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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Upon his return from Candia, what does Zorba encourage the narrator to quickly get started on?
(a) Building a house for them to live in.
(b) The timber rail project.
(c) Building a monastery.
(d) Publication of his manuscript.

2. What happens to Gavrili in the night at the monastery?
(a) He is raped.
(b) He thinks he hears God speaking to him.
(c) He is held hostage by invaders.
(d) He is murdered by his lover.

3. What gift does Mimiko deliver from the accused in Pavli's death?
(a) An aromatic oil.
(b) A loaf of bread.
(c) A bouquet of flowers.
(d) A basket of oranges.

4. When the narrator loses everything, what does he find?
(a) Revolution.
(b) Happiness.
(c) Intense sorrow.
(d) Death.

5. What is the statue of Our Lady of Revenge notorious for?
(a) Killing all of Crete's thieves.
(b) Killing an Algerian army.
(c) Killing a group of sinful monks.
(d) Killing greedy landowners.

Short Answer Questions

1. For what action does Zorba grow proud of the narrator?

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

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

4. When he arrives in Candia, what news does the narrator receive?

5. How do the negotiations over land between Zorba and the abbot begin?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Madame Hortense actually think of Zorba?

3. What does the narrator state is the reason for Zaharia's death?

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

5. Why do you think the narrator's good friend, the soldier, is not named until his death?

6. Why does Zaharia say he became a monk?

7. What does Zorba say about the act of crying when Madame Hortense dies?

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

9. As the narrator watches Zorba comfort Madame Hortense on her death bed with the others eagerly awaiting her death, what does he compare the scene to?

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

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. For what action does Zorba grow proud of the narrator?

The narrator finally pursues the widow.

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

Seeing the orphans of a priest he killed.

3. 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.

4. When he arrives in Candia, what news does the narrator receive?

His friend Stavridaki has died.

5. How do the negotiations over land between Zorba and the abbot begin?

The abbot tries to charge more money than agreed upon.

Short Essay Answer Key

1. 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.

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. What does the narrator state is the reason for Zaharia's death?

The narrator says that Zaharia has fulfilled his main passion and purpose and has therefore accomplished everything that life would ask of him, so he can die.

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 do you think the narrator's good friend, the soldier, is not named until his death?

It may be to emphasize the theme of the importance of human interaction and companionship. Just as the narrator is gaining the realization that human connection is essential, his friend dies and his friend's name is revealed. His friend has also fulfilled his passion, which was to serve his country. His name is then symbolically mythologized when it appears in the story.

6. 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.

7. What does Zorba say about the act of crying when Madame Hortense dies?

He says that he isn't ashamed to cry in front of men because of the unity they share. He says that crying in front of women is different because it is a man's job to prove his courage when before women.

8. 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.

9. As the narrator watches Zorba comfort Madame Hortense on her death bed with the others eagerly awaiting her death, what does he compare the scene to?

The narrator first compares the scene to a huge exotic bird with a broken wing that has fallen and is dying on the beach, with all of the villagers standing around watching for entertainment. Then he compares Madame Hortense to other animals as well, like an "old angora cat" and "a sick old seal."

10. 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.