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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. For what action is Zorba trying to make up for by his actions in Chapter 18?
(a) Spending all of the narrator's money in Candia.
(b) All of the stealing he did as a young boy.
(c) Proposing to Madame Hortense.
(d) Cheating the abbot.

3. What does Demetrios want to show Zorba and the narrator?
(a) His clay nun.
(b) His library.
(c) His art collection.
(d) The well.

4. When she dies, who brings the officials to inventory Madame Hortense's belongings?
(a) Zorba.
(b) Manolakas.
(c) Anagnosti.
(d) Mavrandoni.

5. 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) Building a monastery.
(c) The timber rail project.
(d) Publication of his manuscript.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens when the fourth log is tested on the rail system?

2. Which character reveals that he had a son who died at the age of three?

3. Who does Zaharia say inspired his mission?

4. What startles the narrator from his sleep at the monastery?

5. What happens when the first log is tested on the new railway?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Zaharia say he became a monk?

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

4. 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?

5. What does Madame Hortense actually think of Zorba?

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

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

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

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

10. What story does Zorba tell in Chapter 20 that supports the theme that appearance creates reality?

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. What happens when the fourth log is tested on the rail system?

The entire system collapses.

2. Which character reveals that he had a son who died at the age of three?

Zorba.

3. Who does Zaharia say inspired his mission?

Archangel Michael.

4. What startles the narrator from his sleep at the monastery?

A gun shot.

5. What happens when the first log is tested on the new railway?

The whole structure shakes and the log is destroyed along the way.

Short Essay Answer Key

1. 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."

2. 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.

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. 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."

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

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

He describes it as being each minute that passes.

10. What story does Zorba tell in Chapter 20 that supports the theme that appearance creates reality?

Zorba tells a story in which his grandfather takes a piece of wood, calls it part of the True Cross, and declares that it will protect the soldier to whom he gifts it from all harm in battle. The soldier then becomes a brave and invincible warrior simply because he believes that he has nothing to fear.