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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 the term "pyol" mean?

2. Where did Raju play when his tree space became crowded?

3. What state did Raju's father's death leave for Raju's mother?

4. When did Raju's father pass away?

5. How much did the groom offer to pay Raju's father to keep the equipment?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was it significant that the author had Raju's father die in the rainy season?

2. Why did Raju justify that his behavior towards his clients was okay?

3. How does Raju initially regard the other villagers?

4. Why is Raju able to separate himself from the truth when dealing with others?

5. Why does Raju avoid Velan's sister's wedding?

6. What does Malgudi represent for Raju?

7. What is revealed about Raju's personality by the fact that he asked the school master to teach at the temple?

8. After the groom left with the jutka, what did Raju's parents discover?

9. How did the train station mirror Raju's life?

10. How does the structure of the writing style in Chapter 1 portray the inner workings of the protagonist's mind?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is the crocodile a metaphor for the life of Raju? Identify and expand on at least three pieces of symbolism between the crocodile and Raju.

Essay Topic 2

How did Raju's main character flaw, his preoccupation with reputation, lead the course of his life? Identify and defend the major areas of the novel where Raju had the ability to keep his life on track if he were not so consumed with reputation. In these various instances, why was Raju unable to learn his lesson? What caused Raju to finally see beyond himself?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Raju go on a hunger strike even after telling Velan the truth about who he is? How does this help perpetuate the transformation in Raju?

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