This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Zorba say he removed the body part?
(a) It was strangely colored.
(b) It hurt constantly.
(c) It was too big.
(d) It got in the way of his pottery.

2. How does Zorba believe a man should treat a woman?
(a) He should lie to her about his other lovers.
(b) He should only spend time with her if he wants to marry her.
(c) He should tell her she's beautiful no matter what.
(d) He should cook and clean for her.

3. What incident on the beach mellows the narrator's restlessness?
(a) He hears strange music.
(b) A horse and rider pass by.
(c) He sees a shooting star.
(d) He accidentally kills a butterfly.

4. What are the names of Zorba's two "half-honest" lovers?
(a) Sophia and Cecilia.
(b) Madame Hortense and Anagnosti.
(c) Sophinka and Noussa.
(d) Alexandra and Diana.

5. What body part is Zorba missing a part of?
(a) Arm.
(b) Finger.
(c) Toe.
(d) Ear.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the narrator do when Zorba displays frustration with the miners?

2. What happens to Zorba that he believes to be a terrible omen?

3. How does Zorba describe God?

4. Who does Zorba meet while in Candia?

5. How does Zorba treat women for the most part?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the narrator going to Crete?

2. Describe the narrator's relationship with his old friend.

3. When the narrator makes an attempt to get to know some of the mine workers, he begins to discuss socialism with them. Zorba does not like this. What are his reasons?

4. How does the narrator try to get the widow out of his mind at the beginning of Chapter 10?

5. What does Zorba do while in Candia?

6. What reasons does Zorba give in Chapter 9 for so intensely wanting the narrator to go and sleep with the widow?

7. Describe Zorba's only account of his heart being broken.

8. What kinds of responsibilities does Zorba take on at the initiation of his friendship with the narrator.

9. What does Karayannis's letter from Africa remind the narrator that he has always wanted to do?

10. How does the narrator describe Zorba the first time he sees him dancing?

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. What does the narrator do when Zorba displays frustration with the miners?

He calls a lunch break.

2. What happens to Zorba that he believes to be a terrible omen?

A priest crosses his path.

3. How does Zorba describe God?

He describes him as a crazier and wilder version of himself.

4. Who does Zorba meet while in Candia?

A young woman.

5. How does Zorba treat women for the most part?

He is mostly very kind.

Short Essay Answer Key

1. Why is the narrator going to Crete?

The narrator is curious about the adventurous life his friend preached to him. He is going to Crete to experiment with such a life by renting a lignite mine and thus engaging more with the physical world. His overall goal in these actions is to find freedom through a marriage of the mind and body.

2. Describe the narrator's relationship with his old friend.

The narrator and his friend have a deep connection and love for one another. However, the connection is largely unspoken as the two men often argue rather than express emotion to one another. The soldier friend is more of an adventurer than the narrator, and often teases the narrator for being such a bookworm. The two men contrast one another; the narrator is more of a philosopher who is focused on a higher power, while the friend is a soldier who believes in living his life for his fellow man and his nation. The connection between the two men, despite their differences, is clear in their agreement to send mental messages to one another if they sense danger. This obviously indicates that they believe strongly in their connection and friendship.

3. When the narrator makes an attempt to get to know some of the mine workers, he begins to discuss socialism with them. Zorba does not like this. What are his reasons?

Zorba believes that supervising a workforce requires complete authority. He thinks it's better if they believe they have fewer rights and that workers who feel like they are equal to their bosses will eventually take rights away from their bosses.

4. How does the narrator try to get the widow out of his mind at the beginning of Chapter 10?

The narrator views the widow as a temptation of the Evil One and focuses on writing his Buddha Manuscript in order to exorcise her image and the lust he feels for her from his mind. To him, his writing is comparable to the force of savages facing beasts with their spears.

5. What does Zorba do while in Candia?

He meets a young girl with whom he has an affair. He also spends all of the boss's money.

6. What reasons does Zorba give in Chapter 9 for so intensely wanting the narrator to go and sleep with the widow?

He says that women need men to sleep with them and protect them; that it is a part of a greater plan. He says she will be ruined if a man does not go and sleep with her. He also says that not taking the opportunity to sleep with her is one sin that God will not forgive.

7. Describe Zorba's only account of his heart being broken.

Zorba met a woman named Noussa ten days after leaving the village of his previous lover. Noussa invited him to her house for a feast at which Zorba gave a toast. After this, the lights went out and a massive orgy began. He lost Noussa in the midst of the orgy but found her the next day, and they remained together for 6 months. She then eloped with a soldier and broke Zorba's heart.

8. What kinds of responsibilities does Zorba take on at the initiation of his friendship with the narrator.

Zorba agrees to act as foreman of the lignite mine. He also promises to cook the narrator soup and play him music on his santuri.

9. What does Karayannis's letter from Africa remind the narrator that he has always wanted to do?

He has a desire to see and touch as much of the world as he possibly can before he dies.

10. How does the narrator describe Zorba the first time he sees him dancing?

The narrator says Zorba looks like he is wearing rubber shoes. He also says that Zorba's soul looks like it is trying to fling his body like a meteor into the darkness.