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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 kind of disease does Chege have?

2. Who does Kabonyi wish were in Waiyaki's place?

3. What does Waiyaki wish he could hold close to him?

4. Which of these is not a skill taught to the children?

5. Which of these is not an argument made against Waiyaki's plans?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Joshua react to the news of his daughter's death?

2. Why were parents proud when their child came home with a tear-stained face?

3. What is the subject of the songs sung by the children?

4. How does Waiyaki wait for the "surgeon" at the beginning of Chapter Ten?

5. What changes Reverend Livingstone's mind about how to deal with the traditional tribal customs?

6. Why does Waiyaki not feel warm toward Kamau?

7. Why does Waiyaki become angry with the rain?

8. What is it that people most admire in Joshua?

9. What does Waiyaki plan to speak about at the meeting of the parents?

10. What arguments does Kabonyi use against Waiyaki at the meeting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose at least two of the main conflicts of "The River Between" and discuss their development through the novel. Which characters are involved? How are they resolved? What commentary is Ngugi making through them?

Essay Topic 2

Much is said in "The River Between" about what a religion needs to be and should be. Explain what Ngugi's idea of how a religion can work for and with the culture it is part of. Please be specific.

Essay Topic 3

One of the concepts that is made much of throughout "The River Between" is purity. Discuss the meaning of purity and what it means to different characters.

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