View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does "Jannat" translate to in English?

2. What did the filmmaker ask Anjum and her friends to recite in Chapter 3?

3. How old was Antun when she announced her decision to leave the Khwabgah?

4. What phrase does the narrator use to describe "when the sun has gone out but the light has not" (5) in the Prologue?

5. Alongside whom was Anjum's mother buried in the cemetery?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Tilo's appearance described during her second wedding? What caused this change in appearance?

2. How old was Atfat when his mother finally told his father about his condition? How did Mulaqat Ali respond?

3. What aspects of the government and the current circumstances was Dr. Azad Bhartiya protesting? How?

4. What does the story of Laila and Majnu signify? What is this story compared to in Chapter 1?

5. Compare and contrast the characters of Biplab Dasgupta and Dr. Azad Bhartiya.

6. Why were Anjum, Mr. Aggarwal, and Ustad Hameed arrested in Chapter 3?

7. How does the narrator describe Anjum's arrival at the cemetery in Chapter 2? Why did she go there?

8. How did Aftab come to be introduced to the setting of the Khwabgah? What does "Khwabgah" translate to in English?

9. How did Anjum's home in the cemetery evolve over time?

10. How did Biplab Dasgupta feel about the concept of jihad when he was stationed as Deputy Station Head for the Bureau in Srinagar?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine and discuss the theme of motherhood in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. What characters embody the theme of motherhood? How? What symbols connect to this theme?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the character of Anjum in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Is Anjum a protagonist or antagonist? Why? What are Anjum's defining characteristics? What is revealed about her through her behavior and actions?

Essay Topic 3

Identify and discuss examples of irony in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. What are examples of verbal irony in the work? What are examples of situational irony? What are examples of dramatic irony?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 762 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample