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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 did the owner of Styles' car manufacturing company first arrive at the organization for his speech?

2. During which war did Styles' father fight?

3. What is the name of the man with whom Styles first interacts?

4. What was the name of Styles' pet when he first bought the photo shop?

5. What was the owner of the car manufacturing plant's name?

Short Essay Questions

1. How could the mention of the name Robert Zwelinzima be a powerful instance of foreshadowing?

2. Are Sizwe's and Buntu's reactions to finding the dead body the same? Explain your answer.

3. What is the purpose of Robert being illuminated in a single light right before he begins narrating his letter to his wife?

4. In what way does Style's story about the Ford plant speech show that he was an enterprising personality even before he had his own business?

5. Comment upon the feelings of what a western audience might feel in the face of the idea of changing one's identity.

6. Why did Sizwe enjoy his experience drinking at the bar he went to with Buntu?

7. Explore the ways in which the playwright incorporates the idea of freedom into this part of the play.

8. Hypothesize the possible meanings this Part of the play and the passbook itself could have in relation to the struggle of black people against white people.

9. What would one say might be the climax of the play?

10. How is it suggested that if an oppressed black man can realize his dreams in a photographic studio, then black people everywhere can realize their dreams no matter what they are?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At two moments in the play, in Part 3 and Part 5, Buntu abruptly changes from a positive mindset to a negative one. What do these moments say about him, and what is the playwright trying to say about the attitude of South African blacks through this facet of Buntu's character?

Essay Topic 2

The passbook is a powerful metaphor for racism and white power. Discuss its effect on the lives of the different characters in the play.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the idea of being 'alive' versus being 'dead' or a 'ghost' as represented in the play.

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This section contains 1,196 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample