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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. Who does Njoroge realize the European woman was who came to his English class in Chapter 5?

2. How far from home is Njoroge's new school in Chapter 8?

3. How does Njoroge end up in Mwihaki's class in Chapter 4?

4. What is Njoroge listening for when he falls asleep in the end of Chapter 6?

5. What does Ngotho do when Jacobo takes the stage at the strike meeting in Chapter 7?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is the historical figure referred to as Jomo in the novel?

2. Who is Mwihaki and how did Njoroge come to know her?

3. Where is the setting established in Part 1: "The Waning Light," Chapter 1? During what time period is the story set?

4. What is the political atmosphere of Njoroge's homeland in the opening of the novel?

5. How does Njoroge describe Stephen Howlands in Part 1: "The Waning Light," Chapter 4?

6. How much time has passed in the "Interlude" between Parts 1 and 2 of the novel? What tone is established in this brief chapter?

7. Why does Lucia become upset when the white woman visits her classroom in Part 1: "The Waning Light," Chapter 5?

8. What does Nairobi represent symbolically to Njoroge and others in Part 1: "The Waning Light," Chapter 5?

9. What are Njoroge's reasons for avoiding Mwihaki in the beginning of Part 1: "The Waning Light"?

10. How is the relationship between Ngotho and Mr. Howlands depicted in Part 1: "The Waning Light," Chapter 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the motifs of light and darkness in Weep Not, Child. How are these motifs developed through titling in the novel? What are examples of imagery that reflects these motifs? What do lightness and darkness represent?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the themes of oppression, race, and colonial expansion in Weep Not, Child. When did the British colonize Kenya? For how long was it colonized? How were the native Kenyan people affected by British colonization? How does the author explore this topic in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Ngotho in Weep Not, Child. How does Ngotho change as a character from the beginning of the novel to the end? What are the significant actions that Ngotho takes that impact the plot of the story? Are those actions justified? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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