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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 is the rain perceived as by the people as they await Jomo's judgment in Chapter 9?

2. Who is the village carpenter?

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

4. Who is Ngotho's second wife?

5. What grade are Njoroge and Mwihaki in when the begin to learn English in Chapter 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the twist ending of Karanja's story about Dedan Kimathi in Part 2: "Darkness Falls," Chapter 8?

2. What event is described as happening in Murang'a in the "Interlude"? Why is it significant?

3. What is K.A.U. and how is it described in the narrative?

4. Who is Isaka and how is he described in Part 1: "The Waning Light," Chapter 4?

5. How is the home of Njoroge described? How many huts are there?

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

7. What does the land represent to Ngotho in the novel?

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

9. Who is Kiarie and what information does he relate in Part 1: "The Waning Light," Chapter 6?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's use of language and dialogue in Weep Not, Child. What are some examples of the words from the narrative that are centered around its setting? How does the author use dialogue to develop characters and to further illustrate Kenyan culture? Do the characters in this novel communicate in the same ways that we do in our contemporary culture?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the historical context of the Mau Mau Uprising. How central is this historical event to the plot of Weep Not, Child? What aspects of history are inserted into the narrative? How are the main political figures of this time characterized?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Mwihaki in the novel. How old is Mwihaki when her character is introduced? How does Mwihaki differ from Njoroge in terms of class, age, and wealth? What are the primary motivators for Mwihaki? How does Mwihaki's character evolve in the course of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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