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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Zorba ask the narrator to explain to him in Chapter 24?
(a) Death and why people die.
(b) The best techniques for extracting lignite from the mine.
(c) How to cook a good soup.
(d) The meaning of life.

2. Who does Zorba adopt when Hortense dies?
(a) Pavli.
(b) Hortense's parrot.
(c) Hortense's daughter.
(d) Dimitri.

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

4. What news does the monk Zaharia bring in Chapter 24?
(a) He has burned down the monastery.
(b) He has quit his life at the monastery.
(c) He robbed the monastery.
(d) He wants to become a lignite miner.

5. What startles the narrator from his sleep at the monastery?
(a) A loud argument.
(b) A woman's screams.
(c) Singing.
(d) A gun shot.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. In Chapter 15, what does the narrator momentarily believe is his last obstacle to freedom?

3. Whose death is sought after to avenge Pavli's death?

4. Why does Pavli commit suicide?

5. Who claims the right to pronounce judgment on the widow regarding Pavli's death?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. Describe the incident that prompted the monastery icon's name to be changed from Our Lady of Mercy to Our Lady of Revenge.

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

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

9. How does the narrator describe eternity in Chapter 15?

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

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

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

He tells her that Zorba has proposed marriage to her.

2. In Chapter 15, what does the narrator momentarily believe is his last obstacle to freedom?

Buddha.

3. Whose death is sought after to avenge Pavli's death?

The widow.

4. Why does Pavli commit suicide?

He was in love with someone not in love with him.

5. Who claims the right to pronounce judgment on the widow regarding Pavli's death?

Mavrandoni.

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 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 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Describe the incident that prompted the monastery icon's name to be changed from Our Lady of Mercy to Our Lady of Revenge.

In ancient times Algerians raided and set fire to the monastery. When they passed by the statue, it is said that she came to life, leaped down, and began stabbing the warriors with her spear until she had killed them all.

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. 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.

9. How does the narrator describe eternity in Chapter 15?

He describes it as being each minute that passes.

10. 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.