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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. With whom does the MP suggest the villagers should meet?

2. Who tells the story of Ndemi?

3. Which of the following people was not murdered?

4. At what does Wanja want another chance?

5. Why are the children behaving the way they are?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Munira so upset with Karega?

2. Describe the meeting between Wanja and her mother.

3. Describe Munira's meeting with the old woman in Chapter 2.

4. What lead does Munira give Godfrey in Chapter 13?

5. How does the lawyer help the villagers?

6. Why was the year following Wanja's departure so hard?

7. Describe Munira's relationship with Lilian.

8. Describe Wanja's experience with a European man.

9. What realization does Munira come to when he goes back to the city?

10. How does the airplane bring Abdullah success in Chapter 11?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pick a character from the novel and discuss his/her goals and motives. Does he/she achieve his/her motive? Why? Does he/she share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do his/her goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect his/her interactions with each other?

Essay Topic 2

Petals of Blood is written in the third person. Why do you think Thiongo chose to write the story in the third person? How do you think the meaning of the story would have changed if it were written in the first person? What difference does it make to the story that Thiongo is one of the characters?

Essay Topic 3

The novel is set in Kenya.

1) What meaning does Kenya bring to the novel? What would you automatically presume about a novel that was set in Kenya?

2) How different do you think today's Kenya is to the Kenya in the novel? How do you think the novel's meaning would change if it were set in today's Kenya?

3) How do you think the Kenya settings contribute to the novel's themes?

(see the answer keys)

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