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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What gift does Madame Hortense present to Zorba when he returns from the monastery?
(a) A pair of wedding rings.
(b) A new pair of pants.
(c) A small clay statue.
(d) A boat.

2. What does the narrator inherit from Zorba?
(a) The santuri.
(b) All of Hortense's belongings.
(c) All of Zorba's belongings.
(d) A green stone.

3. For what action does Zorba grow proud of the narrator?
(a) The narrator decides to join the army.
(b) The narrator stands up to the villagers about their sinful ways.
(c) The narrator strikes a huge load of lignite.
(d) The narrator finally pursues the widow.

4. After rescuing Zorba from being captured, what happens to the widow in his war story?
(a) He marries her and is with her for several years.
(b) She runs away to live in a distant village.
(c) She dies when Zorba sets her village on fire.
(d) She dies in childbirth.

5. Why does Zorba refuse to sleep with Madame Hortense in Chapter 19?
(a) He believes God wants them to wait until marriage.
(b) He is unable to perform.
(c) He is ill.
(d) It is lent.

Short Answer Questions

1. What good omen marks the narrator and Zorba's morning on the day work is to begin on the railway?

2. How does Zorba say that he gets rid of intense longings?

3. What does Zorba say prompted him to quit the army?

4. What causes the Easter celebration to abruptly stop?

5. What message does the narrator tell Madame Hortense that Zorba has sent from Candia?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the monastery bishop's first theory on religion.

2. What does Madame Hortense actually think of Zorba?

3. When writing letters to Madame Hortense, what does the narrator have to do?

4. What might be the significance of the narrator inheriting the Santuri?

5. Why does Anagnosti say that Pavli is blessed?

6. Describe the actions that follow after the widow enters the church at the Easter celebration.

7. What does the narrator succeed in doing in Chapter 21 that Zorba could not?

8. What was Zaharia's inspiration for burning down the monastery?

9. In his third theory of religion, what does the bishop give as God's reason for sending religion to the masses?

10. What is the irony of Zorba comparing himself to Zeus in Chapter 19?

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. What good omen marks the narrator and Zorba's morning on the day work is to begin on the railway?

White flowers blooming outside their window.

2. How does Zorba say that he gets rid of intense longings?

Stuffing himself gluttonously with the desired thing.

3. What does Zorba say prompted him to quit the army?

Seeing the orphans of a priest he killed.

4. What causes the Easter celebration to abruptly stop?

The widow enters the church.

5. What message does the narrator tell Madame Hortense that Zorba has sent from Candia?

He tells her that Zorba has proposed marriage to her.

Short Essay Answer Key

1. Describe the monastery bishop's first theory on religion.

He believes that the shape of a flower influences its color and its color then has an influence on its properties which in turn produce a specific effect on humans. He summarizes this theory with the belief that men should be careful when walking through fields of flowers because of the peculiar effects the flowers are having on them.

2. What does Madame Hortense actually think of Zorba?

Madame Hortense thinks Zorba will make a useful husband but does not think much of him above and beyond that role. She wishes also that he were as exciting and accomplished as her former lovers.

3. When writing letters to Madame Hortense, what does the narrator have to do?

The narrator must pretend he is Zorba. Therefore, he must take on Zorba's characteristics in his writings while looking for the best in Madame Hortense.

4. What might be the significance of the narrator inheriting the Santuri?

The Santuri, Zorba's musical instrument, was one of the symbols in the story of the expression of emotion outside of words. Zorba plays the Santuri in the story when he is happy. The fact that the story ends with the Santuri in the narrator's possession is an indication that he has grown closer to reaching his goal, that of a marriage between the body and spirit, and that he has attained some level of the sought after "freedom."

5. Why does Anagnosti say that Pavli is blessed?

Pavli commits suicide by drowning, and Anagnosti says that he is blessed because he is free from the object of his desire, the widow. Anagnosti claims that Pavli could not have lived happily with or without her because he had so much passion for her but now he is at peace.

6. Describe the actions that follow after the widow enters the church at the Easter celebration.

Because the villagers blame the widow for Pavli's death, Manolakas leads a mob to the church when they discover that she is there. When she walks out of the church, the mob surrounds her and Mavrandoni blocks the door to keep her from going back in. The mob begins to throw stones at her, and several pull knives as well. Mavrandoni says it is his right to declare judgment and orders her to be killed. The narrator attempts to save her but trips on a rock. Zorba arrives and also attempts to save her. Momentarily, he does as he wrestles Manolakas away from her, but ultimately Mavrandoni cuts her head off.

7. What does the narrator succeed in doing in Chapter 21 that Zorba could not?

The narrator recognizes that Madame Hortense is seriously ill and takes care of her both mentally and physically. He mentally encourages her by reminding her of her wedding while physically bringing a doctor to attend to her. He uses Zorba's romantic speech tricks while conscientiously attending to her health as well. Zorba, on the other hand, is a successful romantic but not a responsible partner.

8. What was Zaharia's inspiration for burning down the monastery?

He says he was acting on a mission assigned to him by Archangel Michael. He acted, however, based on the knowledge he received from Zorba.

9. In his third theory of religion, what does the bishop give as God's reason for sending religion to the masses?

He says that God sent religion as an act of mercy for the masses in order that they might experience living in "eternity." The bishop believes that only a few people on earth are able to live an eternity during their natural lives on earth.

10. What is the irony of Zorba comparing himself to Zeus in Chapter 19?

Zorba says that he is like Zeus in that he sacrifices his own self in order to bring women happiness. This is ironic because Zeus is traditionally considered to be lecherous towards women.