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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the narrator's topic of conversation with the Mother Superior?
(a) The cross.
(b) Eternity.
(c) The Martyred Virgin.
(d) Blood.

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

3. What happens when the first log is tested on the new railway?
(a) The structure shakes unsteadily, but the log makes it all the way.
(b) It rail system works well but is in need of a few minor adjustments.
(c) The structure is sound, and the log reaches its destination.
(d) The whole structure shakes and the log is destroyed along the way.

4. How does Zorba change his appearance while in Candia?
(a) He shaved his head.
(b) He dyed his hair black.
(c) He bought new gold hoop earrings.
(d) He grew a beard.

5. When he arrives in Candia, what news does the narrator receive?
(a) His family is being held hostage.
(b) A new revolution has begun.
(c) The widow was pregnant with his child when she died.
(d) His friend Stavridaki has died.

Short Answer Questions

1. On what activity does the narrator try to instruct Zorba in Chapter 16?

2. When the narrator loses everything, what does he find?

3. In pleasing Madame Hortense, to whom does Zorba compare himself?

4. What does Zorba ask the narrator to explain to him in Chapter 24?

5. Who mocks the bishop's theories?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Why does Zaharia say he became a monk?

5. How did Zaharia appear when he was found dead?

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

7. Describe what happened while Zorba was at war that changed his mind about judging a person based on nationality.

8. After the widow's murder, what happens when Zorba and Manolakas meet near the widow's garden?

9. What evidence of artistic inspiration does the narrator find in the ruins of the old city? How does he feel when he sees it?

10. In Chapter 16, what did the sleeping workmen do who when they heard Zorba playing his Santuri?

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. On what activity does the narrator try to instruct Zorba in Chapter 16?

Meditation.

2. When the narrator loses everything, what does he find?

Happiness.

3. In pleasing Madame Hortense, to whom does Zorba compare himself?

Zeus.

4. What does Zorba ask the narrator to explain to him in Chapter 24?

Death and why people die.

5. Who mocks the bishop's theories?

Zorba.

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 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."

3. 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.

4. Why does Zaharia say he became a monk?

He says poverty led him to become a monk. He was hungry and knew that if he went into the monastery there would be no way he could starve.

5. How did Zaharia appear when he was found dead?

He was found shaven bald and pierced with the spear of the Holy Virgin of Revenge.

6. 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.

7. Describe what happened while Zorba was at war that changed his mind about judging a person based on nationality.

While at war, Zorba murdered a Bulgarian priest who had been invading Greek villages and killing Greeks. Later, when Zorba sees the orphans of the priest, he realizes that nationality doesn't matter. Rather, "good" and "bad" are the only important classifications to consider.

8. After the widow's murder, what happens when Zorba and Manolakas meet near the widow's garden?

Manolakas challenges Zorba to a knife fight after having been beaten previously. Zorba tells him he will fight without weapons. Then the narrator intervenes and talks them down from fighting at all. They end up all drinking together.

9. What evidence of artistic inspiration does the narrator find in the ruins of the old city? How does he feel when he sees it?

The narrator finds a partially finished jar carved from stone and a chisel on the ground nearby. This fills him with bitterness as he realizes the artistic inspiration has been defeated.

10. In Chapter 16, what did the sleeping workmen do who when they heard Zorba playing his Santuri?

They got up, circled around him and began dancing to the music he played.