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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who attempts to cheer Zorba up following the death of Hortense?
(a) The festival-goers.
(b) Anagnosti.
(c) The monks.
(d) The dirge singers.

2. Who fights the mob leader in an attempt to save the widow?
(a) the narrator.
(b) Mavrandoni.
(c) Pavli.
(d) Zorba.

3. What does the narrator tell Zorba that they will one day build?
(a) A new cable rail system.
(b) The monastery of free men.
(c) A house near the mine.
(d) A statue of Buddha.

4. In pleasing Madame Hortense, to whom does Zorba compare himself?
(a) Zeus.
(b) Odysseus.
(c) The narrator.
(d) A monk.

5. When the narrator meets an old man on the trail, where does the man ask if he's headed?
(a) The convent.
(b) The pub.
(c) The garden.
(d) The river.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who closes Hortense's eyes when she dies?

2. What does Zorba suggest the narrator will need to become completely free?

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

4. Why does the narrator call a doctor on Easter?

5. What does the narrator inherit from Zorba?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What two major shifts happen to the narrator in Chapter 21? What major realization do these shifts spur in the narrator.

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

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

5. 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?

6. What does Madame Hortense actually think of Zorba?

7. How are Zorba's final moments described?

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

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

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

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. Who closes Hortense's eyes when she dies?

Zorba.

2. What does Zorba suggest the narrator will need to become completely free?

Folly.

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

His friend Stavridaki has died.

4. Why does the narrator call a doctor on Easter?

Madame Hortense has grown very ill.

5. What does the narrator inherit from Zorba?

The santuri.

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 two major shifts happen to the narrator in Chapter 21? What major realization do these shifts spur in the narrator.

The narrator finally sleeps with the widow, which Zorba has been encouraging him to do for some time. The narrator also finishes the Buddha Manuscript and with it, has the realization that he has exorcised the Buddha from himself. These two shifts make it clear to the narrator that "the soul is flesh as well," or in other words the actions of his body are just as important and spiritual as the meditating and thinking to which he is accustomed.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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."

6. 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.

7. How are Zorba's final moments described?

Zorba dies howling and laughing like an animal.

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. 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.

10. 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.