to the story The Man-eater of Malgudi?

Part 3. How does the treatment of animals help define the characters of Nataraj and Vasu?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

A big part of the message in the book The Man-Eater of Malgudi was in the way the book ended. Write an essay about the final happenings of the book.

Part 1. Discuss the symbolic importance of the various characters in the final chapters; Include at least Kumar in the procession, Nataraj at home, Vasu in his attic, Rangi dancing, and the poet's creation at the heart of the celebration.

Part 2. Now discuss the important actions taken by these figures and how they relate to historical events.

Part 3. Discuss the death of Vasu. How many characters tried to protect Kumar from him? Did any of them succeed in taking definitive action against him? What did foil Vasu? What is R.K. Narayan saying by that?

(see the answer keys)

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